Content isn't king

13 years ago

Relationships? Are you serious?

I was told that there are magic buttons I could push to make money fall out of the sky, and that I would not have to sell anything or talk to other people...

Damn... Now you are telling me they lied?!?

[ 2 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544124].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago

I could always rephrase it as "Curation" and that the guru's are all mean and nasty people... but I think the way I put it sounds better and plus, what's his name already tried doing that lol.

In all seriousness though, I have in the past found myself focusing all my attention on content and wondered aloud why my traffic wasn't increasing.

Now I spend more time interacting with people than I do with my content, and it works like a charm.

Not saying that you shouldn't work hard at content, but that people are more important.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544140].message }}
- Jill Carpenter 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger
  
  It's who you take the time to know, not what you take the time to learn.
  
  HTH are you to be saying such things as content is not king?
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544156].message }}
  
  Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Jill Carpenter
  
  HTH are you to be saying such things as content is not king?
  
  Ahhhhh put down the pitch fork! I see a crowd forming behind you :O
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  "Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544168].message }}

Bill Guthrie

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

It's who you take the time to know, not what you take the time to learn.

The more effort you put into meeting people and building relationships, the more money you will make online.

Interesting take, Chris. I like it! The "content is king" thing obviously comes from the need to satisfy the search engine. Your concept takes us in a different direction.

Care to expound?

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544138].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bill Guthrie

Interesting take, Chris. I like it! The "content is king" thing obviously comes from the need to satisfy the search engine. Your concept takes us in a different direction.

Care to expound?

A single guest post on problogger.net did more for me SEO wise than page optimization for a month.

That's a relationship and it's far more important to me than content.

Now when you build content for the purpose of building a relationship... whole new ball game.

Goes for your customers and audience as well.

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544153].message }}

Bill Guthrie

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

A single guest post on problogger.net did more for me SEO wise than page optimization for a month.

That's a relationship and it's far more important to me than content.

Now when you build content for the purpose of building a relationship... whole new ball game.

Goes for your customers and audience as well.

Great example, Chris! That's exactly what I wanted to know. It really puts your previous comment in perspective in my mind (I'm slow and mildly drunk on cheap red wine). :rolleyes:

Thanks!

Thanks
2 replies

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544190].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago

See I'm not very good at content, that example should have been at the start of the thread
- Thanks
Signature
"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544205].message }}
JohnnyPR 13 years ago

I've been hearing this phrase even more recently with the new google changes (yes i brought it up again!) it's nice to hear something saying something different and then justifying!
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544215].message }}

Mike Hill

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

A single guest post on problogger.net did more for me SEO wise than page optimization for a month.

That's a relationship and it's far more important to me than content.

Now when you build content for the purpose of building a relationship... whole new ball game.

Goes for your customers and audience as well.

So you're telling me a single blog post allowed you to have a relationship and get to know people at problogger or was it the fact they get a lot more traffic and your information was good. That to me would still equal content is king, no matter how you spin it. No content, no relationship, no traffic, no search engines, nada...

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544610].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Mike Hill

So you're telling me a single blog post allowed you to have a relationship and get to know people at problogger or was it the fact they get a lot more traffic and your information was good. That to me would still equal content is king, no matter how you spin it. No content, no relationship, no traffic, no search engines, nada...

I got more out of interacting with people through the comments. Yes my content had to be good, but people skills and an ability to express myself landed me the guest post before I even wrote it.

If I had just written it and emailed the post, there would have been very little chance of the content manager publishing it. Instead, I spent some time talking with them about what they wanted in a post and listening to them.

The relationship came before the content!!!

Thanks

Signature

"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546722].message }}

veenafurtado

13 years ago

So from what you say -
I understand that you have to know people-
and then you can write any rubbish -
and content is not important!

Wow!

I thought I had heard it all!!!

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544637].message }}

BloggingPro

13 years ago

Content IS King. Period.

From this post I gather that its perfectly fine to build a relationship with someone and then provide them with crap-tacular content? That's a sure fire way to toss that freshly created relationship straight down the drain.

To build a successful relationship requires great content in my opinion. And maybe I'm biased towards it. I enjoy writing. I take it seriously. I bought a WSO two weeks ago where in the first paragraph the creator wrote:

"Please ignore my grammatical mistakes as I write these reports in one shot and never look back."

Excuse my language but are you f***ing serious? Your report might have had some good information in it, but insulting my intelligence--a buyer no less--is NOT the way to begin our relationship.

Content IS King and that is a great example. This guy could hype his next report to the moon and back and I'm not buying it.

And great content doesn't mean getting your grammar correct. Great content is relevant. Great content is focused. Great content provides value.

Marketing at its core is relationship building. Creating content that is valuable is key to continuing that relationship with your buyer or reader.

I take pride in the content I provide. Whether its on a micro-niche website promoting affiliate products or the content I provide to my list I can confidently say its content I'm proud to have written.

Crap content does sell, there is no question about it. BUT, great content sells as well and does something its cheaper and easier counterpart doesn't--sell over and over again.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

Signature

You're going to fail. If you're afraid of failure then you do not belong in the Internet Marketing Business. Period.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544670].message }}

Wayne-JJ

13 years ago

Originally Posted by BloggingPro

"Please ignore my grammatical mistakes as I write these reports in one shot and never look back."

