There must be an astounding amount of content on the Net today. But don’t ask me to tell you how much. I just know it must be huge compared to when I first started developing affiliate marketing training programs in 2001.
And it was huge then!
In those early days as an affiliate marketer “getting traffic” was the name of the game. And by traffic I mean getting to the top positions on the major search engines so that large numbers of visitors visitors would be exposed to my affiliate links.
Back then we called it “driving eyeballs” to your website.
One of my early mentors, Ken Evoy, was fond of saying, “content is king,” because it was obvious that the more pages of content you had the better your odds were of getting more eyeballs in front of your affiliate links.
I often had 500 page websites, each page optimized for a few important keywords based of some keyword reports I’d have developed in profitable (well searched) niches.
The game was pretty basic back then.
Each page was optimized for a particular “primary keyword” in addition too a selection of “secondary keywords”. All you needed were 300-500 word articles based on those keywords – and voila, massive amounts of traffic! (and income)
And although those days are gone content is still the #1 way to get traffic. But it needs to be content of a specific nature.
The Bookstore Analogy
In my country, Canada, we have a major chain of big box bookstores called Chapters. These massive warehouse type retail outlets, which are modelled after some of the U.S. stores like Barnes and Nobles, display tens of thousands of books on row upon row of high shelves.
Every single book has an author, a publisher and a title. Each wants to be read. Some get read. Others don’t.
Why is that?
If you think about it the search engines also have massive amounts of published material in the form of indexed pages. Each page has an author (presumably it’s a human), a publisher, (bloggers are publishers, too, you know) and most online written content has a title.
Both, bookstores and websites present “content”, don’t they?
But you, as a author/publisher, want readers.
The content is not the issue here, for what is the use of having content (on the shelves or in the index) if it never gets exposed to those eyeballs I mentioned earlier.
Frankly, although “content was king” in 2001, that type of content became toast after the Google Jagger update of December, 2004.
And in early February, 2011, Google again dumped millions more pages of what they called “low value” content when introducing the Farmer Algorithmic update. (farmer refers to “content farms”)
Today, more than ever online publishers need to produce content that is compelling, interesting, almost epic in nature for Google to rank it.
Although a few other critical strategies still need to be part of the mix, (discussed often in my affiliate marketing podcasts) without interesting content you don’t stand much of a chance in today’s competitive online world.
I’d say it’s the first thing you need to get right. It’s the #1 key to getting qualified traffic.
Over To You
You’re a content creator. How would you define “quality content”?
Twitter: webduck
says:
As a genealogy niche article creator, I have several different ways to share content. Some are articles of history related to my ancestors; some are “tips and tricks”; and some are actual documents I can share with my readers. I do mix a little advertising into the blog, but since I’m an Ancestry.com affiliate it’s mostly for them.
webduck´s recent blog post ..Ancestrycom Offers Free Access To All Civil War Records For Anniversary
Twitter: seotard
says:
Quality content comes down to the writer, and if the reader enjoys the content. The thing I found is that if you stay witty, throw a few funny jokes in somehow & still stay on the topic whilst getting your keywords in somewhere too works great!
Twitter: smartboydesigns
says:
It always seems to be those “witty” authors I remember most. They’re comments always seem to stay somewhat “materialized” in my mind forever.
With Google’s latest algorithm changes, it seems that the more your content answers questions and produces real, lasting value – the better. So in an effort to stay current, I think it’s best bloggers write to that standard. To answer questions, create value, and be highly targeted to their niches/topics.
Christian´s recent blog post ..Building Up a Blogging Community
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
I agree with adding some “wit” to the comments. I also like posts that include a little back story to give the article perspective and context. I do also agree with you when you say “content answers questions and produces real, lasting value”.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Affiliate Buzz 196 – Website Spring Cleaning- How To Double Your Income With Your Existing Traffic
Twitter: liveurlove
says:
Ken Evoy is still my “mentor” and a website building idol
I built my first website using SBI and to this day the traffic over there is increasing as is the money made with it.
