Back in the blistering cold of Montreal’s latest winter, I was soon to graduate from one of Canada’s top Universities.
Hoping my career was about to take off, I had a few options up my sleeve.
Many of my peers had landed jobs at investment banks, real-estate firms and major marketing agencies. I had good enough grades to do the same, but the corporate office was not for me. I am the entrepreneurial type, I wanted something different, I wanted to learn, and I wanted to learn fast.
It turns out the web is great place to do this. It is not only humungous but ever evolving. It was pounded into our heads at business school that “nothing is more constant than change”, a saying never more appropriate for the online world.
If I wanted to learn something useful, something that would stick with me forever, online marketing was a great skill to have, and to take with me for the long haul.
Here’s what I’ve picked up:
Hoping my career was about to take off, I had a few options up my sleeve.
Many of my peers had landed jobs at investment banks, real-estate firms and major marketing agencies. I had good enough grades to do the same, but the corporate office was not for me. I am the entrepreneurial type, I wanted something different, I wanted to learn, and I wanted to learn fast.
It turns out the web is great place to do this. It is not only humungous but ever evolving. It was pounded into our heads at business school that “nothing is more constant than change”, a saying never more appropriate for the online world.
If I wanted to learn something useful, something that would stick with me forever, online marketing was a great skill to have, and to take with me for the long haul.
Here’s what I’ve picked up:
1. You’re Lost Without Killer Content
Design, presentation, promotion, SEO can all bring traffic to your website. However, if you want people to stay, share, and engage with what your offering, high quality content is priority number 1.
Google’s new updates are putting more emphasis on content, and punishing those who cannot keep up with the trends. Pushing out spammy content has never been harder, and it will continue to be as Matt Cutt’s team at Google gets smarter and smarter. If you want to get found by Google, write epic content, and write it often.
2. Building Relationships has Never Been Easier
Coming from an “offline” oriented University (something I feel needs to changed), we were always encouraged meet local business owners or hit the phones in order to build a network.
Don’t get me wrong, these tactics can be effective… however doing so online is much more effective.
A simple Google search, or a browse through content curator Alltop will immediately get you in touch with your industry experts or potential clients.
These are precisely targeted contacts…. not the dude next door.
Provide some quality content in return.. and you’re in!
As a current online marketer, and a future entrepreneur, I feel these two findings will stick with me forever. Our world, online and offline, is constantly changing… being able to establish a strong network, and providing valuable content will never be overlooked.
Design, presentation, promotion, SEO can all bring traffic to your website. However, if you want people to stay, share, and engage with what your offering, high quality content is priority number 1.
Google’s new updates are putting more emphasis on content, and punishing those who cannot keep up with the trends. Pushing out spammy content has never been harder, and it will continue to be as Matt Cutt’s team at Google gets smarter and smarter. If you want to get found by Google, write epic content, and write it often.
2. Building Relationships has Never Been Easier
Coming from an “offline” oriented University (something I feel needs to changed), we were always encouraged meet local business owners or hit the phones in order to build a network.
Don’t get me wrong, these tactics can be effective… however doing so online is much more effective.
A simple Google search, or a browse through content curator Alltop will immediately get you in touch with your industry experts or potential clients.
These are precisely targeted contacts…. not the dude next door.
Provide some quality content in return.. and you’re in!
As a current online marketer, and a future entrepreneur, I feel these two findings will stick with me forever. Our world, online and offline, is constantly changing… being able to establish a strong network, and providing valuable content will never be overlooked.
Taylor's work at Custom Content Factory entails assisting in an array of areas including: blogging, competitive analysis, and online marketing. Taylor recently graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of McGill.
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