How to Find Your Perfect Content Marketing Fit: Part 2

Posted on March 21, 2012 by admin

In Part 1 of our series, we discussed six ways to help you make your content marketing search easier. As we continue looking at this broad topic, you will find that the more you narrow things down, the easier your decision will become.

The list of tips that we have found will cover everything you need to know in order to make a good business decision.

Can The Agency Push-Back When You Give Them Ideas
Even though it is a great thing for the content marketing agency to listen to what you say, they must be able to take your ideas and make them grow. If there is a weak spot in your thoughts or a missing link to the article, they need to be able to find that and still get your point across.

How is The Content of The Agency in Question
In order to be sure that a content marketing agency can do what they say, shouldn’t their content be eye catching as well? Check out the content of the agency you are looking into, if it does not show well educated articles or eye catching content then chances are they may not know what they are doing.

Does The Agency Offer Promotions
Getting people to look at your content is one thing, but what happens after they have viewed it? Does the content marketing agency offer any type of promotions to help generate qualified leads that turn into business?

What Are Their Metrics
Generating content marketing and promoting your company are only the basics. The content marketing agency should be able to track their campaigns and see what is working and what isn’t. Make sure that whatever agency you choose has their metrics in place and knows how to check their lead generation.

How do They Track Their Leads
Lead nurturing is very important in content marketing. Once you have thrown the “bait” it is a waiting game to see who will “bite”. Unfortunately, the ball can get dropped here and you can lose out on leads at this point. Make sure that the content marketing agency follows up on potential leads.

Check Out Their SEO Performance
Don’t just take their word for it, check them out. Nobody in their right mind is going to tell you their company is bad at what they do. See for yourself by using Google, talking to other clients and reading what they have to offer.

Susan J. Campbell Copywriting can do this and more. Our innovative ideas and creative staff are waiting to help you put your content marketing strategy in motion.

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How to Find Your Perfect Content Marketing Fit: Part 1

Posted on March 20, 2012 by admin

More and more companies are searching for ways to work content marketing into their daily routine. It seems that content marketing has taken the world by storm and now everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon.

Have you decided yet how to handle your content marketing? Does your staff know the “ins and outs” of content marketing? Are you prepared to hire an outside agency to handle your content marketing?

These are all questions you must ask yourself before you sign on the dotted line. There are a few tips that we found to help you find the perfect fit that may make your decision a little easier.

Make Sure The Fit is Good
The best content marketing agency may not always be the best fit for your company. What one content marketing agency may think fits your company well, may be completely opposite of what you had in mind. Make sure that when choosing your agency, the fit is a good one.

Check Out The Agency’s Work
Before making any decisions, ask to see a portfolio of their work. Sounds pretty basic, right? Unfortunately this is not always done and people are led astray. Make sure that their work is authentic, they have a point of view in everything they write, they are using their expertise to write their articles, the pieces are well written, the product is marketed and that everything is unique.

Look at Their Case Studies
When searching through an agency’s portfolio, it is not enough to just look at one article for various companies. Individual articles can look great on paper, you need to see case studies to see how well their content marketing paid off.

Ask What Their Content Strategy is And Then Ask to See It
The success of content strategy techniques depends on the approach. Talk with the agency and see what their strategies are when it comes to content marketing and make sure they are on the same page as your ideas.

Decide on Your Personal Style
If you want humor and wit or serious and to the point, make sure these things are conveyed during your search. If one agency has a particular style that their writers follow and it doesn’t fit with what you are looking for, chances are it won’t be a good business partnership. A good agency will have writers who can handle both scenarios.

Consider The Depth of Your Company
Depending on what your company is marketing should be the deciding factor in whether or not the writers from a particular agency will be able to help you. If you need to give specific strategies and direction, ensure that their writers can do this. If you need to lighten things up a bit and offer a more relaxed mood, this should be available as well.

At Susan J. Campbell Copywriting, these things can all be done for you. Our groups of writers cover a wide array of topics in various styles. If you are ready to get started with your content marketing, give us a call today.

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Monday Morning Coffee with Rachel

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

Last week we mentioned the importance of teamwork in our company.  Now we’d like to start introducing you to the hard working, creative members of our team that make what we do possible.  So grab your cup of coffee and spend a few minutes with Rachel, our Marketing Communications Specialist.

What becomes of a kid who grows up hunting arrowheads, wiring and blowing up pickles, and spending several hours of farm labor outside in the breeze?
They write. Of course.

Being curious is the perfect personality bent for a copywriter. Growing up on a farm in rural Missouri, as the only girl in a family of boys and the child of two science teachers, curiosity was my destiny. And writing was my dream, because you get paid to be curious about things and then put those thoughts onto paper.

At seven years old, I remember asking my parents which was the best school to learn writing. They said Mizzou. I said “Ok, fine. That’s where I’ll go next.”

I knew I had to be an advertising copywriter and come up with legendary jingles, just like Darren on the old 1960s sitcom reruns of “Bewitched” (we only got two channels then).  Copywriting was the perfect arena to bring out my passion for creative writing and put it together with my insatiable desire to get people excited about things, or products, or places, and so on.  When I caught sight of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile on campus one day, I said “Ok, fine. That’s where I’ll go next.”

