5 key factors for successful content

Content is what every user is looking for online - in some form or other. Whether it is articles, blogs, videos, wikis, or social media, the more content you have, the bigger will be your slice of Google pie. When you have more content than your competitors for a given keyword, Google will send its traffic to you to give the best experience to the user.

That content is king is probably one of the single most important concepts that marketers need to understand well and adopt in their quest to comprehend how the search engines work. The content you present to your readers on your web pages can be your most effective tool to build a rapport with present and potential customers. Here are some important factors for successful content.

Quality - Forget the uninspired press release and the hard sell. Audiences have wised up, so offer them great content that they can engage with. High quality content is one of the crucial determinants in your search engine rankings as well.

Eye-catching titles - Determine your target audience and find out what your competitors are producing. This will enable you to create content that draws the attention of the right people. Make sure your titles are as interesting as possible. Optimize it by using relevant keywords and phrases.

Useful content - If your content is of no value to your customers, it is no use. Put yourself in the shoes of your audience and find out what are they looking for. This will help you create targeted content. Also, content that appeals to the end user has a better chance of being shared online and getting quality links as well.

Some examples of useful content are:

         Videos
         Infographics
         Interactive content such as surveys, polls, quizzes and questionnaires
         List format posts
         User guide

Research well before you begin so that you know what will strike the right chord with your audience.

Creativity - Aspire to educate and entertain your audience through creative and inspiring content, instead of just making it a sales pitch. Skip the tried-and-tested methods and look for new and interesting approaches to your subject.

Frequency - With over 3 billion online users, it has never been more important to stay active online. Increased presence in the World Wide Web can not only help create brand awareness and improve traffic, but also help to improve your rankings and lead conversions.

So, how frequently should you post on social media? Here are some best practices:

•          Facebook – 2 times a day
•          Twitter – 3 times per day
•          YouTube – 1 time per week
•          Instagram – 2 times per day
•          LinkedIn – 1 per day
•          Google+  – 3 times per day
•          Pinterest – 5 times per day
•          Blog – 4-5 times per week
•         Snapchat – 1-5 times per day

Experts say it is all about maintaining the right balance. You post too little and you end up going unnoticed; you overdo it and it becomes spammy.

There are several rules of content creation, but if you follow these basic principles, the popularity of your site in the search engines will continue to grow. More traffic only adds to your bottom line, and that ultimately is what every business aspires to achieve.