Excuse my language but are you f***ing serious? Your report might have had some good information in it, but insulting my intelligence--a buyer no less--is NOT the way to begin our relationship.

Couldn't have said it better myself. This goes to show how the author really 'value' his/her customers huh?

No time to even look through the report for errors? Wow busy busy guy/girl :rolleyes:

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544861].message }}

Dennis Gaskill 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Bill Guthrie

Interesting take, Chris. I like it! The "content is king" thing obviously comes from the need to satisfy the search engine.

More likely, content is king comes from the need to satisfy the customer. If your content isn't people-worthy it gets you nowhere slowly.

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

A single guest post on problogger.net did more for me SEO wise than page optimization for a month.

And what did you put in that post? Content.

Without content, what do you have? Nothing.

However, if we focus too much on any one thing our success will be limited. Good content, relationships, skills, knowledge, taking action, etc., all that and more is needed. None stand alone. Riding a one-legged pony won't get you very far -- much like this circular argument.
- Thanks
Signature

Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544900].message }}

Tsnyder

13 years ago

It's always interesting to observe people and how they
react/respond to different concepts and ideas....

I didn't see anywhere in the thread that the OP said, or
implied, that once a relationship is established you can feed
them crap content.

That's a leap some posters made all on their own... interesting.

Tsnyder

Thanks

Signature

If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544719].message }}

AD25

13 years ago

The internet is content, not people.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544727].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago

Originally Posted by AD25

The internet is content, not people.

This is SO WRONG!!! And I don't mean to put you down, welcome to the forum. Please continue posting!!!

If you spend all day thinking this, you will fall for push button marketing schemes and have very few relationships.

You will focus more on writing for your own tiny audience instead of responding to emails from other writers and building up relationships.

Even with SEO, google wants to give people what they are looking for and they use people's input to find it. What people LINK to is what google tries to put on the search results. You need people for that, not robots.
- Thanks
Signature
"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546708].message }}

BenJackson

13 years ago

That's a very interesting viewpoint, you've got my wheels spinning now

. I came into this thread ready to thrash and you let the air out of my balloon lol.

However, even though you say content isn't king, I get the feeling you aren't one to just throw up any old content on your site :rolleyes:

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544728].message }}

SEOExpert999

13 years ago

If your content is excellent it will build relationships because if you have done you market research properly. You will know your market pains you can solve. Hint: Content is King?

Thanks

Signature

Amazing SEO Packages|AffordableSEOKeywordResearch| Email Marketing Solutions |Internet Resource Guide | Easy Social Marketing

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544779].message }}

rising_sun

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

I hear it all the time, how content is king. It comes from the same people pitching get rich quick schemes and push button marketing systems.

They want you spinning your wheels thinking that if you just put your effort into content and purchase their products that you will be successful.

Well, I decided to change that mindset. I've been working on it at my blog and also here, to explain that people are "king", not content.

You know the saying it's who you know, now what you know? I'd like to change it to:

It's who you take the time to know, not what you take the time to learn.

The more effort you put into meeting people and building relationships, the more money you will make online.

What's more, you can take this idea and apply it to how you interact with your customers. Do you take the time to get to know them, what they need and desire?

Perhaps it's time you started if you aren't already.

But friend, how will you meet more people without writing any content in here.

Say for example, I will remember you forever for what? Do you know that?
Only for 4 line of your content that I have make bold.

So now tell me who is king ? ?? ??? ???? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544834].message }}

Steve Faber

13 years ago

What he's saying is that there are thousands of blogs and web sites out there with fantastic content that few ever see. It's like all the fantastic musicians out there performing in clubs and intimate venues throughout the country that hardly anyone has ever seen. Sure, you need quality, but it's the relationship that opens the doors to success that you need opened in order to really reach the top, or anywhere near it.

Try to launch a WSO or product without the relationships that will get you JV opportunities, testimonials from influential people in your niche, or publicity from the places that will generate sales and see how far you get. It doesn't matter if your content is the bees knees. Now add in those relationships and see how much farther you go.

That's the point of relationships. It may not take a village, but a few well placed friends sure don't hurt.

[ 2 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

For Killer Marketing Tips that Will Grow Your Business Follow Me on Twitter Now
After all, you're probably following a few hundred people already that aren't doing squat for you.....

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3544903].message }}

AD25 13 years ago

Originally Posted by opportunitiesaplenty

What he's saying is that there are thousands of blogs and web sites out there with fantastic content that few ever see.

So the answer is backlinks to your content.

Fortunes have been made with good content + backlinks...period.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3545064].message }}
- Steve Faber 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by AD25
  
  So the answer is backlinks to your content.
  
  Fortunes have been made with good content + backlinks...period.
  
