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Become A Full-Time Writer
Category: Writing
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Videos always have played an important role in organic visibility. Video-rich snippets were one of the first elements in Google search results pages.
For years, Google would show video thumbnails inside organic search results. Having your video thumbnail in Google search always meant higher brand visibility and more clicks.
So does video help SEO these days?
How Videos Help Organic Visibility
Now that we talk more about organic visibility than rankings, building a consistent video strategy has become even more important.
With on-the-go and video search on the rise, video content has become even more important, as consumers are able to watch videos without interrupting their current activity.
Videos Are All Over the Search Result Pages
Google has been adding interactive video-rich elements all over search engine results pages. As such, you can find video carousels for every other Google search these days.
On a mobile device, video carousels look like this:
Apart from carousels, videos can enhance your organic snippets as Google will grab a video thumbnail to place it right inside your organic listing:
Brand Familiarity Builds Clicks & Conversions Over Time
Furthermore, you can brand your video thumbnails to build brand recognizability. This may help your click-through and conversions in the long run because brand familiarity causes web users to feel more confident and to trust the website:
Google Loves Long-Form Content, for Videos Too
Google is known to love long-form content. It looks like Google loves long-form video content too, especially for certain queries.
Below is an example of a search engine results page allowing you to navigate a video right from organic SERPs: Clicking any title will take you deep into the video. These timestamps are added by the author in the video description, but it is nice to see that they also can make it right into organic SERPs:
Here’s a detailed guide on time-stamping your YouTube videos.
How Videos Help On-Page SEO
Apart from providing enhanced organic visibility, videos have been found to boost on-page engagement, which is a powerful rankings factor. Google wants its users to like each page that is returned in search results and to continue interacting with the site instead of leaving right away.
On-page engagement definitely sends good signals to Google.
That’s exactly how a well-placed useful video on your page can indirectly help your rankings and get Google to like and trust your site.
Over the years, videos have consistently been found to improve on-page engagement and conversions:
- The majority of web users prefer watching a video to reading words (Source: Forbes Insights).
- Using videos on a landing page can increase conversions by 86% (Source: Eye View Digital).
- Finally, the average user spends 88% more time on a website with video (Source: Oberlo stats).
With that in mind, do implement best SEO practices when it comes to embedding videos to your page:
- Lazy-load videos to avoid any negative impact on your page load time. Page speed is a confirmed ranking factor, so make sure you are keeping an eye on that too. Here’s how to easily lazy-load videos in WordPress.
- Use video schema to increase your chances to have a video thumbnail in organic search. Google offers a helpful tutorial here. There are even some enhancements available, including getting a LIVE badge added to your video and allowing users to navigate your video from SERPs.
Ideas for Video Content to Boost Your Organic SEO
Finally, to leave you with some truly actionable advice, here are a few ideas to create meaningful video content for your brand that would help with everything I mentioned above:
- Organic visibility.
- Organic click-through.
- On-page engagement and conversions.
1. Re-Use Your Demos and Webinars
Every SaaS business out there actively use demos and webinars to build and convert leads. Only a few of them make the most of their efforts though.
Demos and webinars make great long-form video content that can boost your branded SERPs and engage your potential customers.
With tools like ClickMeeting, re-using your past webinars and demos is also incredibly easy. The on-demand feature allows you to record, organize, monetize and publicize your webinars.
Additionally, using ClickMeeting’s WordPress plugin, you can embed the entire on-demand video experience on your website, even gating it and integrating it into your lead capture and nurture funnel.
Alternatively, if gating your video content doesn’t make sense in your situation, then you can simply upload your videos straight from your ClickMeeting dashboard to your YouTube account and then embed them wherever you like.
2. Influencer-Driven Videos
These can be interviews, webinars, video q&a and even testimonials. Any time you feature a niche influencer in your video, you tap into its existing community and trust.
The beauty of collaborating with influencers for creating video content is that you can use their authority and existing community to generate views and conversions.
Use Buzzsumo to find influencers with which to work. You can limit Buzzsumo results to videos only to find those who don’t mind co-creating videos:
3. Customer-Driven Videos
Your loyal existing customers may be the best video creators. Set up an easy contest encouraging your customers to submit their own unboxing videos or screencasts and reward best efforts.
