Top 10 Content Marketing Mistakes

content-marketing-mistakes

People use the Internet as a problem solver, as entertainment and to find information. Content is the perfect way to provide this to your target audience through blog posts, articles, reports, email and more. Content is definitely one of the easiest ways to reach your target market of buyers with little to no cost out of your pocket… as long as you do it right.

Simply publishing content and hoping that the sales will start flooding in just isn’t going to work. Content marketing requires a solid plan and approach to be worthwhile for your business.

One way to start moving in the right direction is to avoid many of the common content marketing mistakes. This guide will take you through 10 of these mistakes and make it easier to get content to grow your business.

 

Mistake #1: Forgetting to Promote Content

content strategiesIf you’re like many content publishers, you take great pride in your work and painstakingly create awesome content for your readers. But no matter how great our content is, if we don’t actively promote it then we’re cutting our opportunities short.

When you publish any content, make sure you put in as much effort into spreading the word as you did to creating it in the first place.

  • Share your content with your mailing list.
  • Announce your content on your social media accounts.
  • Redistribute your content to other websites.
  • Ask friends in your niche to share your content.
  • Make sure you have social sharing options for the readers of your website.
  • Provide affiliate links to your content, so your affiliates can share it too.
  • Use paid advertising options to promote your content even further.

The important lesson here is that creating content is only one piece of the puzzle. You also need to work to get people to read it.

Mistake #2: Failing to Reuse and Repurpose

If you’ve been publishing in your niche for a while, you’ve probably created a ton of content and covered a wide variety of topics. The great thing about all the work you’ve done is that you can use it over and over again. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel each time you create new content because you’ve already done a ton of the legwork.

Here are a few ideas for you:

  • Articles can be bundled up into a special report and given away freely, as a bonus, or even sold as part of a product.
  • If you have a report, it can be broken up into articles and redistributed.
  • Submit your content to print publications like newspapers, magazines and local newsletters.
  • Create a video or slide show presentation out of your how-to articles.
  • Have your audio and video materials transcribed into written format.
  • Build on existing content by expanding certain points, introducing new ideas and more.
  • Share older popular content with new members of your audience.

There’s no sense in letting your hard work just fade away. Keep your content working for you instead.

Mistake #3: Missing Call to Action

call-to-actionFor many, content creation is a labor of love. We love the topics we cover and are passionate about our subjects. We just hope that somehow that passion will turn into profit. We’re told that if we create content, people will see us as experts and they’ll buy our products and use our services.

But here’s the problem with that idea.

If you don’t tell your readers about your products and services, they aren’t going to know they can buy them.

Each piece of content should have a purpose and a call-to-action. Whether it’s to get a quote for your roofing services or an opportunity to get a free crochet pattern, it doesn’t matter. Content should always have a purpose and you should know what that purpose is.

 

Mistake #4: Not Understanding Your Target Market

Having a deep understanding of your target market is key to content marketing success. If you don’t know what makes your readers tick, how can you possibly create the content they’re looking for?

An understanding of your target market can come in a number of ways:

  • Keyword research that shows you what people are searching for in your subject area.
  • Paying attention to blog and social media comments.
  • Asking your readers questions. What are they concerned about? What do they want to know?
  • Consulting published market research, but understanding that this is just a start point because your unique audience may have different interests.

Know who you are marketing to and the right topic ideas will be easier to find.

Mistake #5: Creating All Your Own Content

We’ve already established that content marketing isn’t simply about creating content. There’s plenty of planning and marketing involved outside of what gets typed on a screen.

The most successful content publishers get help with their content and rarely write it all themselves. Guest writers can add fresh and new perspectives to your website.

When you get help in creating your content, you can focus more on getting results from your content.

 

Mistake #6: Lack of Relevance

Have you ever signed up for a mailing list and then scratched your chin at some of the stuff the list owner sent to you?

no-relevance

For example, you sign up for a mailing list about work at home and suddenly the owner sends you offers for weight loss products. Sure, we can make the connection between working at home and weight loss. After all, those of us who work at home can attest to the fact that getting enough exercise and maintaining one’s weight can be an issue, but it’s not what we signed up for when we subscribed.

The more relevant you can be, the better your results will be in the long term. Your readers will know what to expect and you will continue to grow your understanding of what your audience really wants. Be relevant. Every time.

 

Mistake #7: Not Prioritizing Content

There are many options when it comes to content publishing. You can write and distribute articles. You can blog. You can email your list. You can post a video to YouTube. The possibilities are nearly endless.

But one thing becomes quite clear – different methods will work better for you than others. It’s important to focus on those methods and make them a priority.

There’s no sense in trying to juggle too much and do everything in a mediocre fashion. Figure out where you really shine and put your focus there.

Mistake #8: Not Sharing Other People’s Content

blog3It’s natural to stay focused on one’s own content. After all, we’ve taken the time to create the content and it has been designed to promote our business. However, there are a couple of benefits to sharing other people’s content.

