DX3 Canada Content Takeaways

I spent all day yesterday at the DX3 conference. It was great to see some familiar faces and I also had the pleasure of chatting with some great new minds of the digital world. Best of all, I picked up lots of tips and tricks of the SEO copywriting and content marketing trade.

Content was a hot topic buzzing around the showroom floor. Some of the CMS and Iaas/Saas software was new to me, as were some of the thoughts shared by speakers and audience members alike. It was also rejuvinating to hear – or should I say re-hear (new word of the day, we’ll call it an Aimeeism) – familiar information. Do you ever notice that when someone new says something you already know, it still sounds fresh. That’s because they bring a new perspective, a slightly different angle, a new approach. I love that!

Here are some bits ‘n bites I feverishly jotted down on my iPhone yesterday – I think you’ll find them valuable, too. If nothing else, I’ll give you my “new” perspective on something you already know

• Don’t reinvent the wheel. If you need content ideas, look around to see what others are doing, then do it better.
• We live in a world of social media overload. There are only so many hours in a day and there’s a ton of info to absorb. Keep your content short and to the point. Cut through the BS.
• Be unique. Be controversial. You’ll get others’ attention and spark some great conversations when you evoke emotion.
• Keep your content simple. Your audience is (probably) filled with busy everyday folks just like you and me. Don’t go all corporate and fancy on their ass–they get enough of that at the office.
• Consider video content (you don’t need to be a model or an idol). When you want to learn how to bake a pie or change a tire or build a treehouse, you go to YouTube to watch someone show you how to do it. Share your expertise in video format – people like it.
• Use lots of whitespace, avoid the clutter.
• Keep it simple visually as well as contextually. Studies have proven that animated ads annoy the hell out of people, so don’t litter your pages with them.
• Use short sentences. Use short paragraphs. Use bullet lists. All of these are easy on the eyes.
• Use headlines. People don’t read every word on every page – they scan. A friend and former colleague of mine, Ian Everdell, shared his eye-tracking studies yesterday, and guess what? People scan and stop at headlines. Go figure.

That’s it for me – at least that’s all that was on my little iPhone notepad. I know I’ll remember a lot more as my brain defrags over the next day or two, so I’ll be sure to share more. Remember, short ‘n sweet!

Cheers,
Aimee

Aimee’s Favourite Infographics

If you didn’t know this already, I love infographics. And lucky for me, there are so many great ones out there that not only feed my creative urges, but they also give me the information I need in a format that really appeals.

If you’re like me and you love infographics, I recommend you check these ones out:

Walmart Facts - this is just plain interesting.

Why Content for SEO

The Quiet Giant of Content Marketing

How Content Goes Viral

Email Isn’t Dead

Have you seen any great infographics lately that our readers might enjoy? Go ahead, share ‘em here!

~Aimee

Less is More = Quality Content

An email crossed my desk just a few weeks ago about using the phrase, “Does that make sense?” during a presentation or on a call. The email was basically stating that certain catch phrases really should be left unsaid. The email read, “…follow the advice of the Strunk and White classic, The Elements of Style: “Use definite, specific, concrete language.”

The Elements of Style is an excellent read – I turned to it frequently as a newbie writer, and I still keep in within arm’s reach today. Reference to this classic reinforces simplicity, when writing and speaking. It reminds us that less is more. I learned very early on to “write like you talk.” When you write a piece of content, read it out loud. If it doesn’t sound like something that would naturally roll off your tongue, it’s not going to read well to your audience. The Elements of Style taught me to eliminate useless fluff from my writing.

For example, “It goes without saying/needless to say …” OK, if it goes without saying then don’t say it. And if you can cut a sentence down from 16 words to 7 and still deliver the same message, do it.

As a speaker, according to Jerry Weissman, a corporate presentations coach, “…you must diligently delete meaningless words and phrases from your speech.”

What I gleaned from this is that the same rules apply to both writing and speaking – get to the point. Just the facts, ma’am. It does make me wonder, though, if you are supposed to write like you talk, should you talk  like you write?

In mho, that all depends on whether or not you can write like you talk.

Does that make sense? I’ve read very different opinions on this. What do you think? Are you showing your own uncertainty by asking “does that make sense?” Are you suggesting your audience is filled with drooling morons who can’t begin to comprehend your complexity? Or are you speaking from the heart with sincere vulnerability?

~ Aimee