What a journey it was. Traveling around the country, performing traveling public relations tasks, interviewing squirmy children for commercials and even wearing a foam hot dog suit when the job called for it. Working in so many cities and neighborhoods led me to pursue a master’s degree in rural sociology and community development, knowledge I used to help write stories in communications positions for Farmland Industries, local arts agencies, museums and non-profit organizations – as well as a position helping market niche agricultural products, like chestnuts. Along the way I picked up a professional certificate in non-profit fundraising from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Still, everything begins and ends in quality writing, and I’m so proud our company retains the “copywriting” word, albeit old-school. Even with social media and web technology, the heyday of advertising (such as my sitcom heroes and legendary professors) was built upon solid, crisp writing that continues to add value to our clients’ desires and goals, year after year.

Today it’s my complete privilege to continue the legacy of quality writing as a copywriter and marketing specialist at Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions.  Did I know the journey would take me right back home to my passion for writing, and then geographically, back to the hills of Missouri?

No. If I had, I would have said “Ok, fine. That’s where I’ll go next.”

Want to know more about our team? Stay tuned next week and have coffee with Lisa! You can also contact Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions to get to know us a little better!

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Google is Changing: Are You Ready?

Posted on March 16, 2012 by admin

Google is changing and it looks like it could be a good thing. According to this article found on the PR Daily, the Google results will now show more facts and answers to direct questions.

The reasoning behind this change is so that more users will stay on Google’s page rather than being directed to different sites for their answers. Some of the changes have already begun, here is one example.

If you ask Google the height of Mt. St. Helens, instead of getting results that tell you only where to find the information you need, the answer (8,365 ft.) will now be in black letters above the list of links available.

The direct impact of search results could be as much as 10 to 20 percent of all search queries. This could be tens of billions each month. In order to be prepared for the changes, there are three simple steps you should take.

Your Search Results Closer
When someone Google’s your company they may get more than just a link to your website. They may get information, such as the size of your company, your location, or other things of that nature. Key words could be very important if you want your company to be seen among the top lists in a Google search after the changes are made.

Consider Paid Searches
Once the changes to Google are made, you may find that your company page has been “crowded out” by Google. If this is the case, you may want to consider paid searches so that your website link shows up at the very top.

Use These Changes to Build a Search Team
With the coming changes, now is the chance to expand your work team. Consider a dedicated team of people who search Google and find the best way to keep your company at the top of the search charts. This team would also be helpful in finding any negative information that is floating around out there and counter it with positive work.

If you need help along the way, Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions is comprised of a team of proven writers focused on driving traffic effectively for our online clients. For more information – contact us today.

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There’s a New King in Town and it Happens to be Content Marketing

Posted on March 14, 2012 by admin

When you think of marketing strategies, does content marketing come to mind? If not, it should. Content marketing has surpassed search engine marketing strategies and public relations, print, television, radio advertising and more.

HiveFire, an Internet marketing software company, surveyed 400 marketing professionals to find out exactly how they handled their different marketing strategies. To their surprise, 82 percent use content marketing as their main source of marketing above and beyond print and other options.

According to an article found in Entrepreneur, content marketing is defined as the creation of publications of original content. This creation could come in the form of a blog post, a case study, white papers, photographs or videos.

All of these forms of content marketing are created to generate leads for your company and increase the visibility your company has. The ability to generate qualified leads at low cost is why content marketing has become so popular.

Lack of time and budget seem to be the reason that most companies lag behind in marketing. Content marketing was designed to not “break the bank” but give you the biggest “bang for your buck” possible. Once put into use, you will see that content marketing will generate the most leads and give you the best results.

Not sure how to get started? Contact us and let our qualified staff help you generate quality content marketing for your business or product. Because content marketing is the new “king” of marketing, it is imperative that you find your niche in the market now. Let Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions help you to get your business on the right track.

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Why the TEAM Matters for Content Marketing

Posted on March 10, 2012 by admin

Teamwork – it’s something that is critical for Susan J. Campbell Copywriting Solutions. When I first started this venture, the goal was to focus on my kids and my writing. I had no idea at the time that it would grow into the amazing experience it has become – which has everything to do with the people I have on my team.

In content marketing, the actual activities involved are very isolated in that you often must focus on the creation of the content – alone. We’ve expanded this process to include collaboration among core members to get their input and understand how we might improve the experience for our team and our customers.

Our success continues to grow due to the heart and soul these key people put into our organization. This is not just a job – it’s a passion. And we carry that passion into everything we do.

On our blog, we’ll be featuring some of our core team members, highlighting their experiences and why they matter for SJC. I wanted to kick it off with a tribute to Lisa Smith and Rachel McCoy. You’ll see in this picture our “team” pose; as corny as it may seem, that’s really what it’s all about.

We have a number of quality people working behind the scenes on all of our client projects, but Lisa and Rachel are really driving the bus that is headed to our long-term success.

Want to know more about our story? Contact SJC Copywriting today!

