Happy 2018, everyone! I love Google Analytics – it’s a critical tool in the digital marketer’s arsenal to understand the interests and behaviors of their readers. While keyword traffic is generally akin to a self-fulfilling prophecy, when you review user paths as part of the exercise, you get a better sense of whether users found an answer to the problem they were trying to solve in your content.
As part of a recent review, I took a couple of quick notes on what the most read posts were in 2017. It’s interesting to note that of the five blog posts to crack the top spots, the first three were written by nDash community writers.
As we continue to become a better resource for digital marketers and writers alike, I’d love to hear about what questions and challenges you face going into 2018 — we’ll invest in getting the answers.
Without further ado, here is the top content on nDash in 2017…
1. Idea Generation is a Process: The Science Behind Creative Ideas
Our top content piece in 2017 was originally published in November of 2016 but resonated so well with marketers that it held the top spot through 2017.
“The reason many people find it difficult to come up with content ideas is they have bought into the myth of creativity – that some people have it and some people don’t. Here are two important things to understand…”
Author: nDash Community Writer
Read the full post: Idea Generation is a Process: The Science Behind Creative Ideas
2. Content Creation: What Does It Cost?
Being written for both marketers and writers, it’s no surprise that one of our top read, and certainly most downloaded, content pieces were the guide to pricing content.
“The task of pricing content might seem arbitrary, but getting it wrong carries significant risk. Bad content not only fails to perform but can have an adverse effect on brand reputation. Spend too much, and you won’t have enough to make a marketing program sustainable. Spend too little, and you’ll constantly be sourcing new writers. So how much should you plan on spending?”
Download the guide: Content Creation: What Does It Cost?
3. Pitch Perfect: The Art of Landing Writing Gigs (on nDash)
The majority of assignments on the nDash platform originate as writer pitches. The ideation and execution of content are massively valuable to marketers like myself. Simply put: Every nDash writer should read this post.
“…for those of us who are coming at it from a corporate and/or marketing background, we can be tone deaf when it comes to finding the perfect pitch. We’re used to completing assignments, not coming up with them on our own. So even the best writers can be at a competitive disadvantage.”
Author: nDash Community Writer
Read the post: Pitch Perfect: The Art of Landing Writing Gigs (on nDash)
4. Should You Have a Separate Content Strategy for Each Social Channel?
Social media wasn’t new in 2017, but marketers certainly started to better understand when and how to leverage them.
“Social media channels are not all created equal. Each one has somewhat of a different appeal, and different channels are intended to cater to different audiences. If marketers are so concerned with reaching their audience, then why do so many of them take the easy road and share the same content across all social channels?”
Author: nDash Community Writer
Read the post: Should You Have a Separate Content Strategy for Each Social Channel?
5. 5 Things Your Freelance Writing Portfolio Should Include
More than 40% of freelance writers are actively hunting for more work. Here’s how to stand out.
“If you’re struggling to capture new writing gigs or if you’d just like to capture more of the new job opportunities being created, your writing portfolio is a good place to start. Here are 5 things your writing portfolio should include to help you capture the interest of content marketers and earn more jobs now.”
Author: Stephanie Roulic
Read the post: 5 Things Your Freelance Writing Portfolio Should Include
6. The Subliminal Seduction of Content Marketing
I added a sixth post since this is my personal favorite post. Plus, the whitepaper gets an asterisk next to it since it’s gated content. This is a long post, but it’s worth the read as Mike goes into the science behind marketing seduction. Consumers are inundated with marketing today. How do you know what resonates and how to you scale your messaging?
“The key to making this strategy work for your business is to actually provide real value. 80% of consumers said “authenticity of content” is the most influential factor in their decision to become a follower of a brand.”
Author: Michael Brown
Read the post: The Subliminal Seduction of Content Marketing