How do you create good content!

UKBDF · #1 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 17:10

Hi,

Im just wondering what do you think makes good content?

How can you write decent content?

OldWelshGuy · #2 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 17:36

Write about something you understand, and write it naturally and with passion. People like to read REAL copy and are (IMO) getting battle weary of sales patter.

KingPin · #3 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 17:43

Im just wondering what do you think makes good content? - That's a little bit of a broad question as it differs from site to site.

But I think creative, refreshing content is good. For me, especially in the SEO/SEM industry there must be bazillions of companies online offering pretty much the same service. Keyword research, competitive research, etc etc.

It can be hard to try and make yourself stand out and I think you have to write in such a way that makes you ask the question "Why should I use this company?".

Giving the user something different or coming from a different angle can make all the difference and if you can write on all levels, i.e. for the not so savvy visitor right up to the techno buff that knows what your talking about is also the key I have found.

The same rule applies to e-commerce stores. There are millions of site that sell children's clothing, why should your visitor buy your product?

How can you write decent content? - I don't know about others but I tend to evoke reactions. Appealing to peoples emotions works well because from a Psychology point of view, humans are all curious creatures.

Writing creatively can give you that edge. You wouldn't read a book if it never captivated you or kept you in suspense. The same can be said for copy writing on the web.

I'm no copy writer but I do know one of the best in the world and we were chatting once and he told me a simple trick that increased his clients direct mail response by 2000%....

"He puts it in his pocket" rather than "He put it in his pocket" The first one leads you to believe its in motion and the second one leads you to believe he put it in his pocket and that was it.

So it's just little things like that, that make a huge difference in conversion and keeping the "stickiness" of your site.

If you can inject a bit of humour too then that is a big plus

KP

Scottscd · #4 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 18:31

Content for what?

Where it's going makes a huge difference in what makes it 'good'.

solutions4finance · #5 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 21:16

I write car reviews in a "blog" attached to the website. The reviews are relevant to my industry, and do seem to have a positive effect. For example, thanks to the blog, my website comes up in the top three on google if you search under the term "BMW 125" (and it does bring in business!). The blogs have also been picked up and copied, with permission 9and links back) on other websites.

I also have different categories for things within the blog such as general business news etc.

Is there anything relating to your business that you could write about? Could you become an "expert" about something and write about it on a blog entry?

If it helps you to develop any ideas look at the website at www.solutions4finnce.com and click on the "News and Reviews" tab.

Best of luck

Justin

admagic · #6 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKBDF

Hi,

Im just wondering what do you think makes good content?

How can you write decent content?

Almost all content is there for a purpose - even articles - and is aimed at getting people to do something!

First of all it has to make them read it! to do that you need a provocative headline.

There are a number of forumulae which seem to work well..even when not trying to sell.

One good formula for most situations is

Headline compells you to read...
Problem
Agitate
Solution
Proof
What next

if you look hard - that is similar even to the structure of a shakesperian tragedy!

A headline should always "beg a question" - and get you to ask - I wonder what that is?

eg

The three mistakes
Five ways to..
How to ....
Why ....

Often including a qualifying condition helps to .
interest readership eg ...even if... .without... by at least....

eg
Five ways to motivate junior staff - without an extra penny on wages!

The problem - is a concise statement.

Agitate - gives examples of why the consequences of not attending to it are painful

Solve - explain what is new - how it is new and why it works - or the
five ideas

Proof - always give an example of success to do with your statement

What next..... tie up the lose ends....and then suggest an action.

A couple more points:

(a)
If you are trying to get them to go somewhere else eg to a site -

- then use the article to say WHAT needs tobe DONE and PROOF
- and say - for details of HOW to do it see HERE

(b)
Given a choice of pictures of things or people - always choose people - and give the picture a caption...

(b)

You must use subheadings to break up the text...which if they
are speedread - give a flavour of the article but still beg a question and force you to read.......

"days out like paintballing work - but not in situations like these:"

"but you cant try that with senior staff and heres why...."

"the problem of motivating trainees is now solved.....and it was this brilliant idea that fixed it..."

"in these three trials the results were outstanding"

Notice how words like "this" "these" "heres why" force you to read on.

If the content is a VERY long article - then use the
"tell em what you are going to tell em"
"tell em why they must read it all"
"tell em" (problem agitate solve)
"tell em what you just told them"
"tell em what to do next"

or you will lose people along the way.

OldWelshGuy · #7 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 23:43

great post AM

Cracking Media · #8 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by solutions4finance

If it helps you to develop any ideas look at the website at www.solutions4finnce.com and click on the "News and Reviews" tab.

Best of luck

Justin

Justin - I like the conversational style of your writing very much and the fact that you offer your opinion. It works well I think. Incidentally, there is a typo in your link - have a read of the blog folks - try this link: http://solutions4finance.com/blog

Thanks too for everyone else who has posted. Some great thoughts and ideas.

I have written quite a lot of the content on our business website. Whilst I pride myself in thinking that I can write reasonably well, I am never sure that when I come to writing for marketing/promoting what we do etc that I am really hitting the target with the reader and also delivering enough keyword content for the search engine. I don't know about you, but I think it is quite hard to step back and critique your own writing objectively. I tend to be over analytical and then lose the plot.

So if anyone has the time to wander over to our site (I'm not expecting a detailed analysis!) and critique the content - no holds barred - then that would be appreciated.

Thanks all,
Peter

solutions4finance · #9 (**permalink**) 20-06-2008, 09:23

Thanks for pointing out the not-too-deliberate mistake Peter, and for the positive feedback on my writing style.

With regards to typos, the one I just showed you wasn't a good example, but it can be a good idea to include some deliberate mis-spellings of keywords to try to pick up on the small number of people (which at times can turn out to be quite a larger number of people!) people putting typos into search engines (eg, BWM instead of BMW).

best of luck

Justin

Arleigh · #10 (**permalink**) 25-06-2008, 11:42

To have a good content, you must create it on your own.
Don't try to copy other's article by just trying to edit some of its words.
It's really best you have a full knowledge about the topic so you can come up with your own idea, concept and words.
In this way, you can explain clearly your ideas...