SEO content marketing roundup, week ending December 12th

Okay … I’ve been bangin’ the drum for weeks now about how important it is that you have unique and compelling content. No more gaming the algorithm. Write what your readers need to hear. The rest will take care of itself.  Don’t over-engineer your copy!

Telling stories, providing valuable tidbits, and teaching your readers. Those are the keys to the kingdom. Yes, metrics matter and you should always try to optimize your keyphrases, but please don’t let that impact your message. Google continues to pivot in favor of rewarding content that is interesting and genuinely shared. It knows how you are gaming the system, so … just stop it!

Everything you need is in this week’s Marketing roundup. Read it, heed it, and polish that content. Give me something great to read over my holiday.  Please?

Content Marketing

What are the five most persuasive words in the English language? Gregory Ciotti reveals them and makes the case why persuasive copy must contain them at Copyblogger.

We all try to give our readers good content.  Sometimes that includes a link to related content. But does anyone really click on links in your blog post? Corey Eridon uncovers the truth at HubSpot.

How is cycling like content marketing? Amy Teeple takes us for a ride at SEO Copywriting.

Win the content marketing battle with personalization.  Alexis Hall reveals the secret at TopRank.

Lighten up Francis! Take your B2B stiffness to a different place. Kathy Klotz-Guest shows you how to get results at Social Media Today.

Be a star! Create richer content for your followers. Michael Stelzner shows the benefits of having your own show using video or podcasts at Social Media Examiner.

Janet Aronica shows you how to create content that spreads like a virus at HubSpot.

The kings of content marketing have spoken. Gregory Ciotti gives you five important lessons at KISSmetrics.

Ever hear of a story arc? It’s the hook that captures the attention of most humans. Georgina Laidlaw spins a yarn about its importance in content development at Copyblogger.

Getting lazy with your content creation? Brush up over the holidays with recommendations from Heather Lloyd Martin at SEO Copywriting.

Seeing is believing. Steve Olenski says content marketing is greatly enhanced through visual stimulation. Check it out at Social Media Today.

Events:

• For affiliate marketing folks, Affiliate Summit West 2013 will be held in Las Vegas from January 13^th thru the 15^th.
• Marketing Sherpa’s Email Summit 2013 will take place in Las Vegas from February 12^th thru the 15^th.

SEO and Search

Dig deep in your SEO Audits. Alan Bleiweiss discusses large scale link evaluation at Search Engine Journal.

Check out these 10 SEO Tips to Improve Your Search Rankings–and Your Website from Marty Reardon at Marketingprofs.

Is duplicate content stealing traffic from your site? Jill Whelan breaks it down at High Rankings Advisor.

Learn the basics of running A/B tests to win big for your business. Lars Lofgren takes you through a tried and true process at KISSmetrics.

Are you new to this whole SEO gig? Learn what you need to get started from Sujan Patel at Search Engine Journal.

Change is afoot and modern link building is the target. Learn more from Eric Ward at Search Engine Watch.

Metrics, metrics, metrics. Enough already! Pamela Vaughan makes the case that a unilateral focus on metrics can be dangerous at HubSpot.

Are you measuring your SEO ROI? Do you know how? Sean Work leads you by the hand at KISSmetrics.

Jim Yu takes you through a best practices architecture upon which to build your 2013 Enterprise SEO campaign at Search Engine Watch.

And if we haven’t convinced you yet of the the importance of unique content, Chris Crum lets Matt Cutts rip on the value of unique content at WebProNews.

Matthew Peneycad shows how to search Twitter with eagle-like vision at Social Media Today.

Events:

• Learn How to Succeed in Online Marketing at SES New York held March 25^th-28^th, 2013 in, where else? New York!
• Immerse yourself in game-changing SEO and paid search tactics at SMX West 2013 March 11^th – 13^th, 2013 in San Jose, CA.

Social Media Marketing

Home is where the heart is … your home page, that is. Chris Street tells you how your website is the best place to drive social media marketing at Social Media Today.

Use Facebook as an online PR tool? Say it isn’t so. Miranda Miller says it is so at TopRank.

Wondering which links are driving your traffic? Which Facebook post is responsible? Brian Reilly shows how to use Google Analytics to improve your Social Marketing Campaign at Social Media Examiner.

Customer service goes social.  Ashley Zeckman shows how 3 companies are successfully using social media to provide outstanding customer service at TopRank.

Profit by using your professional network on LinkedIn. Patricia Redsicker shows the way at Social Media Examiner.

If you don’t establish authorship on Google+, don’t worry Google will do it for you! Matt McGee explains at Search Engine Land.

Events:

• The BusinessNext conference (part of BlogWorld & New Media Expo) takes place January 6^th – 8^th, 2013 in Las Vegas.
• Social Media Examiner’s Social Media Marketing World is scheduled for April 7^th thru the 9^th in San Diego.

photo thanks to MarthaRiley