Hey All,
Here are a few things I've been reading, writing and pondering lately. Enjoy this week's issue and if you're feeling inspired, pass it on.
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A lot of you getting this email know all about content marketing. However, it’s possible your CEO and other folks in the C-suite have no idea what you’re talking about when you mention the need to create and distribute more audience-focused content.
So, how do you get them up to speed and on board?
My friends at Scribewise have an answer for you – a new eBook that’s Everything the CEO Needs to Know About Content Marketing.
1. How to Write Content That Doesn't Sound Like Content Marketing
Here's a little post I wrote on why content marketing keeps getting worse. The best content marketers are the most cynical—they know that people don't care, so they go above and beyond to change that.
Assume no one cares. Because honestly, they don't. Think about how many articles you actually read. I bet it's very, very few. Supply is always increasing, but demand never changes. Pay close attention to analytics. Imagine spending a week writing an article that 42 people read. We've all experienced that. If you want people to care enough to read your stuff, make it really damn good.
2. A Business Strategy in Eight Words
A great post from Paul Jarvis, whose weekly Sunday Dispatches newsletter is a must-read.
I have four rules for my business.
- Be useful
- Give freely
- Stay simple
- Keep track
These aren’t platitudes or a mission statement or a business plan. I don’t care about any of that.
While I love business and love running my own business even more, I hate the way that business is “supposed to work”.
So I made my own rules.
3. How to Use Evernote for Your Creative Workflow
This thing is a beast at more than 6,000+ words. It goes deep. I won't bother pulling a snippet, just go check it out.
4. Exactly How To Spend The Last Hour Of Your Workday
One hour isn't enough to do much, so Larry Alton offers some ideas for "soft projects" that are a really good use of your least productive time.
Sometimes people avoid starting something new after a certain time of day because they know they won’t be able to finish it. If you have a four-hour task, the last thing you want to do is get started only to break your train of thought in the middle when it’s time to go home.
In this instance, I suggest you start thinking about how you’ll go about it and getting organized. How often have you started that four-hour project to realize you actually don’t have everything you need or you have questions? A short burst of proactive research could equip you with better information—and spare you that time when you’re more motivated and ready to work on the project itself.
5. Random Links
- I've recently discovered The Dirtbag Diaries and can't get enough.
- I subscribed to the (failing) New York Times this week and it feels great.
- Minimalism: a marketing ploy for rich people
- Living Out of a Van is the New American Dream
- If you're into skiing, you'll love this (free) documentary on Candide Thovex.
- This Shane Parrish/Naval Ravikant podcast is as good as advertised.
Have a great week!
Jimmy