What You Need to Know About Content Syndication

One of the first things new clients say to me is, "I've got a blog. Now how do I get people to come to it?"  This question can very simply be answered in 2 easy steps.

1) You've got to tell people about your blog
2) You've got to make it easy for them to tell others about your blog

Content syndication can do several things for you:

1. Improve traffic to your website
2. Increase search engine visibility
3. Increase your online social visibility and grow your professional network
4. Build your expert status within your industry

This all sounds good but how EXACTLY do you make this happen? 

Here are a few simple step by step solutions for your content syndication efforts.

Create and Repurpose  Content
Keep in mind that your target audience consumes content in multiple ways.  Some people enjoy reading a detailed article and/or blog post.  Others enjoy watching video.  Still others want just the highlights.  If you are only creating content for one segment of your audience then you're leaving money on the table.  There is potentially an entire segment of your target audience who will never have the opportunity to see what you have to offer simply because they don't consume content the way you've chosen to present it! 

As you are creating content, it's important to go ahead and plan on repurposing your best content in order to get more value out of each piece.  A great blog post could also be broken down into a Slideshare presentation.  That Slideshare could easily be turned into a video.  Take an interesting or beautiful graphic from the post and turn it into a quote photo for easy sharing on Pinterest. Create an Infographic from the information! Link each of these smaller pieces back to the main blog post so your target audience has the ability to easily find your main blog post regardless of where they were introduced to you!

It's a mistake to create a simple piece of content in the form of an article or blog post and then just park it on your website.  Content takes time to create. We live in a world where time is one of our most valuable resources. We can't afford to waste it so why spend that much time on a piece of content and then choose not to share it with all of your target market?  Share the wealth! Then reap the benefits!

Content Syndication
Ready for those step by step solutions I promised?  Here are 12 things you can do to help syndicate your own content, improve your visibility and create unprecedented web traffic for yourself!

1. Add an RSS feed to your blog so your audience can subscribe to your feed easily

2. Add your  best content to your newsletter. Use the newsletter to share the first paragraph or two and then link back to your website for the remainder of the content.

3. Add your latest blog post to your email signature

4. Link your content to other relevant content you've created. Refer to a previous piece of content you created and link to it.

5. Put social share buttons on each piece of content so others can share your content with their networks

6. Share it yourself on your own networking sites

a. Share multiple times across timezones over a period of time (don't spam)

i. Keep sharing relevant content periodically - If it's still relevant in 6 months, go ahead and share it again.
b. HootSuite can be a great timesaver when it comes to sharing on multiple networking sites

7. Video - Use tools like the ones below to share your videos across multiple video platforms at once

a. TubeMogul
b. TrafficGeyser

8. Photo

a. Create a quote photo with a link to your website (photos are being shared 10 times more than video)
b. Use sites like Pinterest and Instagram to connect with a visual audience. Get their attention and direct them back to your website.

9. Join a tribe to get your content shared

a. Social Buzz Club  
b. Triberr

10. Use tools

a. Outbrain allows you to syndicate your blog post on other premium sites
b. Submit your blog to Amazon https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/gp.vendor
c. Submit your blog to directories

i. Technorati – http://www.technorati.com 
ii. Blogarama – http://www.blogarama.com 
iii. Bloghub – http://www.bloghub.com
iv. Blogged – http://www.blogged.com
v. BlogCatalog – http://www.blogcatalog.com
vi. Outside.In – http://www.outside.in
d. IFTTT.com (if this then that -- allows you to write recipes for what to do "if" this happens "then" do "that"  https://ifttt.com/

11. Use Twitter and Facebook ads to promote specific pieces of content (Promoted posts/Promoted Tweets)

12. Network among your target audience online, start interesting conversations and show a genuine interest in others.  Regardless of what you're discussing, these activities will guarantee your target audience is consistently looking at your profile (to learn more about the knowledgeable, fun and interesting person they keep seeing in their networking groups)  and reviewing your past posts.  If you've been diligent about sharing your own content, they are certain to see it and may share it again for you!

These are just a few ways to get started syndicating your content across the web and gaining more visibility for your brand.  Want more detailed information? Click here to listen to our recent  Content Syndication segment on Word of Mom Social Media 'Help Not Hype'radio  show (Notice how I'm repurposing this content on 2 platforms? Some people will see this content on my blog while others will be introduced to it via online radio or iTunes!)

Do you have more great ideas for syndicating content?  Share your suggestions here!  Need some help with your content?  Contact me and let me know how we can be of assistance!