Can we Stop Throwing Content at the Problem?

by nmwf

Posted: 10 years ago 18 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Just like with our government throwing money at its social woes, I'm seeing the same approach in the IM industry, where the "instant solution" to almost every problem is "more content."

It's the standard response to a lack of traffic, lack of sales, lack of conversions, etc. etc. But you know... It shouldn't be. And done without fully understanding a lot of other factors, "more content" can be a waste of time, money, and resources. Created indiscriminately, it might even worsen things!

So I'm encouraging the IM industry to think twice about recommending this strategy. If you can imagine a website as a brick-and-mortar building, and you can imagine content as sheets of paper, you can start to see how ridiculous it is to stand around throwing sheets of paper at that building in hopes of improving things.

Content has specific purposes. It's not an all encompassing solution. And it's time we stop promoting it as such.

#content #problem #stop #throwing

Steve L 10 years ago

Instead of "more content" I'd say it should just be "better content".
- [ 2 ] Thanks
Signature
How To Design A Website That Converts!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209355].message }}
Gambino 10 years ago

Disagree with your analogy. Content online, is more the equivalent of advertising offline and getting customers to come to your site (store). High quality content in the right places is great advertising.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209361].message }}
ksummers 10 years ago

But you can't throw more advertising at a poor product, offline or online, and expect success.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209375].message }}
totalprocessing.net 10 years ago

Quality and not quantity is my 2 cents
- [ 1 ] Thanks
Signature
Premium WooCommerce & WordPress Plugins $10/ea. or FREE With Membership. PluginForage.com
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209395].message }}

Sid Hale

10 years ago

Hi nmwf,

Originally Posted by nmwf

So I'm encouraging the IM industry to think twice about recommending this strategy. If you can imagine a website as a brick-and-mortar building, and you can imagine content as sheets of paper, you can start to see how ridiculous it is to stand around throwing sheets of paper at that building in hopes of improving things.

Your analogy is all wrong.

The "sheets of paper" are NOT being thrown at the building.

The sheets of paper are being posted in the windows of the building (to attract window shoppers), and distributed to publishers, posted on billboards, etc. to broaden their exposure to the general public.

Affiliate marketers (the vast majority of members here on the WF) are often referred to as "publishers" because they publish both the content (to create "readership") and the ads (to monetize that content).

Without the content... no one will ever see their ads.

[ 3 ] Thanks
2 replies

Signature

Sid Hale
Coming Soon... Rapid Action Profits (Pro)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209419].message }}

nmwf

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Sid Hale

Hi nmwf,

Your analogy is all wrong.

The "sheets of paper" are NOT being thrown at the building.

The sheets of paper are being posted in the windows of the building (to attract window shoppers), and distributed to publishers, posted on billboards, etc. to broaden their exposure to the general public.

Affiliate marketers (the vast majority of members here on the WF) are often referred to as "publishers" because they publish both the content (to create "readership") and the ads (to monetize that content).

Without the content... no one will ever see their ads.

But what if the problem is:

a slow web server
a down-trend in an industry
a lack of consumer-interest
a competitor's uprising
a negative change in industry law
etc., etc.

See where I'm going? How would more (even more quality) content help those situations??

Thanks
2 replies

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209441].message }}

Gambino

10 years ago

Originally Posted by nmwf

But what if the problem is:

a slow web server
a down-trend in an industry
a lack of consumer-interest
a competitor's uprising
a negative change in industry law
etc., etc.

See where I'm going? How would more (even more quality) content help those situations??

Do you have any example of anywhere on this forum where someone advised someone else to fix the above problems with more content?

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209480].message }}

nmwf 10 years ago

Originally Posted by Gambino

Do you have any example of anywhere on this forum where someone advised someone else to fix the above problems with more content?

People recommend more content for the above problems all the time => by recommending it without asking questions or even considering other issues.

Example:

OP: "I'm losing traffic!"
Reply: "You need more content."

As I said in the first post, "Content has specific purposes. It's not an all encompassing solution." But that's just what people do here and elsewhere -- even on some rather popular marketing blogs.
- Thanks
Signature

Write comprehensible articles on *any* topic in seconds with First Draft...
First Draft's: Download | Add-Ons | Templates | Purchase | Support | Affiliates
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209492].message }}

Sid Hale

10 years ago

Hey nmwf,

Originally Posted by nmwf

But what if the problem is:

a slow web server
a down-trend in an industry
a lack of consumer-interest
a competitor's uprising
a negative change in industry law
etc., etc.

See where I'm going? How would more (even more quality) content help those situations??

No - I don't.

