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How to Get Your Content Published on Forbes, Huffington Post, and Business Insider

Mary Hiers

How to Get Your Content Published on Forbes, Huffington Post, and Business Insider

Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman is an expert in the psychology of judgment

Economic Decision-Making.

He has said, “Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs.



If your business is new, building your reputation when you have no brand recognition and little capital isn’t easy.

Gaining traction in the media is, of course, important, but you can’t simply wait around for influencers to discover and rave about your brand.

The goal of getting your company covered in high-profile online outlets is lofty, but attainable.

Once you are able to do this, you will enjoy better brand visibility,

a more solid reputation in your industry,

better web traffic, more online followers, an easier time recruiting talent,

and possibly even interest from new investors.

Succeeding in obtaining the media coverage you need requires a strategic approach that includes a healthy mix of tactics peculiar to your brand and your industry.

But gaining media attention can get you immediate results, in the form of an influx of new Twitter followers,

high-ranking search engine results, and backlinks from prestigious publications and journalists.

Top-tier business sites are coveted by content marketing professionals, so you have to be at the top of your game when you submit content to them.

Here is a roundup of top content sites and information from contributors on how they got their content published.

Publishing your content on Forbes

Speaker, writer, and entrepreneur Josh Steimle has written over 160 articles for Forbes since 2013.

Though vetted contributors used to be able to blog about any topic, today they’re required to stick to their particular area of expertise. Additionally, Forbes contributors post directly to the live site, so it won’t go through an editor first.

Editors may make minor changes after publication, and if writers veer too sharply off-topic, posts can be taken down altogether.

Here’s a screen grab of one of Steimle’s Forbes articles:

publishing-your-content-on-forbes-for-how-to-get-your-content-published

You can approach being published on Forbes in a couple of ways.

You can submit a completed article (regardless of length) to opinion@forbes.com for consideration on one of their opinion pages. This content has to be original and exclusive to Forbes. If you’ve already published it somewhere else, they’ll reject it.

Expect it to take several business days to review your content. If a week goes by and you haven’t heard from them, you can assume they aren’t interested and try to place your content elsewhere.

If your goal is to become a regular Forbes contributor, you can apply via Google Form. In addition to your typical contact information, you’ll also be asked for LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, and ideas about what you want your page to be. You’ll also need to link to examples of your writing and explain why you’re qualified to have the page you envision.

publishing-your-content-on-forbes-for-how-to-get-your-content-published-2

Steimle published articles on a once-a-week basis, and especially liked the site’s great analytics that allow writers to see how well their content performs. Training webinars for contributors are also offered regularly.


Publishing your content on Huffington Post

Co-Founder at Authority Alchemy, Brian Ainsley Horn knows firsthand what it takes to write for Huffington Post. He says it isn’t easy, but it’s certainly possible.

Huffington Post is one of the main “authority” publications where business owners and content marketers want to publish. The site has phenomenal SEO power, helping content rank for multiple three-to five-word terms only hours after publication.

Here’s a shot of one of Horn’s blog posts on Huffington Post:

publishing-your-content-on-huffington-post-for-how-to-get-your-content-published-2

Top Bloggers in your targeted section write,

You should craft your pitch based on what top bloggers in your targeted section write. It should be short and should emphasize the most captivating parts of your idea, according to Horn.

To submit your idea to Huffington Post, you fill out a Google Form similar to the one Forbes uses. There is a blank on the post for the final draft of your proposed 500 to 1000-word post, which you include right on the form.

publishing-your-content-on-huffington-post-for-how-to-get-your-content-published-3

Bare in mind that you won’t hear back from Huffington Post unless they’re interested in publishing your content.

Publishing your content on Business Insider

A few years back, Thenuka Karunaratne, founder of AdMark Technologies, was determined to have his product featured in Business Insider (and other prominent online publications) on essentially no budget.

Technology, Business, and Celebrities, Business Insider

In addition to stories about technology, business, and celebrities, Business Insider will also run compelling profile pieces, which can be an option if you have a gripping personal story to tell.

Tens of Millions of Readers who use Business Insider

If you’re interested in having your content viewed by the tens of millions of readers who use Business Insider every month, your first stop should be at the How to Contribute to Business Insider page.

You won’t submit a pitch, but will send the final, polished draft of your content to contributors@businessinsider.com. Along with the content itself, include a headline, links to other content of yours, and a brief bio.

Here you can see a feature on Karunaratne’s product in Business Insider from earlier this year:

publishing-your-content-on-business-insider-for-how-to-get-your-content-published-2

Found it by Googling The Topic,

If they’re interested, they say they’ll get back to you, but Karunaratne did not know his content had been accepted and published until he found it by Googling the topic.

He also says that Business Insider will sometimes pick up stories from other major sites, and publish content to their international editions as well.

Additionally, Karunaratne says pitching his content (whether to Business Insider or another publication) on Sunday worked well for him, allowing outlets to pick up a story as it gained traction throughout the workweek.

Other publication options

Another option you may consider for content that can be republished is publishing it on a site like Medium. It’s currently a hot platform and has a large audience, plus republishing is mostly a simple matter of copying and pasting.

Many people worry about Google penalizing them for “duplicate content,” but that penalty may not mean what you think it means. Google is fine with you syndicating your content on multiple sites, and will show the version they believe is most appropriate for each searcher, though that may not be the version you prefer. They recommend including a link back to your original article in your syndicated content.

Medium.com

Medium only requires that you create an account in order to publish content there, and

you can create an account with Twitter, Facebook, Google, or with your email:

other-publication-options-for-how-to-get-your-content-published-2

Content posted or republished on Medium gains traction based on the interest and engagement it receives, and article lengths are flexible. Before publishing something, you should check out this

3 min read, on the official Medium blog to gain an idea of what is trending on the site.

After making the effort to create powerful, engaging content, you naturally want it to reach the largest audience. It’s not necessarily easy to have your article on Huffington Post or Forbes, but it can certainly be done if you follow various sites’ instructions carefully and submit content that resonates with their readership.

If you’re ready to get serious about content marketing, we invite you to receive three high-performance content ideas that will raise your brand’s profile.

Guest Author: Mary Hiers is a content writer for Media Shower and founder of Kittenheel Enterprises. If she’s not in front of a keyboard, she’s probably with her dogs at the dog park or reading mid-20th century European history. Her superpower is the ability to fold fitted sheets.

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10 Valuable Tips on Content Marketing Which Will Boost Sales on Shopify eCommerce Stores

By [http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Rosario_Berry/1668823]Rosario Berry

It appears as though there's some type of frenzy or an uproar of some kind in regards to Content Marketing... It's a peculiar thing, as Content Marketing has always been the number 1, essential practice in SEO best practices. In fact - content is what launched the internet into becoming one of the most important inventions in modern day technology.

Lee Odden of TopRank Marketing has said: "Content is the reason search began in the first place."

Before the Web/The Internet became ever so cluttered with the display of Ads and PPC - content was the only thing that drove traffic onto websites.

Oddly, even since the boom in technology and in digital marketing - content still remains to have an immense impact in driving customers and sales to different websites. Rather than declining in its power - content has now become more essential and effective than ever before in digital marketing strategies.

Why Market Content for Shopify eCommerce Stores?

An exceptional piece of content that you create can live for all eternity on the internet. Unique and remarkable content will continue to drive traffic, leads and sales for years! It will proceed to doing its rounds on Social Media Networks and developing referrals and back links.

When you write totally amazing and awesome content, you are beginning to create a chain reaction of sorts. The more engaging and informative the content is - the heavier the response will be... and this is just one of the many reasons that Content Marketing for Shopify eCommerce Stores is vital!

You have to think of Content Marketing as some kind of money making apparatus or as something that works without ever getting tired no matter what time of day it is... When you use Content Marketing properly for Shopify eCommerce Stores, your business will just continue to grow.

Below You Will Find a Variety of Killer Market Content Strategies Which Will Boost Traffic to Your Shopify eCommerce Store

1. Writing Bold Headlines. Always begin with the basics: great headlines. In search result pages - the headlines that you have created have a colossal impact. Utilize headlines to attract the attention of your users and potential customers.

2. Write Using Powerful Language/Words. Power words are words, which will convey emotions and appeal to different senses in a person. Words such as "killer, catastrophic, ballistic, explosive and/or "amazing, mind blowing, extraordinary, miraculous, astonishing" and the likes seem to cause a reaction in people. We are sure, you've experience this as well while reading powerful and truly moving content.

However, beware of using too many power words, as it can appear as ingenuine or even spammy. Find a balance and place power words in precise places - where the impact will be felt the most.


Don't Be Afraid of Being Sexy. It's no secret that sex sells. It simply does... With that said, be sexy in applicable circumstances, but do not go overboard. You do not want to be inappropriate or offensive. Creating some sexy headlines will help you with traffic to your Shopify eCommerce Stores.
Be Mysterious and Intriguing. Everyone enjoys a little mystery; a little intrigue... so, do not unleash all your info in your headlines. Provoke readers curiosities by taking advantage of the division between users' issues and the solutions that you can provide.
Implode Expectations. Keep in mind that not many websites have received too much attention by following conventional methods. Think outside the box. Dare to be edgy and a little shocking. Un-filter yourself and your content. Write about things that your users do not expect. However, ALWAYS backup your information with concrete data and facts.


3. Acquire Information. We advise you to subscribe to websites, such as: Copy Blogger, QuickSprout, Social Media Examiner and Content Marketing Institute. Take notice of the types of headlines, which are driving the most shares and Tweets. Don't be scared of being experimental. You'll learn from your mistakes.

4. Create Fruitful Content! Fertile, bountiful, informative, creative, abundant - these are all synonyms for extraordinary, Shopify eCommerce content. People really love to connect and engage with content, just as long as it appeals to their senses. If you know what truly appeals to your targeted audience, you will see that your content will begin to spread just like an epidemic. Use this guideline to create, genuine and fruitful Shopify eCommerce content.

5. Insure Content Goes Viral. How do you know if your content is viral worthy? Well, if your content is worth its information, it will typically spread all on its own. Provide your targeted audience with reasons to connect and/or share your content with others. Is your content utterly awesome? Are you offering special deals?

Developing viral content is of utter importance, as it will compel your users to share your content. For Shopify eCommerce stores, it's sometimes a bit more challenging and for this reason, you need to make sure that your Shopify eCommerce blog page is one of the best in your line of business and/or industry.

6. Social Trends Newsjacking. We live in a world of hashtags and trending topics and hashtags and trends come and go on a daily basis. When you Newsjack, you are basically, taking advantage of trending topics on Social Media to optimize your eCommerce content. For example, if
NationalCatDay
is trending on Twitter - think and/or find a way that you can tie up this trending hashtag with your business. You can even just Tweet about it on your business, Twitter account and users will take notice that your business is one that stays in the loop with all types of trending topics.

7. Create Longer Blog Posts/Content. Guys, it is a myth that users are lazy and do not want to read long copy. Sure, if the content is lame or uninformative and invaluable to users - naturally, they will bounce off. However, if you have killer content, with newsworthy and valuable information, your users will most definitely want to read all of your content.

Furthermore, search engines just adore long form copy!

8. Create and Utilize Visual Content. It's been reported that Tweets that contain images have received approximately 89 percent more favorites and an approximate 150 percent more ReTweets in comparison to Tweets that do not contain any images.

Sure, you can curate the majority of images/pics that you share on Twitter and other Social Media Platforms, but it is strongly recommended that you dare to become a little creative with your smartphone and camera and experiment some for totally authentic images. You never know - you can even start something as huge as the Hot Pepper Challenge!

Arrange and Organize Content Marketing for Shopify eCommerce Stores

A large number of Shopify eCommerce stores/businesses have recently become aware of the importance of eCommerce, content marketing. But just a few have found the infrastructure that is needed to streamline continuous content on the vast array of digital marketing platforms and channels that are available.

No matter what kind of business you have, you should have access to the capabilities that will allow you to create, spread and monitor your content.

9. Develop a Calendar for Shopify eCommerce Content. For starters, you need a concrete, Shopify eCommerce content marketing strategy. Create a document which details: topics, short term goals, targeting data & segmentation. A calendar such as the one described is the best way to get started and ensure a successful eCommerce Content Marketing campaign for your Shopify eCommerce store.

As you become more familiarized with your targeted audience, you'll be more adapt to prepare different content marketing strategies that's suitable for your users. Always make sure that any new strategy that you implement is to the highest of quality. Don't create content just for the sake of posting something...

10. Repurpose Content. "Kill two birds with one stone... " When writing content, keep this quote in mind, as it can be invaluable and extremely effective. When creating content - we often forget about some of the really great pieces of copy that's been published.

