22nd September 2018 marked the first Pride March and public event in Dundee. This is a personal story about how a very dear friend taught me empathy and compassion. I talk about how my emotions and behaviour have changed over the past 15/20 years, and how as a business leader I’ve embraced inclusivity and equality.

It’s a commonly known content strategy to give away your best stuff up front, so that you can showcase your expertise and build your reputation and authority in the marketplace. However, how much should you really give away? Would it be best to hold back at least a little bit so when people pay you money there’s some additional value? Many people struggle with this concept, and it can stop them from doing their best work. So, let’s get some clarity on it.

It’s quite well known how important a daily entry in your journal can be for strengthening your own personal philosophy. It’s not something you only do when life is tough, you do it every day, because we are constantly trying to work on ourselves and get better. We’re never done. Over the past couple of months I've become far more consistent with daily journaling. Mainly down to being a part of an accountability group. In the past when someone told me they wrote a journal every day I thought it was pretentious…That probably says more about me than others, and I hope that’s not what you think about me now that I’m going to share this with you ;) As it turns out, a daily journal entry is very liberating and powerful when you do it over a longer period of time. It’s like you’re working on yourself for a short time each day…and I have seen the best results from being consistent. Would you like to spend a little time on yourself each day. Do you think you would benefit? My guess is that you already have a good idea of the benefits of journalling, but you just haven’t given it the attention it needs. I hope this episode helps you to take a step forward and build the habit of journaling on a daily basis. DFTBA! Chris.

As a business owner or marketer you want to know that the time, effort and resource you put into any business growth activity is going to have a return on your investment (ROI).Content marketing ROI should be treated no differently. We want to know that what we’re putting in is producing something on the other side…right?There are a few likely reasons why you’re looking for more information on the ROI of content marketing. They are:1. People have been telling you that content marketing is what you need to do, but you’re not sold on it yet. You need some proof that it works.2. You have been doing content marketing for a while now, but you’re not seeing expected results.3. You are struggling to convert your content marketing traffic into leads and sales.4. You are trying to prove to someone (boss/team/board) that content marketing works.5. You want to know how to measure the content marketing ROI and if it’s really worth it.I get it…you want to feel confident that content marketing leads to £’s or $’s in the bank. At the end of the day, we are in business to make a profit.However, you and I both know that not everything we do to grow our business can be measured in a spreadsheet.We also have to be prepared to try something new before we’re able to see the full return on investment, which might be in the distant future.In order to be successful with content marketing, you will need:1. Belief in the process2. To measure quantitive metrics to help you see progress and know how to improve3. To track qualitative signals to help you understand that what you’re doing is worth itIn this episode of the podcast, I want to help you understand: 1. The importance of measurement 2. What metrics to measure, and when to measure themEnjoy and DFTBA!Chris.Resources: - Join CMA - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/members/join/ - Content Marketing ROI: How to measure the return of content marketing (Blog) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-roi/ - How does content marketing lead to sales? (Blog) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-sales/ - Why do content marketers use keyword tools? (Podcast) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/content-marketers-keyword-tools/ - How to do keyword research without using expensive keyword research tools (Podcast) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/keyword-research-without-tools/ - What are the best metrics to measure in Google Analytics? (Blog) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/the-best-metrics-to-measure-in-google-analytics/

“I tried content marketing and it didn’t work…” I’ve heard this more times than I care to remember, and there are many reasons why this might happen. My follow up question when people say the they are going to stop or quit content marketing is “OK, so tell me, what are you going to do instead…?"Typically met with a blank stare.So, let’s talk about the reasons content marketing fails and why people give up, and see if we can do something to increase success for you. I’ve got 10 points I want to cover, and many of them have follow up episodes to listen to, which I’ve included here in the show notes for you. The 10 reasons why content marketing fails are: 1. Not understanding what content marketing is2. Not understanding the importance of SEO3. Not measuring results4. Not managing your expectations5. “…I don’t have time for content marketing…"6. Not creating content for your prospects7. Complacency8. Fear9. Lack of belief or passion for your business10. No strategy or planResources1. Join CMA and grab your 14 day free trial: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/members/join/2. #130 How to be found on line when no one has heard of you - Part 2: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/found-online-part-2/3. #129 How to be found on line when no one has heard of you - Part 1: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/found-online-p1/4. #126 Fear - What’s it going to be this time?: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/fear/5. #123 How can content marketers use their time more effectively?: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/content-marketers-using-time-effectively/6. #122 “…I don’t have the time for content marketing…”: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/dont-have-time-content-marketing/7. #121 Why content marketers use keyword tools: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/content-marketers-keyword-tools/8. #115 Content marketing vs SEO - What’s the difference: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/content-marketing-vs-search-engine-optimisation-seo-whats-difference/

