Use AI to help you create content
Lately, one exciting development in the field of computer science is the advancement of artificial intelligence.
Thanks to “machine learning” and exposure to vast amounts of online content, AI systems have become adept at generating written content.
While the intricacies of how it all functions may elude me, the practical benefits are crystal clear.
By leveraging these AI tools, even a skilled writer can significantly reduce the time needed to produce a high-quality article exceeding 1500 words.
Personally, I’ve managed to craft 1000+ word articles in under thirty minutes with the assistance of an AI writing engine.
What’s more, each piece passes scrutiny through Copyscape, consistently flagged as original content.
The market is flooded with numerous tools offering similar capabilities. I, for one, rely on platforms like Shortly (now under the umbrella of Jarvis.ai) and Frase.
Of the two, Frase stands out as a versatile tool that combines research and SEO functionalities in a single package.
Despite its $150/month price tag for complete access, the investment easily pays off in saved outsourcing costs or increased productivity if you have a writer on board.
I urge you to give one of these tools a try. Anything that streamlines the content creation process deserves serious consideration.
SEO or…?
When it comes to content marketing, particularly blogging, there’s this common misconception that the main goal is to boost your content’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). the reality is quite different.
I believe it’s essential to ensure your content is “Google friendly,” but beyond that, the key is to focus on creating high-quality content that addresses the queries and issues people are searching for (check out Answer The Public for inspiration).
I’ve seen individuals invest significant sums of money in so-called “SEO experts” to optimize and rank their websites, only to achieve lackluster results.
In many cases, the revenue generated from on-site monetization falls far short of the hefty investment made.
Here’s my advice: prioritize optimizing your content while ensuring it’s top-notch.
Search engines prioritize delivering valuable, original, and authoritative content to their users.
Instead of shelling out money to dubious SEO experts, consider investing in Bing and Facebook ads to drive traffic.
If your site manages to rank well organically, consider that SERPs traffic as the icing on the cake.
Content upgrades
One of the most effective methods for creating a list from blog content is by implementing content upgrades. If you’re not already utilizing this strategy, it’s time to start.
A content upgrade is a valuable freebie that not only complements the existing content but also provides additional information.
For example, if your original content was an article titled “10 Tips To Make The Apple Pie,” the upgrade could be a downloadable recipe sheet complete with a step-by-step video demonstration.
This focused approach ensures higher opt-in rates and allows for easy segmentation based on the readers’ interests.
But where should readers opt-in? Definitely not through a disruptive pop-up that interrupts their reading and irritates them.
The optimal placement for offering a content upgrade is within the content itself.
You could achieve this by utilizing tools like Beacon for creating and hosting the upgrade, or even better, by employing ConvertBox, a leading technology for intelligent opt-ins.
Use teaser content to get traffic
When you’ve got a successful blog, everyone’s quick to recommend starting a YouTube channel dedicated to it.
The idea is to convert your articles into video content, building a subscriber base on a different platform that could drive traffic back to your blog.
The advice goes for audio content, too.
But in my view, you’ve got to take a more proactive to draw people to your site or blog.
Here’s the thing: if they’re watching a video on YouTube, where distractions abound, the likelihood of them scrolling down to find your link is pretty slim.
What you want is to keep them on your turf, where all distractions are under your control and designed to boost your earnings.
So here’s my tip: create videos or audios featuring “teaser content.” These could be quick 2-minute videos with a useful tip or a condensed version of an article.
At the end, prompt them to check out the full article by clicking the link. I’ve even made an example myself: https://youtu.be/nlCyYAwnozM
If you serve up the whole shebang right away, what’s to stop them from getting sidetracked by that adorable cat video in the YouTube sidebar?
Give them a taste and leave them hungry for more – that’s the way to keep them coming back for more of your content.
A word about pop-ups
Have you ever been reading an article online, fully engrossed in the content, only to have a huge pop-up suddenly block your view and interrupt your flow?
I mean, seriously, what do you do in that? Personally, I always just slam that close button as fast as I can.
I can’t say I’ve ever been so rudely interrupted and then decided to sign up for whatever they were pushing.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to opting in to things. There are some places where I’ve willingly signed up, like:
1) Those discreet slide-ins. You know, the ones that pop up on the side of the screen like a friendly chatbox. They don’t get in the way of the content I’m trying to consume, but they still manage to catch my eye. I use one that asks a question with three different choices, which I think is a nice touch.
2) Exit intent pop-ups. Hey, if I was already on my way out and I really liked the page enough to bookmark it, why not throw my email in for the newsletter too, right?
3) Opportunities for content upgrades within the article itself. It’s a seamless way to offer something extra to readers who are already engaged with what you’re sharing.
4) Offers in the sidebar. Sometimes those sidebar ads actually catch my attention, especially if they’re relevant to what I’m reading.
I’ve come across some websites, particularly news sites, that are just overloaded with pop-ups, ads, and other distractions.
It’s like they’re making it impossible for me to actually read the article I came for. Needless to say, those are sites I tend to avoid revisiting.