  In addition, the road to getting some of the best backlinks is paved with the relationship necessary to get them. But in general, success in many business arenas is an order of magnitude easier if you have some key relationships in place. IM is one of those where good relationships open the requisite doors for success all the wider. Without them, it's like hiking the Sahara on your hands.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  For Killer Marketing Tips that Will Grow Your Business Follow Me on Twitter Now
  After all, you're probably following a few hundred people already that aren't doing squat for you.....
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3545081].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger

13 years ago

Originally Posted by opportunitiesaplenty

What he's saying is that there are thousands of blogs and web sites out there with fantastic content that few ever see. It's like all the fantastic musicians out there performing in clubs and intimate venues throughout the country that hardly anyone has ever seen. Sure, you need quality, but it's the relationship that opens the doors to success that you need opened in order to really reach the top, or anywhere near it.

Try to launch a WSO or product without the relationships that will get you JV opportunities, testimonials from influential people in your niche, or publicity from the places that will generate sales and see how far you get. It doesn't matter if your content is the bees knees. Now add in those relationships and see how much farther you go.

That's the point of relationships. It may not take a village, but a few well placed friends sure don't hurt.

This is it friend, this is it. You just summed up while relationships are more important than content.

Can you sell a great products without relationships? No, not really.

Can you sell a crappy product with relationships? Yes, better than the great product without relationships.

Just trying to pry at people's minds with this thread and get them to think about doing something other than focusing on just content.

I liked the one legged pony analogy too, nice one

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546693].message }}

yourreviewer 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

Can you sell a great products without relationships? No, not really.

Why can't you sell great products without relationships?
- Thanks
- 2 replies
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546717].message }}
- Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by yourreviewer
  
  Why can't you sell great products without relationships?
  
  Because the internet is based on relationships (links).
  
  Your customers have a relationship with you, if you want to break it down to that level.
  
  Do you spend time building a relationship with them before you buy? Even the weakest product has a sales page that attempts to connect with the buyer. I prefer to spend at least a week building a relationship with someone before I recommend a product to them. Sometimes it takes months.
  
  People who say content is king really should say: Content that builds relationships is king. Content for content's sake is not enough.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  "Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546731].message }}
- Steve Faber 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by yourreviewer
  
  Why can't you sell great products without relationships?
  
  You can definitely do that. However, leveraging the power of good relationships with the right people will enable you to take things so much farther than you otherwise could. Think about the power of relationships with JV partners, your list members, influential people in your list, on forums, and in the traditional media. Imagine how far you can get without them and how long it takes to do so. Now add them in to the mix and you'll see your same effort multiplied a thousandfold.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  For Killer Marketing Tips that Will Grow Your Business Follow Me on Twitter Now
  After all, you're probably following a few hundred people already that aren't doing squat for you.....
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546757].message }}

yourreviewer

13 years ago

You can also argue the other way- when you have GREAT content, it helps you build relationships with your prospects. In other words, you let the content do the talking for you, you let the content build your credibility, you let the content spread the word about you, you let the content make your prospects share the information with one another.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546764].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger

13 years ago

Originally Posted by yourreviewer

You can also argue the other way- when you have GREAT content, it helps you build relationships with your prospects. In other words, you let the content do the talking for you, you let the content build your credibility, you let the content spread the word about you, you let the content make your prospects share the information with one another.

It's kind of a chicken vs the egg argument. However, don't you need a relationship for anyone to find you in the first place? You can have a blog with great content that no one ever sees. Especially with the competition out there in the form of millions of bloggers and article marketers.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546769].message }}

yourreviewer

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Chris The Traffic Blogger

It's kind of a chicken vs the egg argument. However, don't you need a relationship for anyone to find you in the first place? You can have a blog with great content that no one ever sees. Especially with the competition out there in the form of millions of bloggers and article marketers.

Point taken Chris. Is there a particular strategy that you follow to get the attention of these top dogs? I am sure they are bombarded with all kinds of offers and deals from a ton of people. How do you differentiate yourself from others?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546794].message }}

Chris The Traffic Blogger 13 years ago

I write about this extensively in my book, Why People? but here are some pointers for you:

First, these top dogs don't have a lot of time, so you need to be concise and very very patient. Your first email should be the briefest of them all. Simply state your name, your blog and that you are looking to write a guest post. List some example article titles that you could write and make sure that they sound awesome. Then thank them for your time.

After that, you simply play the field and if any email takes longer than a week to get a response, you send one follow up and after that you give up on the person.

The biggest mistake I see people make is that they assume that they can't have a relationship until they have great content. You can start a relationship without a site, just as long as you are willing to connect with people.
- Thanks
Signature
"Aweber Crash Course" Free Mailing List Tutorial[B]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546817].message }}

ladywriter

13 years ago

It's exceedingly obvious, from a glance at what people are willing to pay content providers, that content is NOT king. Completely agree it's "who you know" like anything else in the world.

Which is a shame for content providers, we should probably go into plumbing as a career instead of fighting over $1.00 for 500 words. *smh*

Thanks

Signature

Effective Content From a Nurse: Check Out my Warrior for Hire thread

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3546780].message }}

Content isn't king

Trending Topics

How did you turn it all around?

Any thoughts on golf's latest phenom...Scottie Scheffler??

What's the Best IM-Related Skill to Learn Today That Can Help in the Future?

Some interesting stats about brand comms

best high quality crypto traffic.