OpenView Blog » Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com A blog focused on agile development, business development strategies, content marketing, corporate venture capital, lead generation and SaaS best practices. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:47:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 How Good Are You at Using Social Media to Distribute Your Content? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/using-social-media-to-distribute-your-content/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/using-social-media-to-distribute-your-content/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:27:29 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=33910 The number of social media sites has exploded in recent years, bringing hundreds of potential new marketing channels onto the scene. With so many options — more than 500 by some accounts — it’s easy to get distracted and to waste time experimenting with new channels to distribute content that may not actually provide any…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/using-social-media-to-distribute-your-content/feed/ 0 Social Media Lessons from @HillaryClinton http://blog.openviewpartners.com/social-media-lessons-from-hillaryclinton/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/social-media-lessons-from-hillaryclinton/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:59:15 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=33787 Hillary Clinton added a new accomplishment to her long list of achievements on Monday when she made her debut on Twitter. Within hours of setting up her account, she had followed four, sent out her first (and thus far only) Tweet, and picked up over 180,000 followers. In the process, she also brought a new…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/social-media-lessons-from-hillaryclinton/feed/ 1 Marketing Confessional: I Dream About Viral Content http://blog.openviewpartners.com/viral-content/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/viral-content/#comments Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:47:29 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=33527 As a content marketer, I dream about creating viral content that blows up online… I imagine the promotion I’d get after seeing OpenView’s latest eBook get shared a few thousand times on LinkedIn. The rock star status I’d attain if our latest video reached a million views on YouTube… And then I wake up. The…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/viral-content/feed/ 2 These 5 Steps Will Make Your Content Development a Breeze http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-development-made-easier/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-development-made-easier/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 17:30:17 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=33343 According to the Content Marketing Institute and MarketingProfs’ 2013 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends report, the greatest challenge facing most B2B content marketers is content development, and specifically, being able to produce enough content to move the needle. Not surprising, right? Effective content marketing hinges on producing a steady stream of high-quality content — we’re talking…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-development-made-easier/feed/ 2 Pump Up the Volume: What’s Your Content Promotion Strategy? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/whats-your-content-promotion-strategy/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/whats-your-content-promotion-strategy/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 21:33:44 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=32981 If you’ve ever taken the time to create a high-quality piece of B2B content, then you know that there’s nothing more frustrating than when it doesn’t get properly promoted. I mean, what’s the point of creating great content that never gets consumed? And yet, effective content promotion seems to be a recurring challenge plaguing many…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/whats-your-content-promotion-strategy/feed/ 0 How to Make Everyone Part of Your Content Marketing Team http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-everyone-part-of-content-marketing-team/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-everyone-part-of-content-marketing-team/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:33:03 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=32555 Psst… want to know a secret? You don’t need to hire dozens of writers and editors to be successful at content marketing! In fact, here at OpenView, our content marketing team consists of just three people — not a heck of a lot considering the considerable volume of blog posts, eBooks, articles, and more that our…

How to Make Everyone Part of Your Content Marketing Team" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-everyone-part-of-content-marketing-team/feed/ 0 Is Customer Segmentation the Key to Your B2B Website’s Success? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/customer-segmentation-b2b-websites/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/customer-segmentation-b2b-websites/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:45:03 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=32142 There are many factors that determine how successful a website is, such as its navigation, searchability, and design. For B2B businesses, another make-or-break factor is whether or not their sites are set up for customer segmentation. In other words, those sites need to encourage visitors to self-select into specific groups based on who they are…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/customer-segmentation-b2b-websites/feed/ 0 Do Your B2B Communications Drive Business… or Belong in the Toilet? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/b2b-communications/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/b2b-communications/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:35:43 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=31941 Unlike modern art, B2B communications are pretty cut and dry. Whereas artists will always find ways to argue the virtues of a hanging a toilet bowl in a museum (I’m looking at you Marcel Duchamp, because for the life of me I can’t figure out why “The Fountain,” pictured here, is so widely heralded as…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/b2b-communications/feed/ 0 Staffing Up: Who’s Going to Run Your Content Factory? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/who-will-run-your-content-factory/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/who-will-run-your-content-factory/#comments Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:12:31 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=31718 If you think building a content factory is as simple as hiring a writer to crank out a series of articles or eBooks, you’ve got another thing coming. The truth is that it takes a diverse team of talented professionals to produce the kind of high-quality content that will help drive your business forward. Admittedly,…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/who-will-run-your-content-factory/feed/ 8 Why You Need a Content Factory to Go to Market Successfully http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-gtm-strategy/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-gtm-strategy/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:04:31 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=31561 If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I am writing a series of posts about why every company needs a content factory. This week, I’m picking up the topic again to explain the important role a content factory can play in your company’s go-to-market strategy. The basic pitch is familiar: Companies need high-quality…

