How do I get more content for my site?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) requires content to key off of. Blogs, Social Media and our website all need good solid written content to properly attract customers. But I'm not a writer, a photographer or a filmmaker? I am being told (daily) that my site is old and out of date, that I need more fresh content for my site.

What we are talking about here is called "Content Marketing".

What do you mean when you say “content marketing”?

Some people think “content marketing” describes the use of valuable content to attract attention and build a solid reputation with prospects. Others think it’s the use of content and high-quality information to actually market the product, in what Jeff Walker calls a “sideways sales letter” that takes the place of the usual sales pitch. And still others think it’s about creating a business around paid content, like ebooks, home study courses, and membership sites. Actually, just like those multiple choice tests from sixth grade, the correct answer is D, all of the above.

Content marketing is about taking your knowledge and expertise (or borrowing someone else’s) and using it to support business goals. There are probably a thousand ways you could do that, but let’s look at the three most significant.

- copyblogger

 Let's take a look as some resources that can make your life a bit easier!

Articles for Blogs & Social Posts

The Free Route: There are several services out there that offer writers the ability to write and then post their work for all to use. Services like Ezine Articles and the Articles Factory offer a very large database of great well written articles in just about every category you can think of. If your using these articles in your blog or for social posts, you could gain some pretty good results from the search engines, especially if you posy regularly. But the real benefit comes form gaining new followers that found your information interesting - and new followers can potentially become new customers!

The down side is that if the article has been posted too frequently, it can have little weight with the search engines - and you'll typically have to provide a link back to the source of the article. Neither is too much to worry about - I believe that SEO benefits of free articles far out weighs no articles - and adding a simple TARGET in the URL lets those who do click on the link to view it in a new browser window.

Paying for content: Why should I pay when I can get it from free? Another good question! The simple answer - it's yours - nobody else will be able to use it without your permission. Because of that fact, it's unique to you and your business and Search Engines love fresh new content they have never seen before! 

The downside is that there is a cost for this content. Up until this week I would have told you that getting unique content can cost you a couple of hundred dollars per article, but again that was up until this week when I ran across a site called Content Runner.

Content Runner is an online marketplace specifically tailored to written content. Content Runner’s goal is to establish an open marketplace that brings those in need of content together with those who generate content. Content Runner offers features and functionality to facilitate the creation and exchange of content.

Well that's the official description - in short - Content Runner is another type of crowd sourcing-ish site.

People who want content created (“Users”) post an advertisement for an article. People who want to create the content (“Writers”) contact the Users and offer their services. Users and Writers negotiate the specifics (timing, style, tone, references, etc.). Upon agreement, Users assign the article to a Writer and the two individuals work together to complete the arrangement.

Alternatively, Users are able to allow Writers to “Take” (assign themselves) an article request directly, without any initial engagement between the Writers and the Users. Content Runner recommends that both Users and Writers use this feature judiciously, to avoid miscommunications regarding the expectations of both parties (which may ultimately result in Writers not being paid for the content they deliver).

The site is a bit confusing, even for me - but the idea does sound solid, so I have a meeting with these guys next week - I'll post a follow up article once I get through all the details.