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How to Create Content that Drives Traffic! (Read 3630 times)
Miles_139130
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How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Mar 25th, 2010, 8:28am
 
Let’s start with a basic question!  What do most people use the internet for? Huh
 
Although many people do use the internet to purchase items (like greeting cards), most people use the internet to find information.  People look up all kinds of things from "Abracadabra" (Roughly 1 million searches per month) to zamboni (200,000+ searches per month).  People look for information about how to make their lives easier, more enjoyable and more abundant!  Since information is what everyone is seeking, we need to make sure that we are giving them what they want!  This is the 'trick' to getting Google and the other major search engines to love you and to send you consistent traffic... Offering information that their users are looking for!  When someone goes to Google and searches for a specific term, Google's goal is to bring them the 'expert' regarding the keyword phrase they searched.    
 
I can already hear you thinking... "That's great, Miles, but how does that pertain to me selling my cards?"  Wink   This is the exact point I'm getting at right now!  
 
The world of internet marketing revolves around the fact that EVERYONE is an expert at something!  We all have expertise in something, and to market on the internet, we need to share this expertise with anyone and everyone who may be searching for it.  Some people are experts in planning a surprise birthday party.  Someone else may be an expert in dying Easter eggs, or do it yourself Halloween costumes and decorations.  Other people may be experts at managing a household, from breakfast to school drop-offs to soccer and band practice to laundry and dinner... Anyone who can multitask all the components that go into keeping a household functioning is definitely an expert!  Other areas can be scrap-booking, quilting, needlepoint, pet care, dog training, entertaining toddlers, taking pictures, cooking, cleaning... There are truly infinite experts on infinite subjects!  
 
If you are not feeling like you are in touch with your inner expert, grab a pen and paper, and brainstorm a list of answers to the following questions.  Write down any and all answers that come to your mind, and keep the pen moving for at least 5 minutes!  By brainstorming answers to these questions, you will successfully identify dozens of possible topics that you could write about!  
 
What do you enjoy doing?  
 
What do people compliment you on most?  
 
Who do you enjoy helping and how do you enjoy helping them?  
 
If you could do any one thing every day, what would it be?  
 
What are you inspired to teach to others?  
 
What brings a smile to your face?
 
Once you have a topic in mind that you want to write about, your next step is to get as specific as possible about this topic.  For example, I worked as a professional photographer at one point and have been taking pictures for many years.  I enjoy photography and love sharing my photographs with others, so I would definitely enjoy writing about photography.  Now, the amount of competition around "Photography" is overwhelming, and if I try to write about such a broad topic, my Squidoo lens or blog post won't have a chance at reaching the top of Google.  This is where being as specific as possible will come in handy!  So I ask myself... "Miles, what kind of photography do you like doing the most?"  Instantly, I know that action sports photography is the answer.  The thought of taking a picture of a motorcycle doing a wheelie or a snowboarder flying through the air gets my heart pumping... That is how I know I'm getting close to the right topic!  So now I ask myself another question... "Within all of the action sports photography, what challenges have I faced that I've overcome?" And an idea pops into my head!  
 
The first few times I attempted to take photographs while snowboarding, I ran into a couple of challenges.  First, how was I going to carry my $1200 camera with me while I was snowboarding?  Second, with the bright sun and reflection off the white snow, contrasted with the dark shadows given off by the trees, I kept overexposing my pictures.  Also, things happen so quickly when dealing with snowboarders in back-country conditions, it took me a while to learn where to place myself to capture the exact shot that I wanted.  Now right there, I have come up with 3 separate topics that I could write very specific articles about and publish to a webs.com site or a blogger.com piece on.  2 or 3 times throughout and once at the bottom of the article, I can include image links of cards, and text links on the card titles of cards that matched my topic of snowboarding pictures, snowy mountain top card, forest in snow card.  With most blogs or web publishing systems, you could also include your widget, if you'd like!
 
"But Miles, I thought that the goal here was to 'Sell Cards'?"  
 
...I knew you were going to ask that!  
 