Why You Need a Content Factory to Go to Market Successfully" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-gtm-strategy/feed/ 0 WTF Triberr?!? Why I Love and Hate You So Much! http://blog.openviewpartners.com/triberr-why-i-love-and-hate-you/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/triberr-why-i-love-and-hate-you/#comments Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:44:35 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=31127 Is Triberr all that and a bag of chips or just another flash in the pan? Find out the pros and cons of this community-building platform for bloggers and decide for yourself whether or not it's worth your time.

WTF Triberr?!? Why I Love and Hate You So Much!" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/triberr-why-i-love-and-hate-you/feed/ 10 5 Steps to Creating a Marketing Action Plan that Drives Business http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-marketing-action-plan/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-marketing-action-plan/#comments Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:46:50 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=30954 Want to take your marketing efforts to the next level so that they really drive business? If so you, you'd probably benefit from creating a marketing action plan to guide you and help ensure that you're focused on the right stuff. Find out how to do so in this post.

5 Steps to Creating a Marketing Action Plan that Drives Business" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-marketing-action-plan/feed/ 0 Content Targeting: Know Your Audience or Never Hit the Mark http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-targeting/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-targeting/#comments Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:28:22 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=30473 Over the past few months, I’ve worked with a handful of OpenView’s portfolio companies. One thing I’ve noticed in that time is that they don’t always recognize how important content targeting is to their content marketing efforts. It turns out that a lot of companies struggle with personalizing their content so that it speaks to…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-targeting/feed/ 6 Ready to Choose a PR Agency? Keep These Points in Mind. http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choose-a-pr-agency/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choose-a-pr-agency/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:01:55 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=30054 Before you spend another second thinking about choosing a PR agency, make sure that you really need one. The fact of the matter is that they are expensive — typically costing a minimum of $8,000 to $12,000 a month — so you had better be sure that what you hope to achieve justifies the expense.

Ready to Choose a PR Agency? Keep These Points in Mind." target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choose-a-pr-agency/feed/ 0 The Best Content Marketing Tools and Resources (Part I) http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-best-content-marketing-tools-and-resources/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-best-content-marketing-tools-and-resources/#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:36:06 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=29726 If you are a content marketer at an expansion-stage company, you’re often a one-man show. It can be a lonely position if you don’t feel like you have the support you need to get the job done. Fortunately, there are a ton of content marketing tools and resources out there that you can leverage to…

The Best Content Marketing Tools and Resources (Part I)" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-best-content-marketing-tools-and-resources/feed/ 5 What Is a Director of Content Strategy? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/director-of-content-strategy/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/director-of-content-strategy/#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:27:21 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=29529 I was at a party recently and got asked what I do for work. When I replied that I am the director of content strategy at a venture capital firm called OpenView, the guy who had asked the question stared at me with a blank look on his face. He explained that he understood the…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/director-of-content-strategy/feed/ 8 5 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Get More Comments on Your Blog http://blog.openviewpartners.com/5-ridiculously-easy-ways-to-get-more-comments-on-your-blog/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/5-ridiculously-easy-ways-to-get-more-comments-on-your-blog/#comments Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:23:10 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=29331 Remember that scene from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” with the economics teacher who has no idea how to engage his class? It illustrates an important lesson: If you want to get more engagement around your content, you've got to use the right tactics to appeal to your audience.

