Free Website Content -
Content is King
Content is king, the fresher the better.
Fresh content
The age old question keeps coming up, how do you
retain website visitors, how do you make visitors return
to your website? The answer should come as no surprise,
fresh content. Content is truly king, the fresher the
content the better the site. What many webmasters fail
to realize is that there is an endless supply of content
on the web that is freely available to webmasters.
Not only can public domain material be freely used
and syndicated on websites, but a number of content
publishers provide content in exchange for a link back
to their websites. A variety of contents related to
the website theme that is integrated into the website
will attract the interest of both search engines and
web surfers. The key to taking advantage of free content
is integrating or including content that is directly
related to the theme of the website.
1. Articles
Article repositories exist that categorizes content
articles. Searching the repositories using keywords
that are related to a websites theme will result in
a wide variety of articles available for publication
that are related to the site's existing web content.
Articles in the repositories are available for syndication,
which means webmasters can freely include the articles
on their websites as long as they include the author
resource box with valid links.
Use the following to locate topic specific
articles:
Free Website Content - http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
GoArticles - http://www.goarticles.com
2. RSS Feeds
The contents of many RSS feeds can be syndicated.
The added benefit of syndicating feeds is that they
are frequently updated which will result in a steady
stream of fresh changing content. In order to reap the
benefits of syndicating RSS feeds, webmasters should
use either an ASP script or PHP script to display the
feeds contents as HTML.
Webmasters can navigate categories of RSS feed directories
to locate related topic feeds or search for feeds using
keywords.
Search the following directories to locate related
RSS feeds:
RSS Network - http://www.rss-network.com
RSS Locator - http://www.rss-locator.com
Free script for displaying RSS feeds as HTML:
rss2html.php - http://www.feedforall.com/free-php-script.htm
3. Shareware Listings
Consider populating a website or section of a website
with related niche software applications. Many software
companies offer applications as free downloads. The
downloads allow potential customers the opportunity
to try an application prior to making a purchase decision.
Categorizing and displaying software that relates to
a website theme can generate a lot of interest. Most
developers provide product descriptions and information
in a PAD file which is simply XML. Developers can locate
PAD files using the ASP site and the PAD kit can be
used to display the contents of the PAD file.
PAD Kit - http://www.asp-shareware.org
4. Creative Commons
A Creative Commons license allows creators to place
conditions on their copyrights. Many artists allow other
publishers to use their creative and artwork, occasionally
there are conditions that credit must be given, while
others are available freely. Web publishers can find
a lot of unique content, images and creative using the
new Yahoo Creative Commons Search.
The Yahoo! Creative Commons Search service finds content
across the Web that has a Creative Commons license.
Yahoo Creative Commons Search - http://search.yahoo.com/cc
More on Creative Commons - http://www.creativecommons.com
5. Forums
Consider creating a community forum where like-minded
individuals or at the very least individuals with a
common interest can discuss problems, concerns, related
products or ideas. The forum posts will generate a fresh
stream of new and self perpetuating website content.
Free Forum *note be sure to stay current on updates
PHPbb - http://www.phpbb.com
6. White Papers
Provide white papers, customer profiles or endorsements
that detail how applications can be used in a specific
industry. Creating a white paper section that explains
how a specific product or service is used in a specific
industry to solve a problem or increase productivity
gives potential customers insight into how a specific
service, product or technology will help in the course
of a day.
Sample White Papers - http://www.notepage.net/whitepapers.htm
7. Directories
Creating a directory of related sites while time
consuming can result in significant traffic. Directories
typically are well respected resources and rank well
in search engines.
Sample Niche Directories :
Podcasting Tools - http://www.podcasting-tools.com
Finance Investing Feed Directory - http://www.finance-investing.com
8. Newsletter Archive
If done properly online marketers see an almost
instantaneous sales or traffic increases when they send
newsletters but many do not benefit long term from the
newsletter. Consider creating a newsletter archive,
the content is already built, why not benefit from the
potential traffic and unique phrases used, to attract
new or potential customers?
Sample Archive
Corporate Newsletters - http://www.feedforall.com/newsletter.htm
Software Marketing Newsletters - http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com/articledirectory.html
9. Blog.
Ride the technological wave. A daily journal with
information related to product or service launches,
specials, technical tips, new product announcements
Sample Blog Archive
RSS Blog - http://www.rss-specifications.htm/blog.htm
As search engines combat the problems with artificially
generated a non-sensical web content , webmasters must
integrate quality, themed content that is going to legitimately
interest prospective customers.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
FeedForDev http://www.feedfordev.com
an RSS component for developers.
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource
box is included and the links are active. A courtesy
copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated. Send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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