Give your customers lots of spotlight and generously recognize their efforts. Campaigns like this also build loyalty and bring in more buyers.
Plus, it generates video content for your brand, which you can use to build organic visibility. Over at Viral Content Bee, we invited our current users to submit video tutorials of how they use the platform to include in our official Udemy course:
This way our official course includes all kinds of perspectives to which different types of users can better relate.
Takeaways
- Videos enjoy a great deal of visibility in Google’s organic search results.
- By creating well-branded and consistent video content, you can boost brand familiarity and click-through.
- Videos also can improve your on-page engagement (and, hence, indirectly help with organic rankings).
- A few examples of video content to add to your marketing strategies are webinars and customer- and influencer-driven videos.
Good luck!
The post How Does Video Help SEO? appeared first on Convince and Convert: Social Media Consulting and Content Marketing Consulting.
https://www.rohitbhargava.com/2019/12/5-non-obvious-megatrends-changing-our-world-in-2020.html
For the past ten years I have gone through an annual ritual of publishing a book about trends that describe our shifting culture and business environment. Over the past decade, my team and I have identified and written about well over 100 trends covering everything from the rise of the #metoo movement (a trend we called Fierce Femininity back in 2017) to the growing ability for immersive technology to help us better connect with one another (which we described as Virtual Empathy).
On January 14th, I am publishing the LAST of this long running series – the tenth anniversary edition of Non-Obvious called Non-Obvious Megatrends. In this new edition, we took an expansive look back at the past reports and combined this with all of the feedback, insights and discussions from more than a million smart readers who have bought, shared and debated this trend report over the years in order to arrive at ten big megatrend predictions.
I am so excited to share all of them when the book comes out in January, but as a sneak preview, here are five of the ten – along with a short backstory for each one.
Non-Obvious Megatrend #1 – Revivalism
What is Revivalism?
Overwhelmed by technology and a sense that life is too complex, people seek out simpler experiences that offer nostalgia and remind them of a more trustworthy time.
The Backstory:
Like most of the other megatrends, this one encompassed many ideas from past trends in other reports – and since writing the chapter about it, I keep seeing stories of how the past is coming back to be appealing for us today … which is a good sign!
Non-Obvious Megatrend #2 – Flux Commerce
What is Flux Commerce?
The lines between industries erode, leading to a continual disruption of business models, distribution channels, and consumer expectations.
The Backstory:
If there is one megatrend that really demonstrates the power of intersection thinking and finding inspiration across industries, it is this one. With stories from banks, food, retail and tech – the impact and expanse of this trend made it very satisfying to research and write.
Non-Obvious Megatrend #3 – Purposeful Profit
What is Purposeful Profit?
As consumers and employees demand more sustainable and ethical practices, companies respond by adapting products and taking public stands on issues.
The Backstory:
There were plenty of big stories this year that offered even more ammunition for this big idea that purpose is becoming more and more of a core necessity for all type of organizations. While this in itself may not be all that new, what was surprising was just how vocal those organizations are now willing to be.
Non-Obvious Megatrend #4 – Attention Wealth
What is Attention Wealth?
In the information economy, our attention holds greater value; leading us to be more skeptical of those who rely on spectacles to manipulate us.
The Backstory:
The idea of our attention as a form of wealth felt like a perfect way to underscore and start to describe the battle that is happening right now for our attention on every level. The positive upside? If we can better understand how wealthy we all are, we can start to find better ways to monetize and prioritize our own attention.
Non-Obvious Megatrend #5 – Protective Tech
What is Protective Tech?
As we rely on predictive technology to keep us and our world safe and make life more convenient, we must contend with the privacy trade-offs required to make it work.
The Backstory:
We’re just a few weeks away from CES and the stories of how technology will proactively serve us will likely come about again, but what was interesting about this megatrend was the idea that even as technology can be built to offer us protection or convenience, a question some are increasingly asking is whether we want tech to take this step (and whether we are willing to accept those corresponding compromises to privacy).
Want more trends?
These are just half of the total trends presented in the book. If you enjoyed these, you’ll probably enjoy reading the full book too! Here are a few ways to get the full book:
- Join my launch team – get a FREE early reader copy before the book comes out!
- Preorder the book on Amazon – get it when it comes out.