I still think content is the main thing to get people to come back and stick around except it isn’t the only thing anymore and networking and social medias are a must too.
Brankica´s recent blog post ..50 Traffic Sources You Should Milk Like Crazy
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Ken Evoy is quite a guy. He has a long track record of success. My wife Arlene and I were lucky enough to have dinner with Ken and his wife a few years ago while attending an Affiliate Summit. It was great to meet the two of them and spend some time.
I do agree with you that “networking and social medias are a must too”. I would have to think as well that posts that include a lot of comments is something that Google may look at in the future if they’re not doing so already.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Affiliate Buzz 196 – Website Spring Cleaning- How To Double Your Income With Your Existing Traffic
Twitter: grandmainternet
says:
Most people searching on the Internet are seeking to solve a problem or find out some information on a topic. If your content addresses their needs and uses the right keywords you will be read.
Pat Tate´s recent blog post ..Your Own Content Management System
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Hi Pat, well said. It does seem to go back to the find and need and fill it …or in this case find a question and answer it…or identify a problem and solve it for people.
I have to agree with you. Its original good writing that will do the trick. I find that I get a lot of my traffic just by writing as if I’m talking to a friend. Nothing salesy, just like having a conversation with somebody about a topic. At the same time appealing to their emotions or ego’s in a friendly way. Yes of course with your keywords laced throughout also….;)
kev77´s recent blog post ..4 Tips for Proper Gun Safety
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
I am too a big fan of conversational style writing. I prefer reading content that just flows nicely as if we were having a conversation over coffee with a friend.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Affiliate Buzz 196 – Website Spring Cleaning- How To Double Your Income With Your Existing Traffic
Twitter: twitdood
says:
Its a wonderful thing. I used to hate article writing. Only because I didn’t understand it. Now that I’m learning from reading many peoples teachings and comments on blogs such as yours, it is fast becoming one of the things I love to do.
Kev´s recent blog post ..How To Test the Strength of Your Attic Ladder
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
I can relate. There was a time way back when I felt writing articles was a chore. I guess the main reason was I was a slow typer and slow at putting my thought to paper. I have found with practice that it is much easier to write and I enjoying it.
Twitter: LoveThatBug
says:
Quality content has to say something about the topic that is different or uncommon or even simply explaining that topic better than all the other pages out there on that same topic. That is why article spinning will never work long term. The article is just saying the same thing in a different way. And some of them are almost unreadable.
Ken Evoy was/is right. Lots of quality content that is well linked will always get the vote.
lovethatbug´s recent blog post ..Mutaflor
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Agreed. I read an interesting article a while back about article “spinning”. They were referring to the a specific article directory and how they had something like a thousand articles that were all basically saying the same thing. No quality, no substance …just drivel.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 113 – How Does Google Treat Sites Where All External Links Are No-Follow
Twitter: rdx_karan
says:
Wow, this post really got my mind crackin!
I guess I need to stop reading here and get back to work and apply it.
thanks
karan´s recent blog post ..Backlinking and Promotion – How to Start Building up a Successful Blog
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Agreed. Even a good article spinning software turns a well written article into a grammatical disaster. It is also short term thinking. Even the best search engine loophole is closed quickly these days.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Affiliate Buzz 196 – Website Spring Cleaning- How To Double Your Income With Your Existing Traffic
Twitter: newtricksin
says:
wow! I found this article very useful I will apply some changes to my blog soon, thankyou
krishna´s recent blog post ..Earn Upto Rs 9000 – Month Easily – I Got My First Cheque Screen Shots
Quality content is not the only thing that people are looking for, they also like humor. Try to add a funny remark in your blogs and you’ll see more people respond.