5 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Get More Comments on Your Blog" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/5-ridiculously-easy-ways-to-get-more-comments-on-your-blog/feed/ 10 10 Content Marketing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make http://blog.openviewpartners.com/top-content-marketing-mistakes/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/top-content-marketing-mistakes/#comments Mon, 07 Jan 2013 13:46:27 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=29095 We all need to learn from our mistakes. In this post, I've listed 10 of the most common content marketing mistakes I see companies make along with ways to avoid them. Manage to steer clear of these pitfall in 2013, and I guarantee your content marketing will yield much greater results.

10 Content Marketing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/top-content-marketing-mistakes/feed/ 5 A Conversation with Marcus Sheridan on B2B Content Marketing http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-conversation-with-marcus-sheridan-on-b2b-content-marketing-challenges/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-conversation-with-marcus-sheridan-on-b2b-content-marketing-challenges/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:32:02 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=28929 Want to listen in on my recent conversation with Marcus Sheridan (aka the Sales Lion), a B2B content marketing consultant and the keynote speaker at Content Marketing World 2012? In this post, he shares his perspectives on some of the challenges content marketers face and why every company should be embracing content and SEO.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-conversation-with-marcus-sheridan-on-b2b-content-marketing-challenges/feed/ 0 The 7 Themes My Content Marketing Blog Covered in 2012 http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-content-marketing-blog-in-2012/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-content-marketing-blog-in-2012/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2012 21:41:58 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=28504 2012 is quickly coming to a end! Here's a thematic look back at some of the topics I've covered in my content marketing blog this year.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/my-content-marketing-blog-in-2012/feed/ 0 A 2013 Strategic Priority: Building a Content Factory http://blog.openviewpartners.com/building-a-content-factory-in-2013/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/building-a-content-factory-in-2013/#comments Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:11:52 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=28123 The end of the year is almost here and if you want to build a content factory in 2013, you've got work to do. This week's post talks about the five things you need to do right now to get ready to build a successful content factory in 2013.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/building-a-content-factory-in-2013/feed/ 2 Content Generation Strategy: Leveraging Your Peers http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-generation-strategy/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-generation-strategy/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:32:00 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=27706 To be truly successful, a company’s content marketing strategy has to extend beyond the marketing department. In fact, the strategy has to be baked into the organization’s DNA, with everyone from the CEO down committed to supporting it in some fashion. Without that support, it’s virtually impossible to execute an effective content marketing program.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-generation-strategy/feed/ 4 Do Content Creation Services Really Make Your Life Easier? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-creation-services/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-creation-services/#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:33:32 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=27571 As content marketing becomes increasingly popular, more content marketing services are coming on the scene. From content management systems to automated content distribution and promotion platforms, a plethora of services are looking to cash in on the action by taking various responsibilities off your content marketing plate. But is it the right thing to do?

Do Content Creation Services Really Make Your Life Easier?" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-creation-services/feed/ 10 Cut the Crap: 6 Ways to Create Useful Content People Need http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-useful-content/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-useful-content/#comments Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:14:22 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=27321 One of the downsides of living in the information age is that we are literally drowning in a sea of content. To stand out, you need to cut through the marketing crap to create content that's useful and that will meet your audience's needs.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-useful-content/feed/ 3 The Secret to Creating Engaging Content That They’ll Love http://blog.openviewpartners.com/create-engaging-content/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/create-engaging-content/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:34:27 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=26824 The old saying “timing is everything” couldn't be more true when it comes to B2B content. Part of creating great, engaging content is ensuring that you’re in tune with your industry. After all, even if you create the best content in the world, if it’s about something no one cares about, what's the point?