- Order in bulk – get signed copies early as a gift for your team/colleagues!
How are these trends curated?
The method and process behind the research for these trends is heavily based on observation, analysis, discussion and curation. In the book, the method is described by the term the Haystack Method – which essentially is a model which can be used by anyone to become a collector of interesting ideas which are utilized over time to develop bigger ideas and insights. Here is a video of how this process looks in real life:
About the Trend Series:
For the past 10 years, the Non- Obvious Trend Report has been one of the most widely read collections of future insights in the world, reaching over 1 million readers. This 10th Edition features ten new megatrends curated from stories, interviews and more than 100 past trend predictions.
https://econsultancy.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-pierre-loic-assayag-ceo-co-founder-traackr/
Pierre-Loic Assayag is CEO & Co-founder at Traackr, an influencer marketing platform.
We caught up with him to find out why he calls himself a “recovering marketer” and what advice he would give to those starting out.
Please describe your job: What do you do?
As a self-professed “recovering marketer”, I consider it my passion and job to help marketing evolve from an automated, programmatic model to one that acknowledges the voice of the consumer based on cultivating valuable relationships and that willingly trades control of the creative process for business impact.
My job today is to continue building Traackr to be the strategic partners to brands who are investing strategically in influencer marketing and need technology and expertise to realize their ambitions.
Whereabouts do you sit within the organisation? Who do you report to?
As CEO, my remit is to ensure our employees, customers and investors thrive.
What kind of skills do you need to be effective in your role?
As the CEO of a growing technology company in an emerging category, I need to be half philosopher, half navy seal: find the presence of mind to anticipate and affect the evolution of the market to make sure our business is prepared to lead the way, meanwhile, be decisive on key levers for Traackr to push or pull.
Tell us about a typical working day…
There is a typical day on-the-road and a typical day at our San Francisco office where I am based. When I am in California, my days start at 5AM and I spend the first five hours maximizing my time with our customers and team based in Europe. Late mornings are for NYC. I’m an advocate for walking meetings, so a great day includes getting in 10,000 steps while brainstorming with my team.
What do you love about your job? What sucks?
One of our hiring principles is to “hire up”, to always find people that raise the bar and make us smarter. The best part of my job is when I see people on my team bringing an idea to life or enhancing something we do and thinking that they did a better job than I ever could at it.
I have an unusual ability to simplify complex situations and problems to focus on their essence. The worst part of my job (and life in general) is when I have to spend time and energy dealing with issues that shouldn’t exist to begin with.
What kind of goals do you have? What are the most useful metrics and KPIs for measuring success?
This is an interesting question given that we are all in the midst of 2020 planning… My goal is to make Traackr the indispensable platform to companies embracing the notion of people-powered marketing whether they were born in it or have migrated to it. The way I measure success is our market share within the segment described above.
What are your favourite tools to help you to get the job done?
I’ve learned a lot from the software engineering industry, including how to run effective meetings and manage complex projects. For example, we’ve adopted the concept of “retrospectives” for managing our Leadership Team initiatives.
I’m also a huge fan of Trello, which I discovered from our product team. Today, we use it across the organization and I personally organize my priorities with it. It’s the one “to-do management” system that I’ve stuck with over the years.
How did you end up founding Traackr, and where might you go from here?
I started my career in marketing for Procter & Gamble and Peugeot in Europe, before immigrating to the United States from France, by way of the UK and Spain. Today, I refer to myself as a “recovering marketer” because when I started out in marketing it was during the time of traditional marketing, referred to as the “art of persuasion,” which never made sense to me. It always felt that the one-way marketing success was due to a lack of alternatives.
When my cofounder, David Chancogne and I set out to build Traackr 10 years ago, we saw an opportunity to organize the web, not by pages, but by people. That premise is what created the foundation for Traackr, which today powers influencer marketing for top brands around the world who are passionate about staying relevant to their consumers.
After Traackr, I want to solve the problem of fake news.
Which campaigns have impressed you lately?
I’m very impressed by companies who are living their brand values and striving to be as authentic as possible. Notable examples of this include Nike’s work with Colin Kaepernick and Calvin Klein’s support of the LGBTQ community. These are two cases where the brands have connected a sense of purpose to their business in a way that meaningfully impacts their community.
