How to Feed the Content Monster

Write fresh content or die trying.

Is content still king? Yes, especially content that is fresh, relevant and interesting. Plastering anything to your site is not wise, however, and something I explained to a recent commenter when he inquired about my thoughts regarding article spinning.

Served Fresh

Bloggers have known for years that good, fresh content is what attracts readers and leads to massive referencing and backlinking to articles that generate the most interest. Marketers have also come to the realization that fresh content in the form of article marketing is king, something Mikal E. Belicove outlined in an Oct. 2011 article he wrote for Entrepreneur.com. I highly recommend this article to my fellow freelance writers because Belicove illustrates just how important article marketing is. And, as a freelancer, you can and should provide this service to your clients.

Perhaps you think as I sometimes do that this whole article generation thing is a content monster. Well, your thinking is correct. At times it can be difficult to generate timely and interesting articles, but that is why tools such as Google Trends are invaluable to following “what’s new” and turning those topics into a relevant read.

Let’s take for example the Acura NSX. This spicy sports car was recently unveiled at the Chicago Auto show. Its hotness has been blabbed about all over the Internet and stories have popped up on cable news and on auto trends shows. Today, the Acura NSX is #11 in the most search terms on Google. By the time I write my article for an automotive publication on Monday, that ranking will change. It could also disappear from the top 100 most searched terms.

The important thing here is relevance and timing. Definitely, if the Acura NSX was a priority for a client, I would write and publish that article TODAY. But, the article is going to my own site…I can wait.

Unique Approach

Another important point is simply NOT to parrot what other people are saying. In the case of the NSX, the car has received near universal praise. If you genuinely do not like the car’s look, then take an opposing viewpoint. Or, if you like the car, but think that its six-figure price is over the top, then take that approach. Be controversial, but know what you’re talking about too. Then be prepared to defend your viewpoint when the critics come calling and commenting. Have your clients take the same approach too when your well-written content shows up on their website.

Yes, you need to keep feeding the content monster if want to be known as someone who is cutting-edge. The leading edge of the news cycle has long been ruled by bloggers, but today many companies are in on the game and are looking for freelance writers who can serve up the food to feed the beast.

Photo via SXC.hu — Jean Scheijen

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