The Rise of Voice Search and Its Impact on SEO

You’re sitting at your desk, talking to a colleague about a trip to Spain you’re planning. The next thing you know, you’re seeing ads for Spain pop up in Google search and on Facebook. It’s not magic. It’s the power of voice search. Marketers can use your interactions with voice assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa, along with other factors—your search history, shopping activity, visited websites, etc.—to create a comprehensive profile that they can use for ad targeting. Not all voice assistants do this, and the process is actually more complex than it may seem, but it’s illustrative of the shift from text to voice in consumers’ search habits. Voice search is on the rise. Continue reading “The Rise of Voice Search and Its Impact on SEO”

20+ Ideas for Incorporating GenAI Into Your Content Marketing Processes

Women considering yes, no, maybe options

GenAI is neither 100% hero or 100% foe; it can be both, or neither. If you’re creating content and you’re not using GenAI in your work, you really should be. While it’s certainly a disruptive force and is both feared and reviled by some in the field, it does have some very useful applications.

Here’s a list of 20 to get you thinking before the weekend and the end of the month. Continue reading “20+ Ideas for Incorporating GenAI Into Your Content Marketing Processes”

GenAI’s Impact on Content Creators, Especially Writers

Will GenAI replace real writers? Time will tell.As GenAI took the world by storm in 2023, I began to see frequent posts from fellow writers and content creators wondering about how, and to what extent, the technology would replace the need for their services. There have been a number of impacts, both good and bad. Continue reading “GenAI’s Impact on Content Creators, Especially Writers”

New Ways I’m Using GenAI for Content Marketing

Using GenAI for content marketing - tips and best practicesI was an early adopter of GenAI and have been experimenting with its various tools since they first became available for consumer use. And I’ve found them to be very helpful for a number of things. In fact, I usually have at least two or three tools open on my desktop that I refer to throughout the day. Continue reading “New Ways I’m Using GenAI for Content Marketing”

Repurposing Content Across Different Platforms for Maximum Reach

In the digital marketing landscape, creating fresh, engaging content consistently can be a daunting task. But there’s a pretty simple strategy that can help you maximize your content’s reach and lifespan without constantly having to come up with new ideas: content repurposing.

Content repurposing involves taking existing content and adapting it for use across different platforms.
Continue reading “Repurposing Content Across Different Platforms for Maximum Reach”

The Role of User-Generated Content in Building Brand Trust

In the digital marketing landscape, authenticity and connections with consumers are paramount. A great way to connect with and engage your audience, while leveraging the power of word-of-mouth is through user-Generated Content (UGC). UGC can play a significant role in building brand trust and engagement.

But what do we mean when we say “user-generated” content, and how can you incorporate that kind of content into your marketing efforts in a way that’s brand supportive? Continue reading “The Role of User-Generated Content in Building Brand Trust”

Opportunities for Building Generative AI Into Work Processes

If you’re involved in content creation or management and you haven’t heard of ChatGPT by now, you must be living under a rock. ChatGPT is a form of generative AI—“a type of artificial intelligence technology that can produce various types of content including text, imagery, audio and synthetic data,” according to George Lawton in an article from TechTarget.

It holds a lot of promise but also, potentially, a lot of peril for users.

Continue reading “Opportunities for Building Generative AI Into Work Processes”

Direct Mail — The “Snail Mail” Kind — Never Goes Out of Style

A number of years ago, a colleague of mine gave me a book on fractals to read and it was fascinating! At least I thought so. It was all about how nature is made up of fractals that operate in a systematic way to create patterns (in clouds, in leaves, in trees—in everything!). It’s all very mathematical (and I didn’t understand much of the really technical content…) but the images were fascinating and the idea that there are patterns—often predictable patterns—in everything around us, was Continue reading “Direct Mail — The “Snail Mail” Kind — Never Goes Out of Style”

Vetting Freelance Talent in 2023

The use of freelancers and contractors is on the rise, and this trend is likely to continue as hordes of workers are laid off or decide they simply aren’t willing to give up the freedom and flexibility of remote and hybrid work to return full-time to physical workplaces. Freelancers can offer great benefits to employers who know what to look for, what to look out for, and how to effectively evaluate talent before bringing them on board. Continue reading “Vetting Freelance Talent in 2023”

Shining a Light on the Dark Funnel

Chris is in the market for a new car. Chris, like most consumers, is broadly aware of the many types of cars on the market and can see them on the road, on car lots, in advertisements, and online. While deciding which car to buy, Chris not only draws on his own awareness that has been created through these channels, he is also likely to become much more proactive in seeking information—asking family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues for their advice; perusing review sites; following hashtags on social media channels; gathering information through Google searches; and, eventually, visiting car manufacturer or dealer websites to help narrow the choices. Then Chris is likely to visit a local car dealership to take a test drive and talk pricing. Continue reading “Shining a Light on the Dark Funnel”