Quick Content Sources for your Site

You need great content for your company’s site and blog. Your web site is a cornerstone of your web marketing program. If you want people to stick around, you must give them good information. And it should be something they need. Something they want. Why are they coming to your site? Are they leaving frustrated? Stop them in their tracks.

Mining Your Content image: Newscom

Over at Conversation Marketing, Ian has listed 5 sources of content that you may not even realize you already have. Right there. Waiting for you to grab it. And hopefully some of it is exactly what your visitors are looking for. Following is my take on the sources that he listed.

1. Local stores

If you have a product that is sold in retail stores, are you listing the locations? I have to admit that I frequently use this feature on many sites. Especially if I want to see the product in person, I will head to a local retailer. If you aren’t already listing this information, you need to get on that. Right away.

2. Transcripts

I wasn’t so sure about this one. Transcripts for any audio or video that you have? And then I realized — this is actually perfect for me. I can read it at my leisure. I actually hate watching videos most of the time. You’re tied to them, especially if they’re long. A transcript can be picked up at any time. It’s at my convenience, and I don’t have to be online to read it (if it’s downloadable).

3. Manuals

Yes, please. If you have product manuals, please post them. Make them easy to find. Easy to search. I couldn’t find the manual to a brand new car seat. It wasn’t in the plastic packaging that had the warranty information. Turns out it was under the seat. How was I to know that? Hello, new parent here! I didn’t even see a note in the other paperwork until a couple of weeks later. So finding the manual online was crucial to installing the seat correctly.

4. Glossaries

I suppose this can be good if you have lingo that a new customer might not understand. However, I really think you need to design your site to use as little jargon as possible. Make things easy to read for all levels of customers.

5. Reviews

Testimonials by real customers will do more for you than just about any other review. Do you have them displayed prominently? You absolutely should (after you ask if it’s okay, of course). Who can better sell your strong points than a happy customer? That reminds me — although I’m quick to tell my friends about something I love, I need to remember to tell the company as well. We all love praise, don’t we?

There are other sources of great content, too. Just think about it. I love it when companies list their job openings right on their site. Or warranty information. Or even behind-the-scenes stuff about people in the company. Make your company come alive with the real people who make your team so special. What other hidden gems can you mine for content?