Quality content (or content of any sort) won't speed up a slow web server, or stop a new competitor in his/her tracks - but then I never said that it would. Nor was that your original question.

But IF there is a solution for any of those problems, quality content does create a well-proven platform in which to advertise that solution.

That said, you're absolutely correct in your last statement in the OP. Content is NOT a solution for everything, but it does have a very definite purpose and it is a KEY building block to any advertising/selling machine.

Thanks

Signature

Sid Hale
Coming Soon... Rapid Action Profits (Pro)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10210152].message }}

kk075

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Sid Hale

Hi nmwf,

Your analogy is all wrong.

Did you expect any less from someone trying to sell article spinning software in his sig? Of course he's going to say writing content is a bad strategy.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Learn to sell like a pro through Web Synergy's marketing blog.

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209624].message }}

nmwf

10 years ago

Originally Posted by kk075

Did you expect any less from someone trying to sell article spinning software in his sig? Of course he's going to say writing content is a bad strategy.

Oh, hey look! It's you again.

Okay, so once more, you're wrong on every account.

1. I'm not a "He," as has been pointed out several times already.
2. My software doesn't spin a damn thing.
3. I never said writing content is a bad strategy.

Care to go for #4?

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209640].message }}

greenowl123

10 years ago

Originally Posted by nmwf

I love your rebuttals !

I agree... more content, more content, more content, is an over-rated strategy for the most part.

Cost effective advertising, both online and off-line, combined with a strong sales funnel is what I concentrate most of my efforts on.

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

Free 40-page eBook "How To Earn With CPA Offers"
+ 14 Free Traffic Training Videos - Click here now. (no opt-in required)

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209729].message }}

Randall Magwood 10 years ago

More email marketing content is a good thing. The longer your email marketing sequence, the higher your conversion rates will be. I've had people buy from me on the 154th email, the 72th email, and even the 301th email.

As far as traffic goes... i majority run ads. Besides the WarriorForum and my Blog, this is all that i do. It's fast and efficient. Content for more traffic used to be a model for me when EzineArticles was hot. Not anymore though.
- Thanks
- 2 replies
Signature
==>> Free book reveals how to make money with affiliate marketing
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209424].message }}
- nmwf 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Randall Magwood
  
  I've had people buy from me on the 154th email, the 72th email, and even the 301th email.
  
  Those numbers are ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Glad to hear it worked for you though.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Write comprehensible articles on *any* topic in seconds with First Draft...
  First Draft's: Download | Add-Ons | Templates | Purchase | Support | Affiliates
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209434].message }}
- nmwf 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Randall Magwood
  
  I've had people buy from me on the 154th email, the 72th email, and even the 301th email.
  
  Hey! I went looking for your newsletter and couldn't find one!
  
  What's with you and The NicheMan? He doesn't have one either!
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  
  Write comprehensible articles on *any* topic in seconds with First Draft...
  First Draft's: Download | Add-Ons | Templates | Purchase | Support | Affiliates
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209511].message }}
  
  discrat 10 years ago
  
  I agree with Randall. You build your business on continuing to supply good Content. As with him , I also do it through Email Sequences and Broadcasts.
  
  It seems to be pretty solid for a number of people
  
  - Robert Andrew
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209538].message }}
leilani 10 years ago

Gosh, I don't know how much content I've read on the internet. It seems that people are saying the same damn thing over and over like parrots. Looks like borrowed content.

But every once in a while you will come across some extraordinary non-rehashed bogus content, where the writer just tells it like he sees it. Simply! Without fluff! And gets to the point fast: offering a solution to my problem. Refreshing. And I find myself following that person. And.....purchasing what he or she is selling.

So what I'm trying to say is solution oriented content that gets to the point quickly is important. I don't have a lot of time and so for other people like me.
- Thanks
Signature
Discover The Real Way To Make Affiliate Income Online
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10209567].message }}
ppetri 10 years ago

Content can be successful in many ways and indeed we are pushed to do more content to make more traffic. But in the long run search engines like Google change their policies and algorithms to force people to work harder and provide more quality content. In the end its just the same thing being said a different way... It's all crap content if you ask me.

The only content necessary to be successful is content marketing your partners, affiliates, and your own lists. And most importantly the content you sell to your clients.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[10210205].message }}

Can we Stop Throwing Content at the Problem?

Trending Topics

Should I add a AI chatbot to my website?

Singer Songwriters Cut Off In Their Prime

New Here! Excited to Learn & Share SEO + Affiliate Strategies

Is it normal to get no traffic in the first month?

What is best Backlink strategy?