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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