First, by sharing content with your audience, you can be seen as a valuable resource for great content. Introducing your readers to new perspectives and ideas is a good thing.

Second, by sharing you’re forging relationships with your fellow publishers. If you readily share content, people are more likely to share yours.

Take the time to find some useful content for your readers and share it via email, on your blog or through your social media accounts. Make it a habit and see what happens.

 

Mistake #9: Not Interacting With Your Audience

There’s no getting around it. Today’s web is interactive and our readers expect interaction. As a content publisher, you should be prepared to respond to comments, answer questions and engage your audience frequently.

This doesn’t mean that you have to open yourself up to answer phone calls and individual emails every day. That’s not a good use of your time. But do be available through the content channels you operate on. There is no such thing as a one way conversation.

 

Mistake #10: Quantity over Quality

sample-pic1It’s true that more content gives you more opportunity to be seen, but focusing on quality means your content can go even further. Take time to produce more detailed content. Make it more visually appealing. Publish it in a variety of media. Take the time to do things well.

When you do things well, people will recommend your content. They will come back for more.

If you instead publish thin and barely helpful content, they won’t tell anyone else and they sure won’t be back for more.

If there’s anything that’s clear from these 10 content marketing mistakes, it’s that you need to put your focus into what works and to put in a complete effort to reap the full benefits. Publishing content…even great content…simply isn’t enough to grow your business. There are many pieces to the content marketing puzzle, but once you put them together, the results can be amazing.

How to Create Professional CDs with Kunaki

createCD

Kunaki specializes in print on demand CDs and DVDs which can contain audio, video, ebooks, games, or data. In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the Kunaki software to create a data CD.

You will need:

  • A PC (not Mac compatible)
  • A fast internet connection (Dial-up is not recommended!)
  • Your data product(s) already added to a CD
  • Graphic program
  • Graphics for CD and cover (16 bit and 300 dpi)

Use these templates to make sure your images are the correct size.

 

Note: Kunaki deletes CD /DVD products if you or someone doesn’t buy within 180 days.

 

Step 1: Download and install your software

The first thing you will need to do is download your CD/DVD creation software, which is an .exe file. Save it to your desktop for easy access.

1-kunaki-exe

 

Double click on the icon to install. Choose run.

2-kunaki-run

 

When the program screen opens, read the info and click on the green button in the upper right corner to begin.

3-kunaki-begin

 

Step 2: Select your options and fill in product info

When the next page appears, you will see a list of information. The first question asks you to select your product type. This determines the questions you see underneath. We chose the data/other option.

The information requested includes (bold is required):

 

Product type

Add UPC bar code

Title

Sub title

Original release date

Copyright message

Author

Author web site

Publisher

Publisher web site

Catalog number (ASIN)

Description / requirements

 4-kunaki-proj-info

 

When you are finished adding your information, click the green button in the top right of the page.

Step 3: Design your case and CD

Note: Make sure you have your images ready before you start. You cannot save your project and come back to it, so you will need to have everything ready to go when you start.

On this page you will choose your design method. You may choose to have the program auto-design a cover or you may add a custom design. Then pick the disc type you’d like to use. Choose whether you want to use a CD or a DVD. What kind of case would you like to use? Choose a jewel case or a DVD case.

5-kunaki-project-design

We chose the custom design. By doing this, we were able to add a 3-D title instead of just having the program add it in plain text. If you are good with graphics or have a graphic artist on your team, we recommend using the custom design option.

Make sure your images are the appropriate size. Upload your images using the browse button. If the graphic doesn’t look right on the product, use the “clear” button to delete the image. Edit and upload your image again.

6-kunaki-image-uploads

To preview your product, use the view buttons to open the case and scroll through the different views of the case and CD.

7-kunaki-product-views

 

Step 4: Create and save your master CD

When you are finished adding your images, click the green button in the upper right corner.

Upload your CD files.

8-upload-cd

Click the “save as” button. Choose the place where you would like to save your project and type the file’s name into the popup box. The location will show up in the box below.

9-kunaki-save-to-file

You should see this type of message. If you do not see this message, you may need to adjust the settings on your CD and try again or click on the question mark in the top right of your screen.

10-kunaki-compiling-project

 

Step 5: Launch your master file

When your product has been compiled, you should see the file location of your project and a button. To launch your saved product click the button.

11-kunaki-launch-product

 

When your project launches, you will see a master copy similar to the one shown below.

12-kunaki-mastercopy

 

Step 6: Perform pre-publishing tasks

On this page, you have three pre-publish options in the upper left of the page.

Option 1: You may print disc label and contents by clicking on the “print disc and case” button and then choosing your print options.

13-kunaki-print-options

 

Option 2: If you want to save the CD contents to a folder on your hard drive, click the “extract contents to folder” button, browse to folder and click on the “start extracting” button..

14-kunaki-extract

 

Option 3: To make a copy of the master CD, click on the “record contents to cd” button in the upper left of your screen. Simply insert a blank CD and press the “start recording” button.

