As the summer draws to a close, we know that you don’t want to spend all your time searching searching the Internet high and wide for the best articles. That’s why we gather up each month’s highlights from the worlds of social media, content marketing, and SEO for your convenience. Here’s our favorites from July. If you’re looking for the same great content in between roundups, don’t forget to check in with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
SEO
Panda Pummels Press Release Websites: The Road to Recovery
Many of us in the search industry were caught off guard by the release of Panda 4.0. It had become common knowledge that Panda was essentially “baked into” the algorithm now several times a month, so a pronounced refresh was a surprise.
A Glimpse Into The Future Of Search With Futurist Ramez Naam
In the process of working on the upcoming third edition of The Art of SEO, I had the pleasure of discussing the Future of Search with Ramez Naam.
How to Not Suck at Organic SEO
The first page of Google — it’s the Holy Grail of search engine optimization. The prize is so tempting, in fact, that I have seen people go to some pretty outrageous lengths to reach that coveted spot.
Google’s Pigeon Update Solves Yelp Problem, Boosts Local Directories
As the analysis continues on yesterday’s Google local search algorithm changes — that we’re calling the Pigeon update — one thing appears to be clear: Local directory sites are getting better visibility in Google’s search results.
Forest for the Trees: How the Best SEOs Think Big Picture First
The best SEOs know to think big picture, first. To do this, you must define your unique search value proposition (USVP) early. It will make or break your SEO efforts long-term, every. single. time.
Quick SEO Wins: 31 Ideas From The Experts
When was the last time you started a new SEO campaign? New projects are often exciting, but there’s one thing many SEOs don’t look forward to. The mismatch between expectations and actual progress of many search campaigns.
Wake a Sleeping Giant for Content Marketing SEO: Your Employees
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about missed SEO and link-building opportunities for corporate websites, to aid in content marketing efforts.
How to Please Google in a Post-Hummingbird World
Everyone seems to know that quality content is the foundation of a strong organic online presence, but everyone can’t always agree on is what “quality content” actually means.
Content Marketing
The Ultimate Guide to Competing with Content
I have some depressing news for you. Your prospects, customers, and leads do not wake up every morning in breathless anticipation of your blog posts or ebooks.
How to Use LinkedIn Publisher to Get More Visibility
Do you want more visibility on LinkedIn? Are you using the new LinkedIn publishing platform? Publishing content on LinkedIn Publisher can give your content and your reputation a boost.
Why User Generated Content is the Future of Marketing and How You Can Master It
A statistic such as “92% of people are more likely to purchase a product after a recommendation from someone they know, than direct from a brand” cannot be ignored.
5 Engagement App Strategies for Converting Fans & Followers into Content Marketers
Social engagement apps are shareable digital experiences that invite consumers (and their friends) into a social relationship with a brand. Done right, engagement apps can also create snackable, sharable content that is perfect for kicking off a content engagement relationship between brand and consumer.
How To Leverage Your Creatures of Content
‘Creatures of Content’ is a new term/project I’ve coined (I think I’m the first) to describe the modern consumer’s content creation habits. So, creatures of habit + content = creatures of content.
Social Media
How to Optimize Your Content Strategy With Social Listening
Social media has grown drastically in the past decade. With several successful social networks, accompanied by the continuously broadening user base, the data and insights available through social listening can drastically help improve your marketing efforts.
The New Rules of Social: Mobile First & Pay to Play
We’re halfway through 2014 and it goes without saying that a lot has happened this year in social. News of small start-ups being bought out seemed like it occurred on a daily basis.
The Weird Al Yankovic Social Media Case Study
Content creators, social media strategists and PR professionals should fall to the feet of Weird Al and lap up his creative genius. What Yankovic pulled off this past week in the world of content publishing was amazing.
Social Media Won’t Fix Your Broken Customer Service
I’ve spent a lot of time working with globally recognized organizations to strengthen and refocus their customer service offerings. I’ve also spent a lot of time as a customer and have observed glaring holes in the process businesses have designed to handle customer issues.
15 Mistakes Your Business Might be Making on Facebook
At 1.23 billion monthly active users, the shear number of people using Facebook makes the social giant a solid addition to your Internet marketing campaigns. For certain types of businesses, leaving Facebook out their marketing campaigns can be a serious business mistake.
With Matt Cutts on vacation, we’ll go to the archives to find him answering questions from the SEO world. It’s like he isn’t even gone.
Image: Flickr/GoToVan