Goran´s recent blog post ..Google Standing up to Facebook- Launching 1
Do you think the farmer update affected affiliate sites that have the same product information as the original seller?
jimmycook´s recent blog post ..Virgin Atlantic Annouces Direct Flight to Las Vegas from Manchester Airport
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
A great question. I would suggest that the answer is — it depends. If the content is simply a regurgitation of the website’s product information, then yes. The term for this as I understand it “brochureware” which should be avoided.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 113 – How Does Google Treat Sites Where All External Links Are No-Follow
So let’s say that I have great articles, with “compelling, interesting, almost epic” content. But if my site is new and I don’t rank well on search engines, how will people going to find my articles??
Radu´s recent blog post ..Dell vs Toshiba laptops
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Well doing what you’re doing here is a great start! I would also suggest posting some of those “compelling, interesting, almost epic” content on sites like this one to gain additional exposure and the always important backlinks to your site.
Twitter: rscannon
says:
I define “quality content” as words that not only provide useful information, but also provide words of wisdom. They provide the reader the “what” and “how” for what most readers are looking for.
Twitter: namit_gupta
says:
Quality content is the content which people are searching for. If you write a good detailed post on a topic with excellent use of language its not necessary that you’ll start getting good traffic on that article. You will get traffic on only the content which people are searching for. So Proper keyword research with decent use of language is very important for writing an article you want to get huge traffic on. These are my views on what Quality Content is. Cheers!
Namit Gupta´s recent blog post ..Download 6 Best free Android Games
Twitter: Mazzastick
says:
I’m glad that Google made some changes in regards to content farms and low value content. I want simplicity and ease when searching for a particular topic.
Justin´s recent blog post ..My Three Month Blogging Experience
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Ditto.
Twitter: partlysunnyblog
says:
I just have a little, tiny blog, but I’ve always prided myself on having solid, funny, interesting writing. And I count on the idea that people will come back because of it. I’m always stunned when I read a blog that has tons of followers, daily posts, and nothing to say. I’d rather post as infrequently as I do than churn out a bunch of substandard material, just for the sake of churning it out. So thank you for this article. I feel at least somewhat vindicated in my thinking.
This new algorithm update has hit a lot of websites, my blog website did take a hit, is this mainly due to poor relevant links linking to my website?
Ash
commentluvdofollow´s recent blog post ..web video
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Hey Ash, it could be. In days gone by you could never get hurt by an inbound link. This is no longer the case. I would suggest gathering up some quality inbound links to your site.
James Martell´s recent blog post ..Google SEO Tip 113 – How Does Google Treat Sites Where All External Links Are No-Follow
I agree with you and in these days article spinners softwares are doing dramatically.I have losted rank in google.quality content is not the problem anyone is writing good posts just see the comments here.
endlasuresh´s recent blog post ..blu magic mobile phone
Twitter: dannyyounes
says:
I was contemplating doing article spinning for my articles in my site. Lucky I didn’t do it and just got a article writer to write articles for me. Thanks for sharing
Danny Younes´s recent blog post ..Make Extra Money at Home Spending 5 Minutes A Day
Twitter: searchblogger
says:
There are a lot of good comments already on what makes for quality content. I think if you have a interest or passion in a subject this will come across to your readers. It’s also a good idea to inject some of your own personality into your content where possible.
To me quality content should be written with the reader in mind, original, relevant and offer something of value.
Jamie Fairbairn´s recent blog post ..Online Stock Photography
Twitter: wordpresswb
says:
100 words of original quality content is worth more than 1000 words of duplicate content.
However the original, great content only counts on your website. That is the most important. You can not be penalized for other sites linking to you. How can you stop people taking articles from Ezine Articles and publishing on their own websites?
You cannot control where your content ends up but if is your responsibility to have quality content on your website.
This does not mean you have to be a great writer either. You just need to supply the information or solve the problem the person was looking for. James you are so right when you say “you need to get that right first”.
I truly believe that there will be a day where there are no more books as everything will be on the internet. We are lucky to be a part of that and get in on it so early.
Mitz Pantic´s recent blog post ..Do You Need Software to Research a Niche
Twitter: JamesMartell
says:
Very well said.
Hi i use TBS and used correctly can make you 100`s of useable articles
Joe davies´s recent blog post ..My size 24 to size 6 Diet Story