Make the time to go back to previous content that you have written and/or created and that you feel confident about and share it various times on the same platform, so that you may be able to reach people on different time zones or that have different online habits. Once you do this, tweak/repurpose your content, so that you are able to distribute these amazing pieces of content on different platforms.

For example, if you created an infographic some weeks ago and you are now developing a video for this week - check and see if you can incorporate your infographic from weeks ago into your new video. Remember, content isn't all about words!

Start applying these amazing and totally effective tips, which will boost sales to your Shopify eCommerce Store!

Rosario Berry is a professional freelance writer, like to introduce [https://mysticwebdesigns.com/]Mystic Web Designs. You may think [https://mysticwebdesigns.com/content-marketing/]Content Marketing as some kind of money making process or something that works without ever getting tired no matter what time of day it is.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Valuable-Tips-on-Content-Marketing-Which-Will-Boost-Sales-on-Shopify-eCommerce-Stores&id=9937048] 10 Valuable Tips on Content Marketing Which Will Boost Sales on Shopify eCommerce Stores

It appears as though there's some type of frenzy or an uproar of some kind in regards to Content Marketing... It's a peculiar thing, as Content Marketing has always been the number 1, essential practice in SEO best practices. In fact - content is what launched the internet into becoming one of the most important inventions in modern day technology...


Content Marketing,
topics create,
twitter account,
create longer,
longer blog,
blog postscontent,
business twitter,
trending hashtag,
trends newsjacking,
social trends,
daily basis,

  • Content marketing

    Content marketing is a form of marketing focused on creating, publishing, and distributing content for a targeted audience online. It is often used by

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  • Digital marketing

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    "tone." When using social media marketing, firms can allow customers and Internet users to post user-generated content (e.g., online comments, product

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    marketing through mass emails. However, as email marketing developed as an effective means of direct communication, users began blocking out content from

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Content marketing is a form of marketing focused on creating, publishing, and distributing content for a targeted audience online.

It is often used by businesses in order to:

  • Attract attention and generate leads

  • Expand their customer base

  • Generate or increase online sales

  • Increase brand awareness or credibility

  • Engage an online community of users

Content marketing attracts prospects and transforms prospects into customers by creating and sharing valuable free content. Content marketing helps companies create sustainable brand loyalty, provides valuable information to consumers, and creates a willingness to purchase products from the company in the future. This relatively new form of marketing does not involve direct sales. Instead, it builds trust and rapport with the audience.


Unlike other forms of online marketing, content marketing relies on anticipating and meeting an existing customer need for information, as opposed to creating demand for a new need. As James O'Brien of

Contently wrote on Mashable, "The idea central to content marketing is that a brand must give something valuable to get something valuable in return. Instead of the commercial, be the show. Instead of the banner ad, be the feature story." Content marketing requires continuous delivery of large amounts of content, preferably within a content marketing strategy.


When businesses pursue content marketing, the main focus should be the needs of the prospect or customer. Once a business has identified the customer's need, information can be presented in a variety of formats, including news, video, white papers, e-books, infographics, email newsletters, case studies, podcasts, how-to guides, question and answer articles, photos, blogs, etc. Most of these formats belong to the digital channel.

Digital content marketing is a management process that uses electronic channels to identify, forecast, and satisfy the content requirements of a particular audience. It must be consistently updated and added to in order to influence the behavior of customers.

Business Insider

Business Insider is an American financial and business news website published by Insider Inc. It operates international editions in the UK, Australia, China, Germany, France, South Africa. India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nordics, Poland, Spain and Singapore. Several International editions are published in local languages: Chinese, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Polish[4] and Japanese.

Contents

History

Business Insider was launched in 2007 and is based in New York City. Founded by DoubleClick's former CEO Kevin P. Ryan, Dwight Merriman, and Henry Blodget, the publication is a brand of Silicon Alley Insider (began May 16, 2007) and Clusterstock (started March 20, 2008). In addition to providing and analyzing business news, the site aggregates news stories on various subjects from around the web. It reported a profit for the first time ever in the 4th quarter of 2010. In June 2012, it had 5.4 million unique visitors. In 2015 Axel Springer SE acquired 88% of the stake in Business Insider Inc. for $343 million (€306 million).

Business Insider also hosts industry conferences, such as IGNITION, which explores the emerging business models of digital media. In January 2015, Business Insider launched BI Intelligence,[ a subscription-based research service that provides data and analysis on the mobile, payments, eCommerce, social, and digital media industries. The site publishes numerous annual editorial franchises, such as the "Digital 100: The World's Most Valuable Private Tech Companies."

Tech Insider

In July 2015, Business Insider began the technology website Tech Insider, with a staff of 40 people working primarily from the company's existing New York headquarters, but originally separated from the main Business Insider newsroom.[ However, Tech Insider was eventually folded into the Business Insider website.

BI Sub-Saharan Africa

In January 2017, Business Insider announced that it would be launching a new sub-saharan site in partnership with Ringier Africa Digital Publishing. Henry Blodget––co-founder, CEO, and global Editor-in-Chief of Business Insider––said of the partnership, “Ringier ... is the ideal partner to help us bring to sub-saharan Africa [our] unique voice and attitude.” Former Ventures Africa journalist David Adeleke is the editor for Business Insider SSA.

Staff

Business Insider's CEO and Editor-In-Chief Henry Blodget is a Yale history graduate who previously worked on Wall Street until he was banned for life from the securities industry because of his violations of securities laws and subsequent civil trial, which ended with a $2 million fine plus a $2 million disgorgement and the permanent ban in 2003.[19][20] Nicholas Carlson, whose past experiences include Internet.com and Gawker Media's Silicon Valley gossip blog, Valleywag, is Deputy Editor. Senior Editor Jim Edwards' previous position was Managing Editor at Adweek.

Reception

In January 2009, the Clusterstock section appeared in Time's "Best 25 Financial Blogs," and the Silicon Alley Insider section was listed in PC Magazine's "Our Favorite Blogs 2009." 2009 also saw Business Insider's selection as an official Webby honoree for Best Business Blog.

In 2012, Business Insider was named to the Inc. 500. In 2013, the publication was once again nominated in the Blog-Business category at the Webby Awards. In January 2014, The New York Times reported that Business Insider's web traffic was comparable to that of The Wall Street Journal. In 2017, Digiday included imprint Insider as a candidate in two separate categories–"Best New Vertical" and "Best Use of Instagram"–at their annual Publishing Awards.

