Content Jam Podcast
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Chicago City GuideWelcome to Chicago!
As Johnny Cash once said, we've been everywhere. So if you're looking for something to do, the Orbiteers have you covered.Here are some of our favorite places to eat, drink, and get some culture. Even if you're from Chicago, there might be some spots you haven't yet...
Blogging Trends & Stats: The 4th Annual Blogger Survey Content Jam Ep. 36
In this episode, Barry and Andy sift through the many results from Orbit Media’s 4th Annual Business Blogging Survey and emphasize the practices that produce the strongest results. Listen to "Business Blogging Trends - 4th Annual Survey [36]" on Spreaker. Highlights...
The Most Common and Costly SEO Mistakes Content Jam Ep. 35
In this (longer than usual) episode, Barry and Andy conduct a crash course on the common SEO mistakes that are probably robbing you of opportunities to earn high search rankings for your content and web pages. Highlights from the episode include: How to make sure you...
How to Create and Use Welcome Emails Content Jam Ep. 34
In this episode, Barry and Andy discuss the benefits of creating welcome emails and ways to put them to use for your brand. Highlights from the episode include: How welcome email outperforms most email for open and click rates Why you should create a welcome series...
Are You Leveraging LinkedIn? Content Jam Ep. 33
In this edition of Content Matters, Barry and Andy pour forth every tip they can come up with for leveraging LinkedIn in less than 30 minutes. Listen to "Are You Leveraging LinkedIn? [33]" on Spreaker. Highlights from the episode include: How to rock your LinkedIn...
Storytelling: How Much Does It Really Matter? Content Jam Ep. 32
Is it vital to approach blogging as storytelling? Andy and Barry look at both sides of this interesting argument in this edition of Content Matters. Highlights from the episode include: Why is storytelling such a thing? How to succeed with content marketing without...
Non-Obvious Ways to Promote Your Content Jam Ep. 31
In this episode of Content Matters, Andy and Barry offer a long list of non-obvious ways to promote your content—ideas you don’t often read about on blogs. Highlights from the episode include: 29 ways to promote your content—beyond the mainstream social networks Ideas...
The Road to Recognition with Personal Branding Content Jam Ep. 30
If you’re a professional, you’re a brand. In this episode of Content Matters, Andy and Barry discuss Barry’s book, The Road to Recognition, and highlight many of its lessons on developing your personal brand in the age of digital media. Listen to "The Road to...
Simple Ways to Get Started with Content Marketing Metrics Content Jam Ep. 29
Are you avoiding measuring your content marketing efforts for fear of its complexity? In this episode of the Content Matters podcast, Andy and Barry present simple ways to get started with content marketing metrics. Listen to "Content Matters: Content Marketing" on...
How to Lose Friends and Not Influence People Content Jam Ep. 28
As a digital marketer, you’ll often aim to contribute content to other blogs in an effort to increase your reach and influence. There are effective—and ineffective—ways to conduct your outreach. In this episode, we’ll explore blogger outreach do’s and dont’s. Listen...
Examining Effective Processes for Creating Content Content Jam Ep. 27
Do you have a workflow for creating content? Is it working for you? The process of creating and collaborating on content differs from company to company. In this episode, Andy and Barry explore tools, systems, and processes for getting your content together. The...
Building Your Content Marketing Team and Talent Content Jam Ep. 26
Research indicates companies struggle to find trained and qualified talent to expand their content marketing efforts. In this episode of the podcast, we’ll share tips for building your team and the types of talent you may need to scale. Listen to "Building Your...
Get More Bang for Your Buck by Repurposing Content Content Jam Ep. 25
Everyone dedicated to the practice of content marketing knows how exhausting it is. In this episode of Content Matters, Andy and Barry explain how to repurpose content—a proven, effective way to save time while increasing your output. Listen to "Get More Bang for Your...
The Secrets of Successful Bloggers Content Jam Ep. 24
For three years running, Orbit Media has asked 1000+ bloggers how they approach the job of creating content. In this episode, you’ll hear what has and hasn’t changed in the world of business blogging. Fascinating stuff. Listen to "The Secrets of Successful Bloggers...
The Many Benefits of Collaborative Content Content Jam Ep. 23
Two heads are better than one. It’s cliche, but true. In this episode of Content Matters, Andy and Barry get into the many reasons to create collaborative content. Listen to "The Audience-Expanding Advantages of Collaborative Content [23]" on Spreaker. In this...
How to Edit Copy Content Jam Ep. 22
A ton of content creators make one, or two, big mistakes when they write copy: They publish first drafts They edit as they write In this edition of Content Matters, Andy and Barry make a case why these two mistakes compromise the quality of your content and slow your...
Website Navigation Matters Content Jam Ep. 21
Could something as basic as your website’s menu bar actually have a meaningful effect on your visitor’s experience? Listen to this edition of Content Matters as Andy and Barry discuss how website navigation can effect traffic, conversion and user experience. Listen to...
Infographics: Tips for Creating Content People Crave Content Jam Ep. 20
Put information and visuals together, two things people crave, and you get infographics. Listen to this edition of Content Matters to learn about why Andy and Barry are such strong believers in adding infographics to your content marketing mix and pickup all kinds of...
Smart Strategies for Effective Blog Design Content Jam Ep. 19
At the top of the episode, I say, “Make reading your blog a chore or a bore and it’s bye-bye baby.” Listen to this edition of Content Matters to pick up a long list of tips you can easily apply to design a more attractive and reader-friendly blog and get more from...