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/create-engaging-content/feed/ 1 6 Content Marketing Performance Metrics You Need to Track http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-performance-metrics/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-performance-metrics/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:42:50 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=26789 Performance improvement expert H. James Harrington said, “Measurement is the first step that leads to control and, eventually, to improvement.” For anyone trying to take their content marketing efforts to the next level, his words certainly ring true. For content marketers, marketing performance metrics provide deep insights into how our content is doing.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-performance-metrics/feed/ 3 How to Convert Leads with Hooks, Calls to Action, and Triggers http://blog.openviewpartners.com/convert-leads-with-content/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/convert-leads-with-content/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:15:13 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=26597 Want your content to convert leads? Of course you do — it’s practically the holy grail of content marketing! But creating content that can convert leads is a tall order. Not only does it have to be crafted to accompany your target buyers on their journey down the path to purchase, it also has to…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/convert-leads-with-content/feed/ 5 9 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a CMS http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choosing-a-cms/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choosing-a-cms/#comments Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:48:20 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=26203 Yeah, we've all heard of WordPress. But that doesn't mean it's the right CMS for you. For content marketers, the choice of a CMS can be critical, so make sure you know the right questions to ask before making this important decision.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/choosing-a-cms/feed/ 3 6 Ways to Promote Content Using Outbound Communication Channels http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-promote-content-usin-outbound-communication-channels/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-promote-content-usin-outbound-communication-channels/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:52:49 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=25823 So you've just completed a new eBook or white paper. Now what? If you want people to read your content, you'd better promote the hell out of it. Find out how to use outbound communication channels like influencer marketing and PR to ensure it gets in front of your target audience.

6 Ways to Promote Content Using Outbound Communication Channels" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-promote-content-usin-outbound-communication-channels/feed/ 1 Sign Up Here! — The Value of Content Subscription http://blog.openviewpartners.com/value-of-content-subscription/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/value-of-content-subscription/#comments Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:06:07 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=25623 One of the most important aspects of content distribution is content subscription. You want to give your audience opportunities to subscribe to your content so that they receive it automatically, without having to look for it. Doing so will help ensure that more of your content gets consumed by more people more often.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/value-of-content-subscription/feed/ 0 How to Make a Viral Video, Gangnam Style (Part II) http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-2/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-2/#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:54:03 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=25498 In part one of this post, I wrote about the characteristics of a good viral video, based on the hit sensation “Gangnam Style.” In this second post, I’m offering up some tips to explain how to make a viral video. If you want to make a viral video, here’s what you need to do: 1)…

How to Make a Viral Video, Gangnam Style (Part II)" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-2/feed/ 0 How to Make a Viral Video, Gangnam Style (Part 1) http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-1/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-1/#comments Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:08:42 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=25472 Just a few months ago if you wanted to make a viral video, chances are that the words “Gangnam Style” wouldn’t have immediately come to mind. Let’s be honest, at that point most of us had never even heard of those words. And yet, since mid-July when the eponymous four-minute Korean pop video by rapper Psy first made its way onto YouTube, they have become synonymous with viral videos.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-make-a-viral-video-1/feed/ 1 7 Content Sharing Sites You Need to Be On http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-sharing-sites/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-sharing-sites/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:51:36 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=24977 Content marketing is about more than just creating great content. It’s also about sharing that content in a variety of ways to increase the chances of it reaching your audience. Find out which content sharing sites you absolutely need to integrate into your content distribution strategy.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-sharing-sites/feed/ 4 Want to Optimize Content? Don’t Forget Your Links! http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-link-building/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-link-building/#comments Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:09:02 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=24787 Think once you’ve found and strategically used a keyword that you’re done with your quest to optimize content? Nope. Ranking well in search engines is about more than just that. Google also factors in how much your content is shared, i.e., how many backlinks, pingbacks, and trackbacks it gets. Simply put, it's a popularity contest.