The website has, however, faced criticism for what critics consider its pronounced liberal bias and clickbait-style headlines. In 2013, The New Yorker criticized the website for prioritizing publishing speed over accuracy. In 2018, the website received criticism from some media outlets after deleting a controversial column about Scarlett Johansson.

References

Business Insider
Type of site
Online newspaper
Available in English
OwnerAxel Springer SE
Created byKevin P. Ryan
EditorHenry Blodget
ParentInsider Inc.
WebsiteBusinessInsider.com
Alexa rank 332 (August 2018)[1]
Commercial Yes
Launched February 2009; 9 years ago in New York
Current status Active


How to Explain Content Marketing to Anyone [Fresh Examples]

explain-content-marketingEditor’s note: Explaining content marketing is a never-ending challenge. That’s why we’re bringing back this post from last year with some updated examples.

The concept of content marketing has been around for hundreds of years (see an example from 1672), and the discipline has gained incredible popularity since 2010, according to Google Trends.

google-trends-content-marketing-2004-present

But, when CMI launched its e-book that answers common content marketing questions, it learned many readers are just getting started. For those in that category – or those who encounter misperceptions or misunderstanding about what content marketing is – I offer a quick rundown for easy reference.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: A Take on 3 Confusing Terms: Content Marketing, Content Strategy, Content Marketing Strategy
Content marketing as your family would understand

When people ask what you do, does your response receive a quizzical look? “So, what is it exactly that you do,” they ask after you explain your job.

My husband was in this camp until he told me about a newsletter that covers trends affecting financial markets. He looks forward to receiving it each day. He explained that the newsletters didn’t have anything to do with the funds the broker was selling, but the information was solid and valuable – and it was useful research for the investments he makes.

“That’s content marketing,” I explained. It was an aha moment for my husband’s understanding of content marketing – content marketing is educational but is not about the products the company sells. The vendor offers such good information that you become loyal to the brand.
Contentmarketing
is educational. It’s not about the products the company sells, says @MicheleLinn.
Click To Tweet

I can share another example that is close to my daughter’s heart. American Girl uses content to transform something that is a commodity – a doll.

American Girl has so much content – and so many content experiences – for its audience that it’s truly staggering. For instance, it offers:

In-person events and experiences (lunch with your doll at the store café, special events such as painting or fireworks, or even hotel packages that accommodate your child and doll)
Apps
Games
Videos
Quizzes
Movies

While all the ways American Girl connects to its audience are too numerous to cover in this one post, I’m particularly amazed by its print publications. For instance, The Care and Keeping of You is a book all about growing up for girls. It ranks second in its category (and 71st most popular among all books on Amazon). It’s from a brand selling dolls – but the subject has nothing to do with the dolls.

Girls Book on Amazon

In short, American Girl’s content marketing focuses on how a child can interact with the doll or things that are important to this demographic.

For parents, think about BabyCenter. When I was pregnant and then raising my older daughter, I considered BabyCenter to be required reading. It’s a perfect example of content marketing. According to its website, it is the No. 1 pregnancy and parenting digital destination, and eight in 10 new and expectant moms online use BabyCenter each month. The site is owned by Johnson & Johnson, which sells products for babies.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: How Content Marketing Became Brand’s Trusted, Unified Source
Content marketing explained to marketers

Hopefully, those examples make it clear that content marketing isn’t about the brand, your products, or your services. It’s about your audience. What do they care about?
Contentmarketing
is about your audience. What do they care about? @MicheleLinn
Click To Tweet

And, more importantly, how can you be the one to provide something no one else is, which in turn elevates your brand from a commodity to something people embrace?

Pull-A-Part, a U.S. chain of DIY auto-recycling yards, has created a one-of-a-kind video series, including this one on how to convert an undrivable vehicle into a pickup worthy of a tailgate.

pull-apart-challenge-example

Content marketing is different than traditional product-marketing efforts like sales collateral and other product-specific info. Content marketing includes things like educational articles, e-books, videos, entertainment, and webinars that answer specific questions people have and provide them with something they can’t get elsewhere. It’s the best way to turn your product, no matter how common, into something that is not like everyone else’s.

By becoming a credible, authoritative resource on topics that matter to potential customers, your business is more likely to get discovered by the right audience and earn their loyalty and trust – which, in turn, enables your brand to strengthen its customer relationships, grow an active and engaged subscriber base, and even increase its profits.

HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:

9 Definitions: How Content Marketing Works in Marketing
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How marketers find success with content marketing

While you may be nodding your head at this point and thinking, “Yeah, this is something I want to do,” you certainly shouldn’t adopt content marketing because it’s the “in” thing to do.

Content marketing takes a lot of work, persistence, and patience – it’s not for everyone. But, it can be an ideal approach if you truly want to provide a better experience for your customers while making a positive impact on the business in terms of its perception and its bottom line.
Contentmarketing
takes a lot of work, persistence, and patience – it’s not for everyone, says @MicheleLinn.
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Here are the main reasons why marketers choose to put in the effort for content marketing.
Answering your audience’s questions is a key way to be at the top of search results, says @MicheleLinn.
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To be found by the right people (potential customers)

People are asking questions and looking for information via search engines like Google, and you want your business to be at the top of the search results. Answering people’s questions via blog posts, e-books, videos, and other content assets is a key way to make this happen. Of course, showing up is only the first step, but it’s essential if you want to reap the benefits of content marketing.

EXAMPLE: Outdoor retailer REI does a great job of answering questions and assisting its audience through content. On its YouTube channel, it offers dozens of videos depending on its audience’s interests and needs, often answering common questions. Whether it’s a backpacker who wants to know how to use a compass or a cyclist who needs to know how to fix a bicycle chain, REI provides the answers.
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To build an interested and engaged audience

Your content is only as valuable as its ability to attract audience members and compel them to engage with your business on an ongoing basis — as subscribers, customers, evangelists, or, ideally, all three. Once you have an addressable audience, your content efforts will help increase sales, gather valuable customer insights, and activate your most ardent followers as brand advocates.

EXAMPLE: Insurance company Liberty Mutual built a content platform – Master This – dedicated to helping people solve home and life challenges – to build skills and worry less, as the brand describes it. While Liberty Mutual’s ultimate purpose is to drive insurance sales, the content focuses not on insurance products but on information the audience will find educational and helpful. It also has expanded access to the educational content by partnering with HowStuffWorks and Amazon’s Alexa to provide educational content through the voice-activated device.

