Content for Do-Gooders http://blog.content-for-good.com do good things. have good content. Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:27:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Sales & Content: A Match Made in Heaven http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/sales-content-a-match-made-in-heaven/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/sales-content-a-match-made-in-heaven/#comments Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:55:33 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=421 Find out how the sales team can help improve your content and content strategy can help your sales team:

Want to Improve Your Content? Make Friends With the Sales Team.

How Great Content Helps Your Sales Team

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/sales-content-a-match-made-in-heaven/feed/ 0 Editorial Calendars: Where to Start http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/editorial-calendars-where-to-start/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/editorial-calendars-where-to-start/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:54:33 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=419 Ready to start a new content marketing project, but not sure where to start? Take a look at these two editorial calendar articles I wrote for the Content Marketeer:

Editorial Calendars: Where to Start

Editorial Calendars: A Tale of Two Processes

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/editorial-calendars-where-to-start/feed/ 0 February Content Meet Up: Juggling Contributors & Time Zones http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/february-content-meet-up-juggling-contributors-time-zones/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/february-content-meet-up-juggling-contributors-time-zones/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:58:23 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=416 Please join us for our February content meet up in central Denver!

This Month’s Topic & Leader:
Brian Naslund is the Content Manager at TravelShark, an online travel startup based in Boulder that produces content for over 200 location-based travel websites. Brian manages a large team of freelance and in-house content producers that cover everything from the nuances of Singaporean law to topless pools in Las Vegas. He will be speaking about his experiences recruiting and managing a large content team, juggling assignments across time zones and topics, and generating quality (SEO-friendly) content.

When: February 22, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Panera Bread @ Capitol Heights, 1330 Grant Street

Please RSVP via email, Twitter or phone (303.952.0842).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/february-content-meet-up-juggling-contributors-time-zones/feed/ 0 How (and Why) to Build a Content Community in 2012 http://blog.content-for-good.com/online-marketing/how-and-why-to-build-a-content-community-in-2012/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/online-marketing/how-and-why-to-build-a-content-community-in-2012/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:17:29 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=410 From marketing execs to small business owners to content consultants, I think everybody can benefit from building a community of smart, capable content folks. Which is why I wrote two posts on the topic for the Content Marketeer. If you haven’t read them yet, check them out below:

Why should you build a content community?

How do you do it?

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/online-marketing/how-and-why-to-build-a-content-community-in-2012/feed/ 0 5 Content Resolutions for 2012 http://blog.content-for-good.com/client-successes/5-content-resolutions-for-2012/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/client-successes/5-content-resolutions-for-2012/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:54:50 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=401 I get all sentimental around the holidays–thinking about what I’ve done during the year and what I’d like to do next year. As so many people do. But this year I’ve been thinking about resolutions a little differently. Sure, I made some of my own–to build up certain parts of my business, to live like a minimalist, to be generous, etc.–but I also want to challenge my clients to make some content-related resolutions this year.

For small businesses and non-profits, you end up having to wear a lot of hats. And one of those hats, even with a little start up help from my team, is usually the content hat. So, here are a few suggestions…things I think small businesses and non-profits can do well in the coming year. Things we haven’t always done well in the past. And things that can really impact your business in a positive way.

So, without further ado, here are my suggested 2012 Content Resolutions:

  1. Update the online on time.
    When asked what made them leave or distrust a website, site selectors said out-of-date content. Specifically on your news page or your home page. And other studies suggest that other types of users feel the same way. The number one thing I’d love to see this year is up-to-date websites, blogs and news feeds. I think it’ll make a big difference in reputation and user actions.
  2. Tweet like a human.
    This is something I wrote about back in 2010, but I think it’s still a struggle in many cases. Twitter is a social networking platform. It’s not a broadcast system. It’s not a monologue. Instead, treat it like you would treat an in-person networking event. Have conversations. Be interested in the people who follow you. And when you tweet about yourself, make sure the content is useful to those listening.
  3. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
    When you start a new website project or content project or marketing project, it’s easy to get really excited. To think about all the other stuff you can do, all the social networks you can join, all the newsletters you’ll send! But don’t forget that every journey starts with a few steps. And all marketing, content and website projects require continued care after that initial push. If you overcommit yourself, it’ll only make you tired and affect the quality of your marketing/content/website in the future. So, start small. And add things to your plate as your time allows.

  4. Ask “why?”
    When you’re working with content, whether adding something new, updating something that exists or removing something you no longer need, ask yourself why. And let the answer to that question dictate whether you take the time to add, remove or update. For example, if you ask “why are we adding a Facebook page?” and the answer is “because we think we should” or “because Facebook has lots of users” you may want to do a little more research before committing yourself. Not every company will find its audience on social networks (do you search for a plumber on Twitter?). And not every popular trend is the right one for you. Asking why before you take on a new project will make sure you’re using your (probably limited) resources in the most effective way possible.
  5. Surround yourself with resources you can trust.
    Whether it’s a consultant, a meet up group, a book or a series of online resources…find experts you can trust to help you build your small business or non-profit. A solid meet up group or smart consultant can help you know what you can reasonably try to do on your own (and help you figure out how to do it) and what you really need outside help with. If you’re a non-profit, said group or consultant can probably also help you find (at least in part) some reduced or pro-bono options that will still work well. There’s no reason to go it alone in 2012 — find a resource you can trust.

Any other content resolutions you’d like to see in your small business/non-profit?

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/client-successes/5-content-resolutions-for-2012/feed/ 0 CANCELED – December Content Meet Up: Content for Hispanic Communities http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/december-content-meet-up-content-for-hispanic-communities/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/december-content-meet-up-content-for-hispanic-communities/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:18:24 +0000 gigig http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=386 This month we’re lucky enough to have Joe Kutchera–author of Latino Link–coming to speak with the group! See below for a full description.