Want to Optimize Content? Don’t Forget Your Links!" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-link-building/feed/ 1 How to Optimize Content When You Don’t Know Jack about SEO http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-for-seo/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-for-seo/#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:41:09 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=24655 Knowing how to optimize content for search engines is essential, but often easier said than done. After all, mastering the art and science of search engine optimization (SEO) is no small feat. Frequent updates to Google’s search ranking algorithm — notably Panda and Penguin — only complicate matters. Although such updates go a long way…

How to Optimize Content When You Don’t Know Jack about SEO" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/optimize-content-for-seo/feed/ 0 Content Marketing Ideas from Content Marketing World http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-ideas/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-ideas/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:11:37 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=24284 At Content Marketing World, held September 4-6 in Columbus, Ohio, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by C.C. Chapman, the Co-Author of Content Rules. Entitled "Transforming Your Small Business into a Content Powerhouse," his 45-minute session offered up some fundamental tips for companies looking to set up a content marketing program.

Content Marketing Ideas from Content Marketing World" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-marketing-ideas/feed/ 0 VC Marketing: Oxymoron or Opportunity? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/vc-marketing/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/vc-marketing/#comments Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:23:27 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=24337 VC marketing may sound like a contradiction in terms, but trust me it’s not. Sure, as an industry we are a little late to the game, but clever VCs are catching on quick.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/vc-marketing/feed/ 0 Kick-Ass Content: eBook Tips for Content Marketers http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ebook-tips/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ebook-tips/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:28:47 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=23870 An eBook is a short, digital book that is a great content marketing tool for positioning you or your company as an expert on a specific topic. This post is a collection of some of the eBook tips I've gathered while working at OpenView.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ebook-tips/feed/ 0 Why a Content Farm Isn’t a Content Factory http://blog.openviewpartners.com/a-content-farm-isnt-a-content-factory/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/a-content-farm-isnt-a-content-factory/#comments Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:16:32 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=23345 Last summer, The New York Times published a somewhat scathing editorial about the rise of content farms entitled “Google’s War on Nonsense.” The article claims that content farms “cheapen all online information.” Others like it assert that they damage the Internet by manipulating search engines with the goal of getting more eyes on ads.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/a-content-farm-isnt-a-content-factory/feed/ 1 Content Factory Basics: 5 Rules for B2B Content Supremacy http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-rules-for-content-supremacy/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-rules-for-content-supremacy/#comments Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:11:50 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=23207 The success of your content factory hinges on your content, of course! What do a content factory and the National Book Awards have in common? Since the 1950s, the National Book Awards have been celebrating the literary achievements of America’s greatest writers. We’re talking about the likes of William Faulkner, John Updike, and Allen Ginsberg.…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-rules-for-content-supremacy/feed/ 0 How to Build Sales with Content Marketing http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-build-sales-with-content-marketing/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-build-sales-with-content-marketing/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:10:20 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=23006 When you think about how to build sales, you probably think about lead generation, right? Maybe you think of teams of cold-callers and prospectors. Or maybe you think of trade shows and advertising. The reality is that no matter what comes to mind when you think about how to build sales, you’d better also be thinking…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/how-to-build-sales-with-content-marketing/feed/ 2 Raising the Roof: OpenView’s Summer Celebration http://blog.openviewpartners.com/raise-the-roof-openviews-summer-celebration/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/raise-the-roof-openviews-summer-celebration/#comments Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:04:02 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=22930 With temperatures well into the 90s across Massachusetts, the only thing hotter in Boston this week was OpenView's summer roof deck celebration. Check out the pictures in this post.