Liberty Mutual
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To acquire new customers

Of course, generating revenue is a key goal for many marketers, and content marketing can be a powerful driver. When you build an audience that trusts you and wants to hear from you, they are more likely to purchase your products. For instance, CMI subscribers are more likely to take advantage of CMI paid offerings such as attending Content Marketing World than non-subscribers.
When you build an audience that trusts you, they are more likely to purchase your products. @MicheleLinn
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EXAMPLE: TD Ameritrade produces its print and digital magazine, thinkMoney, for active customers – those who can make trades as often as hundreds of times in a day. In its early days, TDA put the program under review to determine whether it was worth continuing to spend money on the magazine. The leaders persevered and, after approximately two years, received confirmation of its value: Subscribers and readers of the magazine traded five times more than non-subscribers. Simply put, those who subscribed to this magazine became better customers for TD Ameritrade.

td-ameritrade-thinkmoney
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To build increased revenue with existing customers

Another reason organizations use content marketing is to create more loyal customers, which has the potential to increase sales through cross-selling or up-selling. In some cases, the brand can monetize content itself.

EXAMPLE: Sainsbury magazine is the top cooking magazine in the United Kingdom, with 3 million paid subscribers — a content marketing effort that pays for itself. But, what’s even more remarkable is that, according to a 2015 survey conducted by the company, eight of 10 readers have bought a product from Sainsbury’s after reading about it in the magazine.

sainsbury-magazine-uk
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To reallocate or reduce marketing costs

Organizations also use content marketing because they can see similar — or better — results when compared to a “traditional” marketing program.

EXAMPLE: Jyske Bank is a large Danish bank that now also functions as a media company. The company started using content marketing to get better results than its high-cost sponsorship marketing. It created Jyskebank.tv, which produces amazing financial programming, as well as compelling stories the bank believes are relevant to its core audience of younger consumers and small enterprises.

Today, Jyske works with businesses interested in leveraging its media expertise: Instead of laying out cash to support outside opportunities, Jyske receives media partnership proposals from other organizations — an attractive option made possible by the credibility and reach the bank’s content program has helped it to build.
HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT: How to Explain Content Marketing ROI to Win (or Keep) Buy-In

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Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
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Author: Michele Linn

Michele Linn is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Mantis Research, a consultancy focused on helping brands create and amplify original research they can use in their marketing. Before starting Mantis, Michele was head of editorial at Content Marketing Institute, where she led the company's strategic editorial direction, co-developed its annual research studies, wrote hundreds of articles, spoke at industry events and was instrumental in building the platform to 200,000 subscribers. In 2015, she was named one of Folio's Top Women in Media (Corporate Visionary). You can follow her on Twitter at @michelelinn.

Other posts by Michele Linn
https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2018/09/explain-content-marketing-anyone/

10 content marketing hacks


10 content marketing hacks every new business needs to know

Readability rating: A
Average grade level: 7.0.

Every startup needs to build trust in there new brand and content marketing is a fantastic way to do so. When executed well, it will give your brand a personality that customers want to engage with. When content misses the mark, you’ll waste time, money and opportunities for growth.

As we’ve grown readable.io, our content has always been at the core of what we do as a company. And that’s not just because we’re in the business of communication.

Content gives us the opportunity to showcase our core values in a fun, entertaining and informative way. By doing this we hope you also get to understand our passions and what makes us come into work each day with a smile.

To help you out, I’ve pulled together ten points that have helped us on our way:

  • Start with your customer

  • Create a content marketing plan

  • Don’t just sell, tell a story

  • Be original

  • Make it readable

  • Optimise for conversion

  • Use workflows

  • Be consistent

  • Don’t go live without proofreading first

  • Get your message out there

1 | Start with your customer

Your customer is at the center of your world. They are the reason you deliver your product/service. They are the reason you can afford to pay your bills.

So when it comes to your content, customers should be central.

Organisations often confuse content marketing as an excuse to talk about themselves. This can be as straightforward as solely talking about your product/service and its components.

Which means you forget to focus on the “what’s in it for me factor” that every visitor to your website will be looking for.

Providing that answer isn’t just about saying your product is amazing because it has x, y or z. It’s about showing why x, y and z will help your customer.

A good example of this is the promotion of a new product.

Take Speaker Widget Ltd. They are about to launch a new portable speaker called BoomMaster – sounds good, doesn’t it?

They have the choice of two pieces of promotional copy, to be placed above the fold of their homepage.

Option one

On sale now, BoomMaster.

Featuring 86 dBC of sound. 10 Hour battery life. Suitable for smartphones, tablets and Bluetooth devices. Waterproof up to 2m for 15 minutes. Buy now, only $99.

Option two

BoomMaster, $99.

Super portable and super fun Bluetooth speaker, with awesomely big sound. Crystal clear and full of bass. Enjoy BoomMaster’s huge sound while on the go, with 10 hours of battery.

You have 7 seconds to grab someone’s attention. ReadablePro helps you cut out the noise.

There’s a subtle difference between the two pieces of copy. Option one is inwardly facing where the copy tells the reader what BoomMaster does.

All of it is interesting and people will want to know this, but it shouldn’t be the first thing you tell potential customers.

Option two has the customer in mind and their emotions.

Not only does it tell the customer what BoomMaster is capable of, it lets them know how their life will be better with it and why they should buy it. It appeals to its young, and young at heart, target audience.

The second option will convert higher and bring in more sales. Which is why you can forgive the copywriter for using the word awesomely!

When putting the customer first, think of:

  • Why is that piece of content of interest to them?

  • What are they going to get from the piece of content?

  • How the piece of content is going to drive them to take the action you’d like them to. More on this in point six.

2 | Create a content marketing plan

Content marketing without a plan is like walking blindfolded in the dark. It can be done, but you’re likely to get yourself in a mess, not know where you are, and it’s not a lot of fun.

Getting hands on with PostIt notes is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. Throwing ideas up will allow you to see what will stick – every pun intended – and what can be knocked on the head.

When you have your ideas in place, you need to pull them together into a master plan. asana.com is a great option for this and is free to use for small teams.

I use Asana to:

  • Put each piece of content into a focussed category

  • Create and assign tasks

  • Communicate with my team and keep notes

  • Schedule when the content is going to be used

  • Coordinate content sign off

  • Tick off the job, when it’s done <– Always fun to do!

Content marketing plans always need to be flexible. Stick to it as closely as you can, while knowing that new bits of content could be needed at short notice.

3 | Don’t just sell, tell a story

Storytelling is incredibly powerful. We all enjoy being swept up in a good story.