Topic
As prices for digital devices continually fall, the Internet becomes more accessible to more diverse audience both domestically, with Hispanics as the largest minority group in the U.S., as well as internationally.

How can you culturally customize your content marketing? How can marketers benefit by adapting their digital marketing content into Spanish? What targeting techniques best enable marketers to cost effectively reach Hispanics and multicultural audiences online? Why do Hispanics and African-Americans significantly over-index for using mobile phones?

Attend this pre-Christmas session to learn the answers to these questions in the case studies presented by author Joe Kutchera.

About Joe Kutchera
Joe Kutchera is the author of Latino Link: Building brands online with Hispanic communities and content and a leading speaker and advisor on reaching Hispanics and Latin Americans online. He has been featured on Advertising Age, BBC Mundo, CNN en español, and Fox News.

During his nine-year tenure at Time Warner, Kutchera built the web properties for Warner Bros. Online, ThisOldHouse.com, and CNNMoney. In his last two years at the company, Kutchera started the digital ad sales team for Grupo Expansion in Mexico City (acquired by Time Inc. in 2005), launching CNNExpansion, the largest Spanish-language business news site in North America. Kutchera writes for The Huffington Post, MediaPost and Fox News Latino about best practices for reaching Latinos online. He has a BA from Macalester College and an MBA from Fordham University.

When: December 22, 7:00 p.m.

Where: See Kate Johnson’s comment below.

Please RSVP via email, Twitter or phone (303.656.5020).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/december-content-meet-up-content-for-hispanic-communities/feed/ 1 Is Your Company a Goody-Goody? Then Get Some Free Work. http://blog.content-for-good.com/do-good/is-your-company-a-goody-two-shoes-then-get-some-free-work/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/do-good/is-your-company-a-goody-two-shoes-then-get-some-free-work/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:24:34 +0000 Gigi Griffis http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=377 This holiday season, Content for Do-Gooders is giving away 52 hours of free content work. That’s right: 52 hours. Also, FREE. And you thought we were affordable before.

So, here’s the skinny:

Free content work could include…content strategy, information architecture (navigation naming and organization; page layout as dictated by content), content audits, social media strategy, copy writing, web writing or SEO.

Your business should apply if…it is dedicated to doing good. This means you, non-profits! Whether you’re economic developers, animal shelters, educators, fundraisers or environmental activists (etc. etc. etc.).

You could also apply if…you’re unemployed and want some help editing your resume, cover letter and/or online portfolio/LinkedIn profile/etc. We think part of do-goodery is helping folks like you out.

How to apply: send us an email and tell us about your business, your cause and why you do what you do. Let us know what kind of content help you need (if you don’t know, tell us that too!). And, of course, include in the email your phone number and any other relevant contact info.

We’ll be accepting applications through November 28. We’ll pick a few causes. And in December the content work begins.

So, what are you waiting for? Apply now (or tell your favorite charity about it!).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/do-good/is-your-company-a-goody-two-shoes-then-get-some-free-work/feed/ 0 November Content Meet Up: Content & Design in Ad Agencies http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/november-content-meet-up-content-design-in-ad-agencies/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/november-content-meet-up-content-design-in-ad-agencies/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:10:12 +0000 Gigi Griffis http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=374 This month’s content meet up is about how content works together with design. Creative Director, Peter Brown, will be leading the discussion–talking about what a Creative Director with a design focus needs from his content pros, what content folks need from designers and how everything works together in a fast-paced agency setting.

When: November 30, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Panera Bread @ Capitol Heights, 1330 Grant Street

Please RSVP via email, Twitter or phone (303.656.5020).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/november-content-meet-up-content-design-in-ad-agencies/feed/ 2 October Content Meet Up CANCELED http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/october-content-meet-up-content-dreaming/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/october-content-meet-up-content-dreaming/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:20:54 +0000 Gigi Griffis http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=367 With so few RSVPs, I’m going to go ahead and cancel this month’s meet up. Don’t worry – we’ll schedule one for November!

Questions? Email, Twitter or phone (303.656.5020).

Share/Bookmark]]> http://blog.content-for-good.com/content-strategy/october-content-meet-up-content-dreaming/feed/ 0 TravelShark is Hiring a Content Associate http://blog.content-for-good.com/web-writing-seo/travelshark-is-hiring-a-content-associate/ http://blog.content-for-good.com/web-writing-seo/travelshark-is-hiring-a-content-associate/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:26:30 +0000 Gigi Griffis http://blog.content-for-good.com/?p=364 This is a full time position located in Boulder, CO.

Position Summary:
If you dream of travel, love the idea of discovering new places (either on foot or in your mind), and really vibe with the idea of working at a fast-paced startup in Boulder in the travel sector, this role could be a great fit.

We are looking for something we call a Content Associate who will manage the production of well-researched, quality travel articles for the global TravelShark portfolio of sites.

Responsibilities:
· Recruiting freelance writers
· Developing and assigning article topics
· Editing articles and ensuring quality standards
· Uploading articles to live sites.

The content associate also will perform other content-related tasks, such as writing exceptionally clever tweets, witty film scripts, and powerful web copy. Ok, the social media is a must. The films, not so much.

What we need
College degree (English, Journalism, or related field a plus)
· Impeccable writing, editing, and research skills
· Internet savvy
· Organized, meticulous, and still creative

What we like
· Basic knowledge of SEO principles
· Working knowledge of HTML and photo editing
· Experience writing in an online environment

Join a growing team working hard to make waves in travel. Other perks include: casual and fun office culture and access to a lot of shark candy.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to brian [at] travelshark [dot] com.

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