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/raise-the-roof-openviews-summer-celebration/feed/ 0 Content Factory 101: Getting Started http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-getting-started/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-getting-started/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:51:52 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=22773 Have you built a content factory yet? If so, great work! If not, chances are that you probably should. Let’s face facts though, it’s not exactly easy. I was thinking about that today and was reminded of a conversation I had a couple of months ago with Shel Holtz. We talked about the challenges of…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/content-factory-getting-started/feed/ 0 The 2012 Olympics: Where Sports and Social Media Converge http://blog.openviewpartners.com/sports-and-social-media/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/sports-and-social-media/#comments Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:15:50 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=22576 One of the most interesting aspects of the 2012 Summer Olympics isn’t the pole vault or shot put, but rather how the games are bringing sports and social media together. Three of the biggest social media sites — Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube — are poised to play an unprecedented role at the Olympics. As a…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/sports-and-social-media/feed/ 2 5 Speech Writing Tips You Need to Succeed http://blog.openviewpartners.com/speech-writing-tips/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/speech-writing-tips/#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:54:40 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=22465 In honor of the Fourth of July, what could be more patriotic — at least for a content marketing blog — than a post about speech writing tips? After all, just think about the role some speeches have played in defining our nation’s history, helping to shape our national identity by influencing us, changing our thinking, and inspiring us to action.

5 Speech Writing Tips You Need to Succeed" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/speech-writing-tips/feed/ 0 The Negative Effects of Facebook on Communication http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-negative-effects-of-facebook-communication/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-negative-effects-of-facebook-communication/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:15:12 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=22140 Among the negative effects of Facebook is how the social networking site is changing the way we communicate. Before I get into that, let me start with a quick story. In 1963, Ray Kroc appeared on national television to proudly serve up McDonald’s one billionth hamburger. By the time he died 21 years later, just…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/the-negative-effects-of-facebook-communication/feed/ 10 What is Thought Leadership? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-is-thought-leadership-is-your-content-supporting-or-sinking-your-efforts/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-is-thought-leadership-is-your-content-supporting-or-sinking-your-efforts/#comments Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:06:59 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=21462 What is thought leadership? It’s a question that I recently asked myself after reading about Michigan’s Lake Superior State University’s annual list of overused words and phrases that students deem worthy of banishment from the English language. Among the offenders in 2011 were some tried-and-true favorites (ginormous and man cave to name a couple), as…

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]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-is-thought-leadership-is-your-content-supporting-or-sinking-your-efforts/feed/ 11 Kick-Ass Content: 6 Steps to Creating Your Content Marketing Style Guide http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-content-marketing-style-guide/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-content-marketing-style-guide/#comments Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:53:25 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=21024 Content that is clean, crisp, and consistent can help create and nurture a strong brand. That's why every company needs a content marketing style guide to standardize best practices and serve as a road map that everyone can follow to help create consistent, high-quality business communications. Find out how to create one in this post.

Kick-Ass Content: 6 Steps to Creating Your Content Marketing Style Guide" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/creating-a-content-marketing-style-guide/feed/ 0 Content Conundrum: What Should Your New Content Factory Produce? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-should-your-content-factory-produce/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-should-your-content-factory-produce/#comments Wed, 30 May 2012 20:14:21 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=20853 So you've built a content factory. Now what? Knowing what content you're supposed to produce is one of the biggest challenges you're going to face. Find out how to make the right decision by reading this blog post.

Content Conundrum: What Should Your New Content Factory Produce?" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/what-should-your-content-factory-produce/feed/ 0 Content Marketing Assessment: Are You Ready to Build a Content Factory? http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ready-to-build-a-content-factory/ http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ready-to-build-a-content-factory/#comments Tue, 22 May 2012 16:25:24 +0000 Kevin Cain http://blog.openviewpartners.com/?p=20559 Last week, I described why every company needs a content factory, citing the fact that good content is essential for building trust and a strong brand. This week, I’m focusing on an important step that startup and expansion-stage companies need to take before they can build that factory: conducting a content marketing self-assessment. Taking the…

Content Marketing Assessment: Are You Ready to Build a Content Factory?" target="_blank" style="font-family:sans-serif;text-decoration:none;" >ᔥ via OpenView Blog

]]> http://blog.openviewpartners.com/ready-to-build-a-content-factory/feed/ 0