Not all stories are fictional, which makes content marketing and sales very much part of storytelling. Take people on a journey and show them why you’re a brand they can trust.

Styles of stories can include:

  • Personality – Show your customers what you’re all about. You’re more likely to spend money with a company you can associate with and trust.

  • Honesty – Not all stories are fiction and the stories you tell about your brand and product should definitely be honest. Don’t oversell yourself.

  • Inspiration – What’s the story behind your business? How many hours have you put into building things up from scratch?

  • Emotion – A powerful tool. If you can show how your product will change people’s lives, you’re onto a winner. Now, this doesn’t need to be big sweeping changes. It could be as simple as saving customers a few minutes, even seconds, while doing a mundane task.

4 | Be original

There’s no such thing as an original story, but there are new ways to tell a story.

Originality comes from being true to your brand and the reason why you love doing what you do.

Show how you’ve turned your passion into a product/service and why that benefits them. It’s far better to read about why your passionate than another run of the mill blog.

5 | Make it readable

Having clear and easy to understand content is an absolute must. You do this by adopting readability practices, such as:

  • Writing copy that is written at the correct reading level

  • Avoiding using a large number of long sentences

  • Not using complicated wording or too many syllables

  • Removing industry buzzwords and jargon. If you have to use them, explain what they mean

It’s definitely not a case of dumbing down content for the sake of it. As one of my favorite readability quotes puts it, “Write for the expert, but write so the non-expert can understand” – Bernard Kilgore.

Based on the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, we’ve created a handy visual guide on where your content should sit.

6 | Optimise for conversion

When thinking about content, you’re ultimately thinking about what action you’d like the reader to make. Such as:

  • Do you want people to visit your website?

  • Are you looking for readers to sign up for your newsletter?

  • Do you want them to make a purchase?

  • Are you aiming to boost brand exposure?

To get this right you have to have the right message, delivered at the right time and in the right format.
This is where workflows are your best friend.

7 | Use workflows

It’ll not be as simple as having only one piece of content – a landing or product page, for example – to make a sale. You’ll need to create a series of content that will move customers through your marketing and sales funnels.

At each stage, you’re giving potential customers the information and content they need to help them make an informed decision. If you lose some people along the way, that’s fine. If you lose a lot, you know your content isn’t working.

Drip marketing tools, such as drip.com or hubspot.com, make this easy to do. Allowing you to keep track of everything, tweak your campaigns through AB tests, and make your content personal to each customer/potential customer.

Are you engaging your audience with readable content?

8 | Be consistent

Deliver content that’s expected of you. If you sell cars, write about electric charging points in major cities and road safety. Don’t deliver content about your local sports team, unless you’re their sponsor.

Keep on message and deliver it at regular intervals. Finding a schedule you can stick to can be hard. You don’t want to overstretch yourself, especially if you are a small team.

9 | Don’t go live without proofreading first

Common sense time, again. The more people that read your copy the better.

10 | Get your message out there.

“Build it and they will come.” No, Kevin Costner, no! You’re talking nonsense. That may work for baseball playing ghosts, but it doesn’t work online.

Get your message out through as many applicable channels as possible. But, make sure the message fits the platform you’re promoting it on. Don’t just carpet bomb everywhere with the same message.

Check out ‘Jab. Jab. Jab. Right hook’ by Gary Vaynerchuk. It’s a few years old now, but its core message of using native/bespoke content for each social platform is still very relevant.

To sum up

Content marketing can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Tackle it with confidence. Confidence in knowing you’re creating the best possible content for your customer.

Clarity of message is the key. If you can achieve this in an honest and positive way, your content will help you grow your business.

Steve Linney | readable.io

Steve has been a marketer for the last twenty years, covering a diverse number of sectors. Including e-learning, the music industry, and corporate responsibility.
https://readable.io/blog/10-content-marketing-hacks-every-new-business-needs-to-know/

More blogs by Steve Linney


Affiliate Program Management: An Hour a Day by Evgenii Prussakov

Top positive review

5.0 out of 5 starsDo not even think of launching your program without reading this book!!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2013
I am relatively new to performance marketing, and we signed with a major affiliate network (as an advertiser)... Once I realized there was so much more to know than what the network was sharing with me, I started asking questions. I joined message boards, I started reaching out to OPMs, and everyone I spoke with suggested that I read Geno's book. Well, that was a no-brainer.I read the book in 1-1/2 sittings. I bought the kindle edition (and for this book, the ability to copy/paste and go to links provided are invaluable). I am fortunate that I read this BEFORE we launched. Geno helped me clarify auto-responder emails, program details and the MOST IMPORTANT terms & conditions...I bought the book on a Friday evening, by Saturday night (after a marathon read) my program had the look and feel of an established program.When the launch team at my "major network" saw what I did over the weekend, they assumed I hired a veteran OPM.Well -- buy the book, and you will get the same advice.On the show floor at Affiliate Summit in Philly (August 2013), veteran OPM after the next industry luminary had nothing but praise for this book -- and when they saw my program, they acknowledged that the concepts that I learned from this book were already paying off.EVEN IF you are going to hire a veteran OPM -- read the book and understand the industry. The network "university" or help centers will give you some very useful education. This is a non-biased and honest approach to the path to affiliate (advertiser) success.Just buy the book, read it, and do what Geno says.
13 people found this helpful

Top critical review

1.0 out of 5 starsOut-dated content!
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2020
While the book contains some good information, it was published in 2011 and has not been updated since. Marketing is about relevancy and understanding the ever changing world of the consumer, trends, tactics, technology, etc. - why in the world would you not update the abundance of statistics, examples, and "lists" contained in this book ? You can find much more current and relevant information about this ever changing topic online. So no, I cannot recommend this book until an much more current "2nd Edition" is available.
3 people found this helpful
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150 global ratings | 124 global reviews