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To Blog or Not to Blog Part 2

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin


In part one, we began looking at ways to decide whether or not a blog was a good option for

your company. The remaining five tips should round out the information you need to make an educated decision regarding your blogging future.

Optimize Your Blog for Search Engines
If you want your blogs to be found, you must focus on keywords. The keywords are what will allow readers to locate your blogs in their search for information. You don’t have to overuse the keyword, just make sure to include it within your content.

Always be Honest in Your Conversation and Content
If you can engage your readers in honest conversation, you are one step closer to landing a new customer. Readers will check your information through Snopes or other websites so you should be sure that the person writing your blog doesn’t exaggerate anything.

Watch For News And Ideas That Are Relevant to Your Blog Topics
In order to make your blog successful, you must stay abreast of the rest of the blogging world. Public conversations are a great place to find out what people are thinking about different topics. Make sure you are not blogging about something that happened weeks ago in the business world, always stay current.

Stay Focused and Blog Often With Links Included
The more often you blog, the more readers you will gain. Each blog doesn’t have to be lengthy, just something to let your readers know that you are still there and you still value their opinions. Add links to your products or to other sites that talk about your products. If you have a reader who is researching a specific product or topic, they will appreciate the links you can provide.

Set up Guidelines For Your Blogs
Guidelines and policies will help your company avoid bad publicity which can ruin your credibility. Take time to evaluate everything you blog about before posting it because once it’s out there, the whole world will see it. If you have employees writing blogs for your company, make sure that they don’t show their personal feelings but only stick to the facts regarding the blog they are writing about.

As long as you can follow these guidelines you will be a hit in the world of the bloggers.

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To Blog or Not to Blog Part 1

Posted on March 7, 2012 by admin

Blogging and consumer-generated media seem to be the latest craze in advertising for
companies. If you are unsure how to use the tools or whether or not your company should use the tools, read our two part series based on information we found, and follow the ten tips provided so that you will have a better understanding of the ins and outs of the two.

Familiarize Yourself With Consumer-Generated Media and Blogging Techniques
Many people confuse corporate blogging with advertising and they try to use their blog for advertising their products. Blogs were meant to help you with the public relations aspect of your company but not in promoting your goods or services. Before you start blogging, read some of the more successful ones to get an idea of how to use the tool.

Decide Whether or Not a Blog is a Good Choice For Your Company
Decide what your goals are before starting your blog. Ask yourself if a blog would help you reach these goals or if they would benefit your company in any way. If you are wanting to increase your press coverage or prove innovation for your company, blogging may be a good option to consider.

Develop a Strategy
How often you blog and what you blog about depends on your companies goals. You want to ensure that all of your blogs draw the attention of your target audience. Being consistent with your blogs and showing your expertise within them is one way to build the confidence of your audience in your products or services.

Decide Who The Best Person is to Write Your Blog
Personality and writing capabilities are the key to finding the best blogger within your company. You want to ensure that the person writing your blogs has the best interest for the company in mind so that they can portray this in their writing. If the blogs are going to be about more technical terms and equipment, you may even consider having your product manager or developer write the blogs.

Choose The Correct Platform For Publishing Your Blogs
Your hosting provider, the person responsible for installing updates and your current website configuration all play a role in deciding which platform to publish your blogs on. No matter which one you choose, you must make sure that your platform is secure.

These five tips will help you decide on your blogging future. Part two will give you more tips in hopes of making your decision even easier.

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Is Twitter Making Your Company Shine

Posted on March 6, 2012 by admin

One global bank executive was left with an unusual decision. A customer who normally qualifies for the lowest level of service had nearly 100,000 followers on Twitter. With that kind of PR, should the bank reconsider their level of service to the particular customer?

According to one article, this particular bank is not the only company who has been left to make this kind of decision. More than 1,100 companies involved with several different industries on several different continents were surveyed and 70 executives were interviewed to find out what their social media strategy actually was.

There were three basic social media strategies in place and they were based on each company’s procedures for uncertain outcomes and how they sought results.

The Predictive Practitioner
This approach to things means that you are confining usage to one specific area such as customer service. Companies who want to avoid the uncertainty use this method to establish tools to use ahead of time and before things happen. One example of this is to create a website where people can give input on products your company is currently working on.

The Creative Experimenter
Companies who use this method thrive off of the uncertainty of things. They will run tests to find ways to improve on their current practices and they learn by listening to what their customers have to say on social media sites.

The Social Media Champ
This method will mean that you must have large plans in place for predictable results. A great example is when Ford campaigned for their 2009 Fiesta Movement. They loaned 100 of the cars for six months to people who agreed to Tweet or Blog about the vehicle. They based their decision on who got to test the cars by who had the most followers on social sites. Within six months there had been more than 60,000 posts. This generated more than 4.3 million views on YouTube and millions of clicks.

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What’s Your Story?

Posted on March 1, 2012 by admin

Content marketing is always changing and evolving. We found this great video from Content Marketing World that explains that evolution in a way that makes sense so we wanted to share it with you.

Posted in Content Marketing, Email Marketing, Messaging, Social Media, Text Messaging, Uncategorized, Website | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments