Free Website Content
Developing Content Portals as a Marketing Tool
Targeted Content Sites
By S. Housley
Highly targeted, focused sites that are related to specific
market segments are highly advantageous and can often
be created using existing web content. The key is to
provide value.
Think of the time spent surfing the web
gathering resources and information. By creating a topic-centric
resource compiling information, webmasters are providing
a service or value. In many cases that value is simply
the compilation of topic-specific information in a single
resource. The compilation of this information in itself
is the value.
These highly focused content sites can
be great supplemental portals that are invaluable as
a marketing tool for niche products. Niche portals help
define expertise in a specific market segment, not to
mention the added benefit of providing valuable topic-specific
links. The topic-centric portals also tend to achieve
high search placement and will often provide advertisers
high quality exposure, allowing webmasters the opportunity
to capitalize on their efforts.
What to put in topical portal?
ARTICLES
Many article writers allow webmasters to republish
their articles.
Search the large article directories for
quality topic-specific articles using keyword searches.
The articles contained in these directories often allow
publishers to freely reproduce the article's contents
as long as the hyperlinks in the article and article
resource box remain intact.
Resource for finding articles for publication:
GoArticles - http://www.goarticles.com
RSS FEEDS
By nature, RSS feeds are designed for syndication. Most
RSS feeds can be freely reproduced. Locate topic-specific
feeds using keyword or category searches. The contents
of the feeds can be used to populate web pages. There
are a number of free scripts available that allow webmasters
to display the contents of an RSS feed (see http://www.rss-specifications.com/displaying-rss-feeds.htm
for instructions on displaying feeds).
Resources for finding RSS feeds for syndication:
RSS Network - http://www.rss-network.com
RSS Locator - http://www.rss-locator.com
LINK DIRECTORY
While this takes a little more time, compiling a collection
of niche websites on related topics can significantly
enhance the value of a portal. Topic-specific directories
and search engines can achieve high search engine rankings
with the larger engines like Google and MSN, and can
easily be optimized for a collection of search terms.
The process can even be automated if you have programming
experience.
Sample Link Directory - http://www.investing-partners.com
TOPIC SPECIFIFC FORUM
The most successful forums are those that are highly
focused and niche-oriented. Establishing a community
of individuals with common interests will result in
return visitors. Managing a forum is not overly complex
and there are free forum scripts available that will
provide the forum structure. Many of the forums have
scripts available that will allow for search engines
to spider the contents and forum posts. As the content
flourishes, the site will increase in value.
Free Forum Scripts: http://www.phpbb.com
More on topic-specific portals or information
radars can be found in Robin Good's book 'Newsmastering'.
http://www.masternewmedia.org/reports/newsmasterstoolkit/
A site that is focused on a relatively
narrow range of goods and services will find that there
is less competition. Topic-centric websites that provide
a gateway to niche information related to a particular
industry, sector, topic or market segment are becoming
increasingly valuable and popular. Compiling the resource
using free resources will minimize the capital investment.
Regardless of whether you are marketing a product, service
or advertising, narrowing the topic focus will attract
a targeted audience who genuinely are interested in
the website topic, allowing you to monetize the portal,
and minimize the expense.
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
NotePage http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
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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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