I know it’s been too long. In fact, it’s been almost 3 weeks since my last top 5 post!

Fortunately, I’ve still been reading and compiling. There’s certainly no shortage of good information out there on the importance of content marketing, social sharing and the value of images, how people actually read webpages and more.

Before I dive into my top 5 though, I want to take a minute to discuss a book I’ve been reading – the latest edition of Success Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstars. It’s a wonderful, comprehensive blueprint of how individuals and companies can achieve results through the web.

You can check out a quick overview of the book here, or go on over to my Twitter profile (@charteroakfla) for a few insightful quotes. I also plan to develop a chapter-by-chapter summary here at Under the Old Oak over the next few months.

With that out of the way, here are my latest top 5 web marketing articles. I could share more, but these I found to be especially helpful in communicating the value of content marketing and getting the most traction from your efforts.

#1 – Content Marketing 101: Tips on content strategy

A great little synopsis of the value of content marketing – the title doesn’t do it justice in my opinion. For example, did you know that in the B2B sphere, prospects are 80% through the sales pipeline before they reach out to a company? Most of your content marketing efforts aren’t about selling, but rather informing prospects in the research phases, building thought leadership and increasing brand awareness. It does become about selling when your prospect “raises their hand.” Once they do, you have an opportunity to present targeted content that addresses their specific pain points. Read more…

#2 – Why Your Marketing Content is an Asset, Not a Cost

“Your brand is your greatest asset, and your content tells the story of your brand,” explains Debbie Williams in this piece from Hubspot. One thing I always hear from small businesses is cost, and how that is the chief reason they do not invest in content marketing. As this article explains, marketing should really be considered an investment rather than a cost. Unlike traditional methods such as direct mail and magazine ads, it is really easy to analyze data and prove the ROI of your efforts. But in order for you to consider content marketing an investment, it has to clearly tie in with your overall business goals. Read more…

#3 – How Little Do Users Read?

Think a visitor reads your text word for word? Think again. Anyone who has been writing for the web for very long knows that you must make your copy conducive for scanning. Research from Jakob Nielsen though sheds light on just how little people read. Through extensive data, Nielsen was able to determine how much users could conceivably read during an average visit time. After it was all said and done, Nielsen determined that users are realistically only able to read 20% of the words on a page. Read more…

#4 – Why People Share: The Psychology of Social Sharing

Ever wonder why a certain piece of content gets thousands of shares and all the love on social media? This handy infographic from coSchedule looks at data from the New York Times examining people’s motivations for social sharing. Check out the infographic below, or visit the article for 5 ways you can take this data and apply it to your content. Read more…

#5 – How to Create Simple Drawings to Clarify Your Ideas and Captivate your Audience

Do you ever get frustrated sifting through stock photos or Flickr looking for that right image? I know I’ve caught myself spending almost a 1/2-hour sifting through images just to come up with nothing. Rather than sifting through a pile of mediocre images desperately hoping to find a good one in under 5 minutes, why not draw one instead? Learn how easy it really is to create simple drawings, and learn why they bring a human element to your message. Read more…

Well, I guess that wraps up this edition of the top 5. I’m still working on the sitting/posture piece I’ve mentioned in prior posts. I spoke with a local massage therapist who helps people deal with challenges just like this, so I hope to work on the first section in the next couple of weeks.

Until then, keep checking back for more personal insights about growing your business online. And if you would like to see a complete list of what I’m reading, click on over to my Diigo profile today!