What advice would you give a marketer starting out today?
The brands that are winning and will continue to win are the ones who put people at the heart of their marketing. The age of persuasion is over. To succeed as a marketer today you need to cultivate your sense of empathy and learn how to translate brand purpose into meaningful programs.
Need training?
Take Econsultancy’s Fast Track Influencer Marketing training course
The post A day in the life of… Pierre-Loic Assayag, CEO & Co-founder, Traackr appeared first on Econsultancy.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWritePractice/~3/lc-DVI5M0-U/
Handwritten notes are like sending a hug through the mail. They have personality and character, attributes a computer screen will never have. Let me show you why, when, and how to write a thank-you note.
Need some quick advice? Here are the nine steps to write a thank-you note. Read on for a thorough guide!
How to Write a Thank You Note
- Use nice paper or a card.
- Find a pen with ink that doesn’t bleed or smear.
- Begin, “Dear __________,” (insert person’s name).
- In the first sentence say, “Thank you,” and what you are thankful for.
- Write at least one sentence of appreciation for the act of kindness or gift.
- Say something nice about the giver.
- Write your closer, such as Regards, Sincerely, All my best.
- Sign your name.
- You don’t have to put your address on the inside of the card.
Those are the quick steps. Now read on for a longer guide.
Why You Should Write a Thank You Note
It is easier and quicker to send a text message, an email, or a voice message to say “thank you.” However, if the purpose of the thank-you message is to convey your deepest, most sincere gratitude, taking the time to carefully write a message by your own hand, and not your secretary’s hand, will mean more to the recipient than an instant media message.
When was the last time you wrote a thank-you note? A real thank-you note on a piece of paper that goes into an envelope with an address written on it and a stamp stuck in the upper right-hand corner?
Too long, right?! Let’s write one together today.
What Is a Thank You Note?
A thank you note is a short informal written message of thanks to another person for a specific action. Thank you notes are brief, often no more than five sentences.
The key word is brief. We are not talking about the changes in currency prices or the bird call of a painted bunting here. If you want to write about your summer activities or about how many litter boxes you have, write a letter instead.
Joe Bunting wrote an article about writing letters, which you can read here: What Letter Writing Can Teach Us. But a thank-you note is not a full letter.
Why You Should Send a Thank You Note:
- You should send a thank-you note because my mother said it is a good idea.
- To connect with another person.
- Send a thank-you note because you want to say thank you.
- The biggest reason to send a thank-you note is because you are a kind, considerate person. And you always want your friends and acquaintances to know how much you appreciate them.
- Because you are thoughtful.
There is simply nothing as personal as a handwritten note. In a stack of bills and flyers, it’s a treasure in a sealed packet, full of promise and potential. —Dan Post Senning
Supply List for Thank You Notes
Before you begin, make sure you have all of the following on hand:
- Notecards or stationery.
- Stamps
- An address.
- Pens.
- A few minutes of your time.
9 Steps to Write a Thank You Note
Writing a thank-you note might sound intimidating, but it is actually quite simple when you follow these nine steps.
1. Use nice paper or a card.
What is nice? Hmmm . . . a standard piece of printer paper, eight and a half by eleven, and an envelope are nice and acceptable. Personal stationery or a plain set of notecards is also nice.
What is not nice paper? A piece of paper ripped out of a notebook with a coffee stain on it, the back of your grocery list, or the back of a power bill would not be considered nice stationery.
2. Use a pen.
Your best choice is one with ink that doesn’t bleed or smear.
3. Begin “Dear __________,” (insert person’s name).
Check the spelling of the person’s name. If Margaret wants to be called Margaret, don’t call her Maggie. At least Maggie is not named after a non-stick spray like my name.
If you are on a first-name basis, call the person by their first name. If you don’t know the person very well, or they are “The Big Cheese” in a company, use Mr., Ms., or use the full name.
Keep the salutation polite and friendly. “Yoh” or “Hey” or “What’s up?” might work with your college roommate, but it is a bit casual for a business or professional thank you note. And don’t “Hey” your great aunt. Address the card “Dear Aunt Margaret,” not “What’s up, Maggie?”
Sigh, I am being a bit bossy. Who am I to tell you what to call your Aunt Margaret?