From the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2013
I am relatively new to performance marketing, and we signed with a major affiliate network (as an advertiser)... Once I realized there was so much more to know than what the network was sharing with me, I started asking questions. I joined message boards, I started reaching out to OPMs, and everyone I spoke with suggested that I read Geno's book. Well, that was a no-brainer.I read the book in 1-1/2 sittings. I bought the kindle edition (and for this book, the ability to copy/paste and go to links provided are invaluable). I am fortunate that I read this BEFORE we launched. Geno helped me clarify auto-responder emails, program details and the MOST IMPORTANT terms & conditions...I bought the book on a Friday evening, by Saturday night (after a marathon read) my program had the look and feel of an established program.When the launch team at my "major network" saw what I did over the weekend, they assumed I hired a veteran OPM.Well -- buy the book, and you will get the same advice.On the show floor at Affiliate Summit in Philly (August 2013), veteran OPM after the next industry luminary had nothing but praise for this book -- and when they saw my program, they acknowledged that the concepts that I learned from this book were already paying off.EVEN IF you are going to hire a veteran OPM -- read the book and understand the industry. The network "university" or help centers will give you some very useful education. This is a non-biased and honest approach to the path to affiliate (advertiser) success.Just buy the book, read it, and do what Geno says.
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2019
Despite being written almost 8 years ago, this is still the BEST guide to Affiliate Program Management you will find today. It's definitely a niche job, and Geno is the most influential and veteran thought leader in this niche market. Some of the book may be outdated, but the fundamentals remain. It is absolutely ESSENTIAL for anyone to read that is running an affiliate program. Follow his Blog for more up to date strategies and trends!
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2016
In Geno Prussakov's definitive book, AFFILIATE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: AN HOUR A DAY, the author cogently brings into focus the fantastic opportunities today's marketers have for entering, surviving and profiting in the growing world of performance-based, affiliate-fueled, on-line marketing. What's more, Prussakov lays out for marketers a step-by-step blueprint of what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. This is the dedicated subject matter of this excellent book.In every age new business models emerge, complete with challenges and rewards. The current business model requires a deep footprint in all things digital on multiple platforms. Merchants of products, information, services, etc. will find new customers and incremental sales by engaging in business relationships on-line with literally thousands and thousands of independent entrepreneurs, affiliates, who have created niche websites that can offer any and all wares a seller has available -- in exchange for paid commissions for performance that generates sales, leads, etc.Retailers, merchants, sellers, vendors, marketers this is the one book for you. Learn the secrets, strategies and pathways to additional profits by effectively managing an affiliate marketing program from a true expert in the field, Geno Prussakov and his illuminating book AFFILIATE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT: AN HOUR A DAY.
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2011
Whether you are an affiliate marketer, affiliate program manager as an OPM or with a network, this book is a must read. PERIOD! I expect that if it has not already happened, this book will end up on the reading list of every MBA marketing curriculum. So you better get it now before it starts commanding a textbook price. No, really,this book is seriously underpriced and is one of the best educational values in the affiliate marketing space. Geno Prussakov is a highly respected member of the affiliate marketing community and an internationally recognized expert in the field. His writing style is clear and precise without being intellectually overbearing. Though I have never met or spoken with Geno, I hope to be able to "pick his brain" in the not too distant future. This is not a book on Affiliate Program Management theory. It is a hands on practical guide.My only concern is that the title is somewhat misleading and to some extent demeaning to the treatise. What I believe Geno is trying to convey is to not treat this book as an intellectual exercise, but as a disciplined process guide to initiating an affiliate program. I just think that the "Hour A Day" part could have been improved upon to give a more accurate and enticing impression.Other than that, this is a book that is destined to become a staple read in the industry - a classic.
5 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2017
I'm new to Affiliate Marketing, this book is teaching me things that I would have otherwise failed at and learned the hard way
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2011
I am currently an affiliate looking to expand my online efforts to the merchant side and bought this title to bridge gaps in my knowledge base.What I found in Geno Prussakov's book is a comprehensive manual from which to launch a program (or even rehabilitate an unsuccessful one) and then successfully manage it post launch. I use the word "manual" quite purposefully: Mr. Prussakov not only includes examples of specific language for merchants to use in the course of a program launch (including the actual policy wording), but he includes names of vendors that merchants can leverage for the outsourcing of various program functions (like data feeds for example). I found these vendor names to be worth the price of the book alone. Not having to dig for players in any given niche is incredibly helpful.Additionally, one of the most valuable overarching themes in this title is that Mr. Prussakov helps merchants understand the business from the affiliate perspective. He teaches merchants how to work successfully with well-intentioned affiliates and avoid potentially costly missteps arising from the strategies of unethical affiliates attempting to profit from ill-conceived merchant programs and policies - or even lax program management.And finally, a piece of minutia I found especially helpful from Chapter 4. Mr. Prussakov explains CPA networks or sub-affiliate networks. (different from the Commission Junctions and Share-a-Sales of the world) I did not have a good grasp as to who these vendors are and what exactly they do. Having this sometimes murky business landscape clarified aided me immensely.Bottom line: I pity the merchant that attempts to launch a program without the knowledge in this book.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2011
I typically find books that I need to read for work, well, dull. Pedantic, even. And for the most part, I find they offer advice so generic that they do me little practical good. But this book was different. From the first chapter, I got great tips and ideas to help me manage a piece of business that was thrown abruptly in my lap. And every chapter thereafter served me just as well. The book is easily understood even by complete rubes like me, well-organized, and absolutely chock full of insightful info and tactics. My affiliate program is now well on its way to a great success, and I owe it all to Geno Prussakov. If you only read one book on Affiliate Marketing, this should be it (and frankly, after reading this one, I don't feel like I need to read another!).
3 people found this helpful
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2013
THE book for affiliate merchants.We had an affiliate system for several years, and had the idea to refresh it.This book is helping us make a complete turnaround.All of a sudden we where thinking about the right words / to have more banners in more sizes / to have a clear TOS / cookie life...Normally when reading good business books, they are really helpful but often lack one thing: call to action through structure.This I realized after reading this book, which has a big call to action.With this in mind, we started developing our affiliate program from scratch,in easy to follow steps.Writing style -> perfect for following itKnowledge received -> more than hoped.If you are an affiliate manager / owner of an affiliate merchant system, there is no way around this book.It is really a must, and money well spend.If you are an affiliate, this book could also be of help since it gives you an inside to detect good from bad merchants.Happy to have read this book.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2012
I don't know what I would have done without this book. I had been trying to understand my new role as an affiliate manager for a couple of months, but even with the great training material that I was given by my boss, I was still struggling to know just what to do. Geno Prussakov and his book "Affiliate Program Management: an Hour a Day" changed all of that. Giving me step-by-step directions to successfully directing our affiliate program. I highly recommend it to all new affiliate managers, and to anyone who is even considering starting an affiliate program.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2013
In my mind, Geno Prussakov is one of the preeminent affiliate marketing thought leaders of our time. "Affiliate Program Management" expertly conveys his mastery of the affiliate space in this comprehensive and easy-to-navigate guide.As someone who's worked in affiliate marketing for over a decade, in multiple roles (including publisher, technology/service provider, author, and global product/program manager of an affiliate program for a Fortune 5), I have great respect for Prussakov's book. As there are typically very few in-depth resources for those of us in the industry, I've often taken the approach of 'tinker with something long enough and you'll figure it out'. This book eliminates all that wasted time and effort."Affiliate Program Management" is an absolute must-read for anyone contemplating managing an affiliate program; and I would argue that even the most seasoned marketing vets can find value from this book.
2 people found this helpful
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How to Get Your Content Published on Forbes, Huffington Post, and Business Insider

Israeli-American psychologist Daniel Kahneman is an expert in the psychology of judgment

and decision, and his research has challenged assumptions of human rationality as a driver in economic decision-making.

