Content Marketing is the hottest of the hottest right now as far as electronic marketing is concerned.

Content Marketing Examples’ “Do’s” include content, content and more content which will inform your potential clients. Also, updating your website with current, relevant and valuable information is a definite MUST – this will keep them coming back for more. Junta42’s Joe Pulizi also recommends blogging and a newsletter. Videos are also recommended as very strong and effective message senders on websites.

On the “Don’ts” side we have: no offers, irrelevant content, not identifying your target audience and failing to improve the usability and conversion of your website.

This LinkedIn Content Marketing Example and case study provides invaluable information without you having to dig through pages and pages of useless information on a website. (Video provided by marketingprofessor for YouTube.com)

Business individuals are serious about their companies and the success (or failure) of such. They truly do not have time nor care to waste time on websites which do not provide the specific information they need or are in search of.

Content is everything now. No longer will you be able to get away with a flashy website with no useful, up-to-date information. As a matter of fact, the less bells and whistles the better.

There is nothing more frustrating than to find out that the information you have obtained from a website is out of date. That may be considered “misinformation” and, depending on the content may even set you up for a lawsuit if anyone using that information gets hurt or is fined.

A good Content Marketing Example, which applies to this is the posting of a government, includes posting a government regulation regarding construction which is outdated. You use that information in your building project and result in getting fined by the government for violating its regulations.

Blogging has become the rage on the internet. It is the manner in which to keep your clients updated on what’s going on and what to expect and look forward to. You may even add a section where your readers add their own comments, questions, experiences, etc.

Brian Wynne Williams, CEO & Co-Founder, in Favorites and General and Site Launches and Staff and Wrap-Ups confirms, “By launching these focused blogs, our growing team here at Viget can more effectively connect with their peer communities. We can share ideas and generally contribute to the vibrant and ever-expanding industry that we’re all in. And since each Lab here at Viget shares knowledge between them, we think our perspective will be a little unique. We hope you do too!” (www.bx.businessweek.com)

“Your strongest relationships have been built upon personal interaction and the ONLY way to establish a long lasting personal relationship is to show your true colors. So ... experiment and have a little fun in your business newsletter content.

• Feature client success stories. You communications should not be "all about you."
• Run a contest with a prize that readers will actually want.
• Conduct an online survey. Keep it short. Avoid "yes/no" questions or at least make some of the questions unexpected, quirky or fun. Business can be serious, but it doesn't always have to take itself too seriously. Always include a field so the survey taker can elaborate.” (Mike Braun for www.bizblogs.bizactions.com)

Thanks to the advent of YouTube.com, videos have become a part of our everyday lives. Placing videos on your website and updating them frequently with fresh, pertinent and valuable material will provide your website with a certain degree of credibility, with consumers, in the pertinent field. Jeff Peletier, in www.ezinearticles.com, mentions the benefits of videos on websites – i.e., visual, on-demand, versatile, emotional and “sticky” (keeps the potential customer on your website as long as he/she is watching the video.)

Video Ad: Business video for websites self-explanatory. (Courtesy of: rossiterandco for YouTube.com)

• No Offers: A great Content Marketing Example is one used by Newt Barrett on www.contentmarketingtoday.com, regarding restaurants and their electronic marketing flyers, “I was perversely inspired to write this because of a recent gorgeous direct mailing I received from local French restaurant. They did a lot of things right. There was some beautiful photography that captured the essence of this charming little bistro. They described how the restaurant and its cuisine were uniquely appealing. They shared some impressive awards and recognitions for their excellence. They included their Web address. And, they even provided a little map that showed me exactly how to find it. There was only one thing missing. But it was the most important thing: They failed to make me an offer that would entice me to dine at the restaurant. In fact, there was no offer at all…. For this restaurant, there were certainly plenty of possibilities. It could have been free appetizers, free glass of the house wine, buy one entrée get one free, 50% off a bottle of wine or free desserts. But they offered me nothing.”
• Irrelevant Content: Some companies understand the importance of contents but, they do not realize that it MUST be relevant to their widget or service. Newt Barrett, of www.contentmarketingtoday.com, uses Metwell’s website as a Content Marketing Example of a “Don’t”, “I found it hard to understand exactly what Metwell does or how they could help me after a quick–and then a more in depth–visit to their website The company seems to know content is important because their site attempts to provide a lot of content, at least on the surface. But they misunderstand the essence of content marketing by failing to make their content relevant and compelling to prospective buyers.”
• Not Identifying Your Target Audience: This is a basic Content Marketing Example of a “Don’t”. Many business owners want to sell to everybody! That, simply, is not possible for not everybody needs or wants what you have to sell them.
  There are several ways in which you may accomplish this – either by age group, financial or educational status, etc.
• “Failing To Improve the Usability and Conversion of Your Website: How many visitors on you blog or website are you converting to subscribers or customers? How easy is it for your visitors to understand what to do on your site?
  To improve the usability of your website, make sure all links are blue and underlined, for example. Web visitors are used to seeing blue links. You can also increase the size of your "Buy" or "Subscribe" buttons. It almost always increases conversions. Also make sure you eliminate all distractions which will stop your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site, especially on the order pages.
• Distractions could mean links to other sites or any unnecessary things which distract your visitors from buying or subscribing on your site. This also increases conversions. So study your websites and blogs, and make sure it's clear what your visitors must do on your site. Also investigate how you can increase the conversion rates so you can turn more visitors into buyers.” (www.freiyer.com)