You’ve Got to Read This: September 6, 2011

Since this is a four-day work week, there’s no time to waste. You’ve got to hit that to-do list hard. No dilly-dallying. How would you like to learn the best procrastination tip ever? Leo Babuta (aka @zen_habits) has the answer.

Andrew Hannelly of TMG Custom Media dug into a research study and pulled out five stats showing the power of content marketing to build relationships with customers. What is content marketing? According to Junta42, “Content marketing is a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action.”

A blog is one content marketing tool that will attract website visitors and hold their attention. Rebecca Corliss at HubSpot shares five reasons your blog needs more than one contributor. And, saving your sanity is not one of them, although it could be.

Once you collect a stable of writers for your blog, how do you manage it all? John Haydon provides excellent advice on managing a successful multi-author blog. John writes for the nonprofit crowd, but his smart and practical advice will work for any business or organization blog.

Anna Caraveli provides excellent advice for any website, a five-step, five-minute website copy retooling. It’s not about you, it’s about your customers or members. “Begin by changing your thinking and conversation with members (or customers) from what you do to what you can do for them.” Does your website copy reflect that?

How often do you unplug and pay attention to those you love? David Leite’s reflections on life, love and what really matters was prompted by the recent and sudden death of food blogger Jennie Perillo’s husband. I must share one of his paragraphs with you to make sure you and Iread it again and again because this is important.

“I know I must wring dry every moment of time I spend with those I love. I must push back from my desk at 6:00 p.m. and make dinner for The One. I must refuse to work on the weekends. I must slow down. I have Jennie–a woman I don’t even know–to thank for that realization.”

Thank you, David, and Jennie.

Author: deirdrereid

Deirdre is a freelance writer for companies serving the association market. After more than 20 years managing associations and restaurants, she's enjoying the good life as a ghostblogger and content marketing writer for the association community. Away from her laptop, you can find her walking in the woods, enjoying live music, reading hundreds of newsletters, watching hockey, cooking, hanging at the local brewery or tap room, or relaxing in a comfy chair with a good Kindle book and a glass of something tasty in hand. View all posts by deirdrereid