This week, I had the great pleasure of speaking with two people whose time and knowledge I greatly respect: C.C. Chapman (Founder, Digital Dads) & Ann Handley (Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs.com). Together they’re co-authors of my new favorite book, Content Rules. I consider it the perfect field guide for any small business or solo-preneur looking to market themselves and engage with clients successfully on the web.
In this episode we discuss: (Note: if you care to Tweet a line from the interview & spread the awesome, use the hashtag #imbpr)
- How important it is to create content as a cornerstone of your marketing (furthermore, how to do it)
- The importance of having a plan (we discuss the important of having something as simple as an Editorial Calendar to start)
- The importance of dropping the “marketing-speak” and engaging your customers as everyday people, not numbers and statistics
- To close things out, Ann (@MarketingProfs) & C.C. (@CC_Chapman) share their two takeaways (“Best Practices” for being successful on the web)
[podcast]https://www.ricardobueno.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/contentrules.mp3[/podcast]
Click here to download the mp3 | 5.11 MB | 29.46
Ann and C.C. having been posting content on their site since they started authoring the book, head on over and check it out.
What are some of your “Content Rules” for engaging customers successfully on the web? Do you have a blogging success story that you care to share? How else are you creating content to engage with fans and customers online?
Haven’t read “Content Rules”, pick up a copy:
LOVE IT. I finished Content Rules at 2am. I wanted to put it down, but I couldn't. I was reading and every next chapter was something I had been thinking about and was interested in. I love the concept of BEING HUMAN. People do business with PEOPLE. I used to struggle with this. Another point this podcast touches on is the idea of JUST DOING IT (Nike, anyone?). For so long I put off blogging. It was, simply, intimidating (especially when I didn't think my writing was the greatest). Am I doing it wrong? Does that sound ok? As I've learned, blogging and creating content is not about BEING RIGHT. It's about FINDING YOUR VOICE. Without question, I want to have a dozen copies of this book laying around so I can spread the awesomeness. That'll be my next amazon purchase.
Love your enthusiasm amigo and I don't doubt Ann and C.C. will enjoy hearing your feedback!
I read “Content Rules” over the holiday. I went to my favorite cafe and just read and read… I enjoyed their writing style and there's definitely a lot of take-aways in there. In the end, as C.C. said, at some point, you just have to invoke Nike and “Just Do It!” So don't put off your blog, launch it and do it. It won't be perfect (it never will be), but we're there for you. It will always evolve and always get better (after all practice makes perfect remember?). Do that often enough and you'll find your own style, your own voice, and it'll all come together.
Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show Matt, really appreciate it. And thanks for spreading “Content Rules”!
Thanks for this, Richardo! Great talking to you — and C.C. & I really appreciate the coverage!
Fun talking to you both and thank you for taking the time.
Loved reading “Content Rules” and think it's the perfect field guide for marketing (successfully) on the web. All of that to say I'll be recommending it often! 🙂
To be honest, I would have been bullied up to write a book with such a title because it seems that there is just too much talk around this topic 🙂 But bravo for you for having the courage!
Radu: I consider Ann & CC thought-leaders in the new media space. And truth-be-told, yes there's lots of information on the web on how to “do” social media but there's also a lot of mis-information (and I do mean a lot).
Ann & CC have laid out an excellent field-guide for building a digital business that connects (and engages) consumers in an effective way. What's more is I love their passion and writing style! Will I be recommending “Content Rules” to every REALTOR who asks me about how/where to get started with social media 🙂
Love your enthusiasm amigo and I don't doubt Ann and C.C. will enjoy hearing your feedback!
I read “Content Rules” over the holiday. I went to my favorite cafe and just read and read… I enjoyed their writing style and there's definitely a lot of take-aways in there. In the end, as C.C. said, at some point, you just have to invoke Nike and “Just Do It!” So don't put off your blog, launch it and do it. It won't be perfect (it never will be), but we're there for you. It will always evolve and always get better (after all practice makes perfect remember?). Do that often enough and you'll find your own style, your own voice, and it'll all come together.
Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show Matt, really appreciate it. And thanks for spreading “Content Rules”!
Love, love, love the title of the book (and this interview!) it is so wonderful to know that people are still willing to stand behind the fact that content is king. Also love the points about treating your readers like people – talking down to readers is one of the worst things a blogger can do (imho)
Hi Kirsten,
Yep, Ann & C.C. knocked it outta the park with “Content Rules”! Content that engages (in a very conversational way) truly is king.
P.S. When are we doing Sushi??
A group of us are going to @sushilicious on Monday the 24th at 6:30 (in Irvine) if you want to come?