15-kunaki-record-cd

Step 6: Publish your product

Once you have saved or printed anything you wanted from the master CD file, you are ready to publish. To do this, click the “publish” button in the top-right corner of your screen.

Here you will be asked to login or register. Registered members may quickly fill in the current member section at the top. If you aren’t a registered member, you’ll see a registration form. After you fill in the info, click on the publish button.

17-kunaki-signin-register

Next, you will see your publishing progress. The larger the file is, the longer it will take to upload. Some people, in the past, reported video upload time taking as much as 48 hours. However, you can see that our 6.58 MB file, took less than 5 minutes to upload with a DSL connection.

18-kunaki-publish-progress

When your project has completed uploading, you will see a message stating that it was delivered successfully. The message also instructs you to access your account to order your product or activate the “publish at no cost” service. Simply click the “ok” button to do either of the two things.

19-kunaki-completed

Once you receive the success message and login to your account, you may want to request a free copy of your product, purchase a product, or make adjustments to the product details, etc.

How to Publish a Paperback Book with Lulu

print_bookLulu specializes in print on demand items which include hardback books, paperback books, brochures, photo books, calendars, cookbooks, poetry books, ebooks, images, CDs, DVDs, and digital files. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a print on demand paperback book and set up a free Lulu shop.

You will need:

  • Book graphics (plus front and/or back images)
  • Prewritten Book – contents in .doc, .docx or.rtf, but preferably in.pdf. format
  • Adobe Acrobat is highly recommended; alternately you may use their conversion service and pay to have your document converted. This can cost $99 or more. You can also create a PDF version with Microsoft Word.

 

Step 1: Create a member account

Create a member account by supplying information including your:

  1. Full Name
  2. Email Address
  3. User Name
  4. Password
  5. Country
  6. Language

Read and agree to the Membership Agreement and click the signup button. You will be taken to your “My Lulu” dashboard.

 

1-lulu-dashboard-pg

 

Scroll to the My Account section in the sidebar and edit your preferences.

2-lulu-account-pref

 

Step 2: Select your project

 

Under “Start a new project” click on Paperback book if you want to create one.

3-lulu-choose-project

 

Add a working title and your name.

4-lulu-title

 

Select who has access. You may want to keep it private until you get a bit of practice.

5-lulu-book-visibility

Click save and continue.

Step 3: Choose your project options

 

In this section you can select your preferences for your book’s paper type, size, binding, and printing color.

Paper

6-lulu-paper-opt

This book will be approximately letter size.

7-lulu-size-opt

 Binding

 8-lulu-binding-opt

Color

9-lulu-color-opt

Click save and continue.

 

Step 4: Upload your PDF file

 

Check the PDF you’ve created, to make sure it meets the requirements for this book. If you want to make sure your PDF prints correctly, you may want to download this template in Word.

Once your document is formatted correctly, you may upload it.

10-lulu-upload-book-pdf

When your document is uploaded correctly and without errors, you should see a success message at the top of your page. If you don’t have fonts embedded or something else is wrong, you will see an error message instead.

11-lulu-upload-success

 

Click the “Make Print-Ready File” link. You’ll see a success message when it’s done and you’ll have a link to download and check it. Then click save and continue.

12-lulu-upload-complete

 

Step 5: Add the book’s covers

 

Now you will be taken to a cover wizard where you can create your cover pages and add images. If you created a full image for the cover, you may want to upload it and then drag and drop it on to the front cover and just use solid colors for the back and spine.

13-lulu-book-cover-wizard

1. Select parts of the book to edit.

2. Choose background and text colors.

 

  • 3. Upload images to drag and drop into the photo areas.

 

When you’re done, click the preview and make print-ready button.

14-lulu-cover-ready

When it’s finished, you’ll see a success message and two links for you to preview both the cover and the book’s content.

Review, click save and continue.

 

Step 6: Review your project

 

Review your project and make any needed changes. The items you can change have a “change” button beside it.

  15-lulu-book-review

16-lulu-review-price-access

After choosing the options you want, click the save and finish button.

You will then see a success page because your book has been published!

Next, you’ll need to set the preview for potential buyers.

17-lulu-customize-preview

 

 

Step 7: Set custom preview

 

The default preview is up to 10 pages. You may or may not want people to view that many pages of your book.

Make your changes. Click save and continue.

18-lulu-new-preview

View the preview pages. Click the save and finish button. You then see the product page as potential customers would see it.

Once you have your book edited to your liking, you will need to change the private access (Step 6) so that you can set up your shop. Just go to your dashboard, click the revise next to the project and edit the access.

While you’re revising things, there is one more thing you’ll need to edit – your royalty fee! Click edit and add your royalty to the product price. Then click the “save changes” button.

19-lulu-set-royalty

Before you log out, make sure you’ve edited all of your account settings so you’ll be sure and get paid. That’s all there is to setting up an account and creating a paperback book.