So, my advice is to be noticeable but also subtle about it. Don’t overwhelm your readers with too much noise.
Re-purposing content into video
Repurposing written content into videos is a fantastic idea because people have diverse ways when it comes to consuming content, and video is a highly effective medium.
To create high-quality videos effortlessly, utilizing a specialized platform is key.
While Vidnami (formerly known as Content Samurai) was once the go-to choice, it’s no longer available.
However, there are some excellent alternatives out there, with more likely to emerge in the future.
Personally, I’ve found Pictory to be a great option and have used it extensively.
The only downside I’ve noticed is that Shutterstock library isn’t extensive as the one in Vidnami.
Nevertheless, I’ve still been able to produce fantastic videos with ease. Another alternative worth considering is Wave.
Regardless of which platform you decide to go with, you’ll have the capability to transform text into engaging videos.
Whether you choose to record yourself narrating the content, utilize an AI-generated voice, or simply add music along with on-screen captions for viewers to read, the choice is entirely yours.
In my opinion, creating two videos would be ideal – one for your blog and a shorter teaser for your YouTube channel.
This way, you can cater to different audiences and maximize the reach of your content.
Re-purposing content into audio
Audio is experiencing a resurgence in popularity these days. Back before high-speed broadband and the era of iPods and MP3 players, audio was huge.
However, video took over the spotlight around 2005.
The revival of audio can be attributed to the fact that people are consuming more content the go.
If you take public transportation, you’ll see that most folks have earbuds in.
Additionally, services like Android Auto and Apple Car Play make it easy listen to content while driving.
Given this trend, I believe that audio is the future, especially when it comes to teaser content on platforms like YouTube.
Embedding an audio player with a voice recording of the content at the beginning of an article, especially for longer pieces, is a fantastic idea.
For those already creating video content, converting it into audio is a simple process. Just extract the audio MP3 from the video using software like Camtasia.
A nifty way to transform written text into audio is by utilizing Play.ht.
This platform gathers the best AI voices from various sources, allowing you to quickly and effortlessly turn your article into an audio version.
You can then download the audio file for use as a voiceover in videos or embed their audio player in your blog posts (available with the “professional” plan), making it convenient for readers to listen instead of read.
Furthermore, you can convert your articles into podcasts and host them on Play.ht to distribute across various podcast channels.
Private content
One effective strategy to grow your email list (or even earn a modest monthly subscription fee) is by offering content to subscribers.
This approach is akin to the content upgrade model but with a more detailed and in-depth focus reserved for those who subscribe.
There are several methods to implement this strategy:
i) If you have a WordPress blog, consider using a membership plugin that allows you to hide content from non-subscribers. By restricting access to certain posts and including a registration form for non-subscribers, you can entice visitors to subscribe for exclusive content.
ii) Another option is to provide the exclusive content in a PDF format and use a platform like ProductDyno to deliver it securely to subscribers.
iii) Alternatively, you can utilize platforms like Substack, which offer built-in membership features for paying subscribers. This free platform allows you to host your exclusive content off-site while providing a seamless subscription experience for your audience.
This approach can serve as a valuable supplementary income stream.
By offering your best content to paying subscribers, you not only generate revenue for your writing efforts but also provide them with access to your expertise.
This can open up opportunities for offering coaching services, whether on an individual basis or in a group setting.
Always check content for plagiarism
Here’s a handy tip for you: whether you’re working with human writers or relying on an AI writing tool, it’s crucial to double-check your content for plagiarism.
You never know when a writer might try to take shortcuts by copying and pasting text from elsewhere, or when an AI-generated piece might inadvertently replicate existing content.
Thankfully, there are both free and paid plagiarism-checking tools available to help you out.
If you happen to have a premium Grammarly account, you’re in luck – the plagiarism-checking feature is already included.
For those looking for other options, Copyscape is a well-known tool that operates on a credit system.
Simply load up a few dollars, and each check you run will only cost a few cents.
Another highly recommended tool is https://www.quetext.com/, while there’s also a free option available at https://smallseotools.com/plagiarism-checker/.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to plagiarism, so take the time to run your content through one of these tools before publishing it.
Consider guest posts
I’ve got a tip that’s been around for ages and still packs a punch in boosting SEO and driving traffic. It’s all about guest posts.
So, what are guest posts? Well, it’s when one writes an article for another blog and in return, they get some sweet links back to their own blog in the author bio.
It’s a neat little trick to snag some organic backlinks and reel in some traffic from a high-authority site.
Now, if you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of posting, there are a few handy resources out there to help you out.
You can hit up Facebook groups like the one I stumbled upon (Guest Posts Hub – Free & Paid Guest Posts | Facebook), where writers and bloggers unite.
And hey, if you’re in need of a little extra help, I’ve got a list of 350 guest posting sites (300+ Free Guest Posting Sites List 2024 [Quality✅Quantity❌] (bloggerspassion.com)) all neatly categorized by niche.
Plus, there’s a guest posting service that might just be your ticket to success.
So, why wait? Start guest posting and watch your blog soar to new heights!