Only you know your relationship with your dear aunt. Please address the card in the same manner you talk to her. Which I hope is always polite and respectable.
4. The first sentence should have the words “thank you” in it.
And say what you are thankful for. Be specific.
Thank you for the beautiful sweater. Thank you for introducing me to your editor. Thank you for being the best friend I had in grade school. Thank you for being the best mommy in the world. Thank you for cleaning my seven litter boxes. (I can dream. Right?)
5. Write at least one sentence about how much you appreciate the gift.
Thank them for their gift of ten kittens, or tell them how much their act of kindness meant to you. This sentence makes the note more personal.
6. Say something nice about the giver.
For example, tell them you are looking forward to seeing them the next time you are in New Orleans. Or tell them how you wished you lived closer so you could help them shovel their driveway.
7. Write your closer, such as Regards, Sincerely, All my best.
These are all polite and not too informal. “Chow baby” is too informal, and “chow” is actually spelled “ciao.” Don’t use the word “love” unless you actually love the person. Signing an email “xo” might give the recipient the wrong idea.
8. Sign your name.
Use legible handwriting. This is not a prescription; it is a thank you card.
9. You don’t have to put your address on the inside of the card.
Remember, this is not a letter, it is a note. Please put your return address on the envelope. Write clearly.
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When to Send a Thank You Note
Not sure when a thank-you note is appropriate? Here are six times to send a thank-you note:
1. When you receive a present.
Whether the present comes in the mail or in person, remember to send a thank you note in response.
2. When someone introduces you to someone else.
If someone helps you connect with someone new, send them a thank you note to show your appreciation for their kindness.
3. After you interview for a job.
Yes, send a handwritten thank-you note after a job interview. The handwritten note will help you stand out in a mass of interviewees.
However, according to an article by Molly Triffin on Interview Etiquette in Forbes, you should send a thank-you email to everyone you met in the interview process within twenty-four hours. Managers make quick decisions, and your written note might arrive after they have already made a hiring decision.
So, I suggest do both. Send a handwritten note and an email.
4. For an act of kindness.
When your mother comes and helps you pack up your house when you move from Minnesota to California. And then again five years later when you move from California to Pennsylvania.
Yes, even thank your mother. May no kindness go unthanked.
5. For a huge act of kindness.
When someone comes and cleans all your seven litter boxes without being asked. That hasn’t happened yet. But if it does, I will mail a handwritten note.
6. For friendship.
Send a thank-you note to a dear friend because you want them to know how much their friendship means to you. You realize life is precious, and you don’t want to get hit by a bus and not have them know you valued the friendship.
The Six Biggest Thank You Note Rules You Should Never Break
There are six unbreakable rules when writing thank-you notes:
1. Don’t ask for anything.
Never, never, never in ten million years ask for something at the end of a thank-you note.
Thank you, and, oh by the way, can you do this for me _______________. This is a big NO will a capital N and a capital O. Here is an example of what not to do.
Dear Mr. Faraday,
Thank you for introducing me to the President of your company. I appreciate your kindness in helping me meet Mr. Wise Sage.
I have enclosed a copy of my manuscript. Will you please read it for me and give it to the editor in charge of acquisitions?
Sincerely,
Pat Asksfortoomuch
2. Don’t tell the person you hated the gift and want to return it.
3. Don’t send a printed form letter with your signature printed at the bottom.
4. Don’t have your secretary write your thank-you cards for you and then you sign the note. I don’t care if you are the President of the Company. Write your own notes. The only way you can get out of this is if you don’t have hands.
5. If you spell a word wrong, don’t cross it out and keep writing. Get a new card and start again.
6. My husband said, “Don’t use profanity.”
Do you write thank-you notes? How do you feel when you receive one? Please tell me in the comments. I always love to hear from you.
PRACTICE
For today’s practice, take fifteen minutes to write a thank-you note. Get a notecard, or a piece of paper and write a thank-you note. Then put it in an envelope and mail it.
You don’t have to share the contents of your thank-you note here, as it might be personal, but please share that you wrote the note.
If no one has given you a gift in a box with paper and a bow, think of someone who has given you their time, has offered advice, or has supported you with encouragement, then write them a thank-you note.
xo
Pamela
The post How to Write a Thank You Note (a Real One) appeared first on The Write Practice.
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