What to Put on Your Homepage Content Jam Ep. 18
What content should you put on your homepage? Perhaps it’s not so obvious. If the process of planning your homepage seems a bit overwhelming, this episode of Content Matters is for you. Andy and Barry offer a thorough list of ideas for your homepage and talk you...
How to Find Topics for Your Blog and Content Content Jam Ep. 17
It might not be immediately obvious to you what your audience wants to know, but after listening to this episode you’ll have a complete bag of tricks for finding the ideal content for your blog and website. Listen to "Finding Topics for Your Blog and Content [17]" on...
Ingredients of Great Written Content Content Jam Ep. 16
In this episode, Andy and Barry talk you through the 14 ingredients you need to pour into your content, so it hits the mark and accomplishes your marketing objectives. Listen to "The Ingredients of Great Written Content [16]" on Spreaker. Highlights from the episode...
Should You Call Yourself an Author? Content Jam Ep. 15
In this episode, Andy and Barry explore a variety of options for adding “author” to your bio and resume and the benefits of doing so. Listen to "Should You Call Yourself an Author? [15]" on Spreaker. Highlights from the episode include: Has it become “easier” to...
Why Content Marketers Must Understand Domain Authority Content Jam Ep. 14
The content marketing planets aligned when your hosts, Andy and Barry, selected theme music for our program written and recorded by our friend (and content astronaut) Robert Rose. The groove of the tune was the reason it worked for us, but if you listen closely, you...
How Smart Marketers Deal with Bounce Rate Content Jam Ep. 13
“A bounce is not all bad. I would not recommend freaking out over your bounce rate.” What does bounce rate mean? A search for its definition reveals: So… your visitor didn’t click a thing. They experienced one page of your site. That sounds bad. Is it? Andy explains...
Should Content Marketers Subscribe to Email Marketing? Content Jam Ep. 12
“Email marketers gain a durable advantage.” In the opening seconds of the new episode of Content Matters Andy delivers an emphatic little sermon on why email marketing is “sacred.” Still, while some content marketers subscribe to the power of email marketing, far too...
How To Do SEO that Works Content Jam Ep. 11
Just a few years back you might have achieved super SEO powers by dropping keyword bombs on your pages and “acquiring” links here, there and everywhere. Welcome to 2016 where getting your pages and posts to top Google’s search pages calls for the right balance of...
Is Your Digital Marketing in Distress? It’s Time to Revisit Your Homepage Design Content Jam Ep. 10
Your homepage fills a lot of shoes, but what are they? In this episode of the Content Matters Podcast, Andy and Barry go through your homepage left to right, top to bottom, and desktop to mobile offering smart practices for creating a homepage that accomplishes the...
The Key to Planning an Effective Content Marketing Program: A Mission Statement Content Jam Ep. 9
Companies that struggle to achieve their goals with content marketing usually don’t have a missions statement. It’s the cornerstone of content strategy. It states what we’ll be publishing, who it’s for and why they’ll care. In this episode of Content Matters Podcast,...
Interviews: Game Changers for Content Marketers Content Jam Ep. 8
In this episode of Content Matters, we come out of the gate claiming interviews can be a game-changer for content marketers. Why would we make such a bold statement? Because we've have learned that conducting interviews is extremely powerful. You’re able to generate...
How To Get Maximum Value from Events Content Jam Ep. 7
Let’s talk about how to make events matter. The first question Andy asks in this episode of the Content Matters podcast is “Why go to events?” I explained that you go to marketing events to: Learn Network Collaborate Prospect Get ideas Rev your engine Andy pointed out...
The Enormous Benefits of Guest Blogging Content Jam Ep. 6
Listen to two serious advocates of guest blogging share the secrets of how it works. Both have landed many meaningful gigs on of the biggest and best blogs in marketing. Both now operate blogs guest bloggers covet. Welcome to the guest blogging edition of Content...
How to Make Your Analytics Matter Content Jam Ep. 5
Reports don’t affect your marketing. Actions do. We've written lots of articles on Analytics and how to do actual analysis. It's one of the most important aspects of marketing. If you're not measuring results, how do you know what's working? In the next 22 minutes,...
Visual Marketing: How to Make Yours Matter Content Jam Ep. 4
Why is everyone talking about visual marketing? Visual marketing is a hot topic because it has, is, and always will be an important part of the marketing equation. Done well, it gives the stuff you publish stopping power. And no stopping power = no go with viewer...
Research: The Most Valuable Form of Content Content Jam Ep. 3
Want to launch the quality of your content into the stratosphere? Create original research. It’s my theory that every industry has something that is frequently asserted but rarely supported. Go find that missing stat. The most shareable and link-worthy content you can...
Writing Killer Headlines for Your Web Content Content Jam Ep. 2
Headlines: Does Anything Matter More? How do you write killer headlines? Should you aim to turn on readers or search engines? Listen to "Headlines: Does Anything Matter More? [2]" on Spreaker. This episode of the podcast gets into these questions and: How headlines...
Will Your Content Make a Difference? Content Jam Ep. 1
“Your website is your mousetrap. Your content is the cheese.” It was the headline of a Content Marketing Institute post. It stuck with me. Years later, I met the author of that headline, Barry Feldman. First, he called me out for using it in a presentation without...