He has said, “Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs. If the company looks inept to you, you may assume everything else they do is inept.”

No pressure there, right?

If your business is new, building your reputation when you have no brand recognition and little capital isn’t easy.

Gaining traction in the media is, of course, important, but you can’t simply wait around for influencers to discover and rave about your brand.

The goal of getting your company covered in high-profile online outlets is lofty, but attainable. Once you are able to do this, you will enjoy better brand visibility, a more solid reputation in your industry, better web traffic, more online followers, an easier time recruiting talent, and possibly even interest from new investors.

Succeeding in obtaining the media coverage you need requires a strategic approach that includes a healthy mix of tactics peculiar to your brand and your industry.

But gaining media attention can get you immediate results, in the form of an influx of new Twitter followers, high-ranking search engine results, and backlinks from prestigious publications and journalists.

Top-tier business sites are coveted by content marketing professionals, so you have to be at the top of your game when you submit content to them.

Here is a roundup of top content sites and information from contributors on how they got their content published.

Publishing your content on Forbes

Speaker, writer, and entrepreneur Josh Steimle has written over 160 articles for Forbes since 2013.

Though vetted contributors used to be able to blog about any topic, today they’re required to stick to their particular area of expertise. Additionally, Forbes contributors post directly to the live site, so it won’t go through an editor first.

Editors may make minor changes after publication, and if writers veer too sharply off-topic, posts can be taken down altogether.

Here’s a screen grab of one of Steimle’s Forbes articles:

You can approach being published on Forbes in a couple of ways.

You can submit a completed article (regardless of length) to opinion@forbes.com for consideration on one of their opinion pages. This content has to be original and exclusive to Forbes. If you’ve already published it somewhere else, they’ll reject it.

Expect it to take several business days to review your content. If a week goes by and you haven’t heard from them, you can assume they aren’t interested and try to place your content elsewhere.

If your goal is to become a regular Forbes contributor, you can apply via Google Form. In addition to your typical contact information, you’ll also be asked for LinkedIn and Twitter profiles, and ideas about what you want your page to be. You’ll also need to link to examples of your writing and explain why you’re qualified to have the page you envision.

Steimle published articles on a once-a-week basis, and especially liked the site’s great analytics that allow writers to see how well their content performs. Training webinars for contributors are also offered regularly.

Publishing your content on Huffington Post

Co-Founder at Authority Alchemy, Brian Ainsley Horn knows firsthand what it takes to write for Huffington Post. He says it isn’t easy, but it’s certainly possible.

Huffington Post is one of the main “authority” publications where business owners and content marketers want to publish. The site has phenomenal SEO power, helping content rank for multiple three-to five-word terms only hours after publication.

Here’s a shot of one of Horn’s blog posts on Huffington Post:

You should craft your pitch based on what top bloggers in your targeted section write. It should be short and should emphasize the most captivating parts of your idea, according to Horn.

To submit your idea to Huffington Post, you fill out a Google Form similar to the one Forbes uses. There is a blank on the post for the final draft of your proposed 500 to 1000-word post, which you include right on the form.

Bare in mind that you won’t hear back from Huffington Post unless they’re interested in publishing your content.

Publishing your content on Business Insider

A few years back, Thenuka Karunaratne, founder of AdMark Technologies, was determined to have his product featured in Business Insider (and other prominent online publications) on essentially no budget.

In addition to stories about technology, business, and celebrities, Business Insider will also run compelling profile pieces, which can be an option if you have a gripping personal story to tell.

If you’re interested in having your content viewed by the tens of millions of readers who use Business Insider every month, your first stop should be at the How to Contribute to Business Insider page.

You won’t submit a pitch, but will send the final, polished draft of your content to contributors@businessinsider.com. Along with the content itself, include a headline, links to other content of yours, and a brief bio.

Here you can see a feature on Karunaratne’s product in Business Insider from earlier this year:

If they’re interested, they say they’ll get back to you, but Karunaratne did not know his content had been accepted and published until he found it by Googling the topic.

He also says that Business Insider will sometimes pick up stories from other major sites, and publish content to their international editions as well.

Additionally, Karunaratne says pitching his content (whether to Business Insider or another publication) on Sunday worked well for him, allowing outlets to pick up a story as it gained traction throughout the workweek.

Other publication options

Another option you may consider for content that can be republished is publishing it on a site like Medium. It’s currently a hot platform and has a large audience, plus republishing is mostly a simple matter of copying and pasting.

Many people worry about Google penalizing them for “duplicate content,” but that penalty may not mean what you think it means. Google is fine with you syndicating your content on multiple sites, and will show the version they believe is most appropriate for each searcher, though that may not be the version you prefer. They recommend including a link back to your original article in your syndicated content.

Medium only requires that you create an account in order to publish content there, and you can create an account with Twitter, Facebook, Google, or with your email:

Content posted or republished on Medium gains traction based on the interest and engagement it receives, and article lengths are flexible. Before publishing something, you should check out this 3 min read, on the official Medium blog to gain an idea of what is trending on the site.

After making the effort to create powerful, engaging content, you naturally want it to reach the largest audience. It’s not necessarily easy to have your article on Huffington Post or Forbes, but it can certainly be done if you follow various sites’ instructions carefully and submit content that resonates with their readership.

If you’re ready to get serious about content marketing, we invite you to receive three high-performance content ideas that will raise your brand’s profile.

Guest Author: Mary Hiers is a content writer for Media Shower and founder of Kittenheel Enterprises. If she’s not in front of a keyboard, she’s probably with her dogs at the dog park or reading mid-20th century European history. Her superpower is the ability to fold fitted sheets.


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