When doing internet marketing, or affiliate marketing, your goal is not to 'sell' anything that you are promoting.  Your goal is to offer useful content and 'pre-sell' a few specific items which closely relate to the topic you are writing.  It is our job at GreetingCardUniverse.com (or the job of whatever site you are promoting), to sell the cards... As an affiliate your goal is to send us traffic!
Phew!  Another long post full of all kinds of information I've learned and applied successfully in my life.  I hope that this article helps you understand your goals as an affiliate, how to tap into your inner expert and the process of creating content that drives traffic.
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Kathleen_137290
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #1 - Mar 25th, 2010, 9:23am
 
Thanks so very much Miles!  This information is really helpful as I start out on my first Squidoo lens.  I really appreciate all your support and encouragement as well as the excellent help.
Kati
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Miles_139130
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #2 - Mar 25th, 2010, 11:13am
 
You are very welcome, Kathleen!  I'm here to help and am glad to share the information that I've collected and found to be useful in my life!
 
There is soooooo much opportunity with GreetingCardUniverse.com... I'm thankful to have this opportunity to be of service!
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Corrie_131338
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #3 - Mar 25th, 2010, 2:39pm
 
Great information, Miles!
 
I've been quite successful doing this with my Squidoo lenses (for the uninitiated, a "lens" is a single topic web page). My partner and I promote my line of greeting cards for cancer patients here at GCU by writing informative lenses about different topics relating to cancer, such as cooking for chemotherapy patients. We've got a dozen such lenses, and in them I include links to cards at GCU using the new "Sell This Card" code, which is extremely convenient.
 
The trick is not to spend a lot of time making lenses or web pages or blogs solely for promoting your work. Adding value by adding unique content is what will drive traffic to your cards.
 
Corrie
http://www.corrieweb.nl
Need more info and how-to on GCU?
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Retail Sales Tips - http://www.squidoo.com/sellcardsretail
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Miles_139130
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #4 - Mar 25th, 2010, 3:28pm
 
Quote from Corrie_131338 on Mar 25th, 2010, 2:39pm:

The trick is not to spend a lot of time making lenses or web pages or blogs solely for promoting your work. Adding value by adding unique content is what will drive traffic to your cards.

 
I love how you were able to say in two sentences what took me an essay to try and convey!   Cheesy  Thanks for your contributions, Corrie!!!  This sums it up perfectly!  
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Mary__137064
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #5 - Mar 26th, 2010, 11:47am
 
I have a restaurant blog for my state.  Can that type of thing work as well?
 
Bright
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Bright's Greeting Card Boutique:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Bright
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martin_138364
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #6 - Mar 26th, 2010, 12:04pm
 
Hi Mary,  
 
On GCU they have a places & cites along with food & wine categories maybe you could find some cards that would fit in with your blog. Like your state or type of dish a restaurant servers.  Wink
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Corrie_131338
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #7 - Mar 27th, 2010, 6:37am
 
Here's an idea, Bright: if you can find (or make) cards that feature areas of local interest that coincide with posts in your restaurant blog, that should help generate some traffic.
 
Corrie
http://www.corrieweb.nl
Need more info and how-to on GCU?
GCU 101 - http://www.squidoo.com/gcu101
Card Design Tips - http://www.squidoo.com/designcardsatgcu
Marketing Tips - http://www.squidoo.com/makemoresalesatgcu
Retail Sales Tips - http://www.squidoo.com/sellcardsretail
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Penny_134243
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #8 - Mar 27th, 2010, 7:30am
 
For Bright:
 
Just to add to Corrie's great advice...
 
For your restaurant blog you could also add cards the feature foods and cooking themes along with the the regional suggestion.  And there are invitations to brunch, dinner, etc, and thank you notes for after the event, so I think that there seems to be quite an opportunity to tie in with your blog.
 
Hope this helps!
 
Penny Smiley
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Angela_134247
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #9 - Mar 28th, 2010, 5:51am
 
This is such a wonderful post! I have found that the more time I am willing to work on market research and improvement, the more sales I make. One really great site for linking that you can also make pretty good money on is ehow.com. They have been having some technical issues lately, but when I started writing articles that linked to my site here I saw signifigent increases in my sales. You can see some of my articles here: http://www.ehow.com/members/fairygirlcards.html?view=3rd
 
I really reccomend starting with ehow or Xumba or another site that allows you to link to your store. It has helped me greatly.
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DENISE_132110
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #10 - Mar 28th, 2010, 11:12pm
 
corrie helped me find a resource for those of us using blogger... i am trying it out.  but here it is for you too.
 
http://bloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/2006/03/how-to-make-clickable-link.html
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Kathleen_137290
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Re: How to Create Content that Drives Traffic!
Reply #11 - Mar 31st, 2010, 8:55pm
 
Thanks Denise and Corrie and everyone.  Great information.
 
Kati
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