On the previous episode I discussed the 'Zero Moment of Truth' and the importance of understanding the general principle that your prospects are going to make the majority of their decision making online before they contact you for the first time. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode yet, head back and do that now, this episode follows on directly from this. Link: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/found-online-p1/The next natural question that follows on from this is “OK Chris, I understand the Zero Moment of Truth, but where should we start with creating this content? What are the most popular questions? What kind of topics are going to drive traffic, leads, sales and ultimately profits?”In other words, how do we get some structure around this? Where do we start with our strategy?By the end of this episode you will have the methodology and you’ll be on your way to creating the content that will get you new customers and grow your business.Ready? Let’s do it.Resources: - They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/2MhxWcv - How does content marketing lead to sales: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-sales/ - Content marketing ROI: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-roi/ - How to do keyword research without using expensive keyword research tools: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/keyword-research-without-tools/ - Content marketing vs SEO: What’s the difference?: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/podcastep/content-marketing-vs-search-engine-optimisation-seo-whats-difference/

Are you frustrated that our content isn’t getting results? It’s not getting the kind of traffic, leads and sales relative to the effort you are putting in?This is a real problem, because the lack of results will impact how much time and effort you put in. So, if you feel like it isn’t working, you are going to slow down, put less time in, which ultimately impacts the quality, frequency and consistency of your content…which impacts the results, and so on. It’s a vicious cycle. How would you feel if you could turn this around so that your content starts to work harder for you? That would feel good, right?OK…let’s look at one of the major factors that will, by understanding it, move the needle for your company and help you to look at your content marketing in a different way.After learning about this one number, you will understand why your content marketing isn’t working and realise that you haven’t been doing content marketing after all. Ready?OK, lets’ do it. Related Content: - Join CMA: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/members/join/ - Content Marketing ROI: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-roi/ - How does content marketing lead to sales: https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-sales/

At the very core of publishing good content is being able to create and choose the best ideas. Often times the content I see is clearly not going to grow businesses.Here’s a few examples of the challenges people typically have: - I’ve got a lot of ideas for blogs but I don’t know where to start or what should come first - I’ve been creating content for a while but it’s not really hitting the mark or getting the results I want - I’m fumbling around and I’m lacking certainty - are we doing our best work? Is our work really making a difference? These are all very common challenges, and there’s one major reason why these problems exist - we don’t have a process to help us decide what the best ideas are for our content. In other words, what ideas should come first? Exactly what content will grow businesses? I want to help you figure out the best place to start.So, let me help you with a few questions to uncover your best ideas so you feel more confident about your work - resulting in you publishing better work more frequently, and ultimately serving your audience and your business in a better way. Enjoy the show and DFTBA!Resources: - They Ask You Answer by Marcus Sheridan - https://amzn.to/2LK5IXr(Amazon UK) - Join CMA and complete our Content Success Formula Programme - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/members/register/annual-nodf/ - Content Marketing ROI: How to measure the return of content marketing (Blog Article) - https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-roi/ - How does content marketing lead to sales? (Blog Article) -https://www.thecontentmarketingacademy.co.uk/content-marketing-sales/

Would you like to find a way to quickly and easily differentiate from your competition? If so, listen to this podcast episode where Chris shares why sending personable and personalised videos could be exactly what you are looking for. Chris goes into to detail on the why, what, who, how and when of using Bonjoro and how it will elevate your customer experience across the whole customer journey. Bonjoro is quick and easy to use, it’s affordable and there are dozens of reasons to start using it today. If you have customers, and you want to find a way to surprise them by communicate with them differently, then this is for you. Enjoy the show and DFTBA!Resources: - Bonjoro: https://www.bonjoro.com/?tap_a=22691-1c3cc7&tap_s=223573-80a500 (Affiliate) - Never Lose a Customer Again by Joey Coleman (Book): https://amzn.to/2LpRDOE (Amazon UK) - First 100 Days by Joey Coleman (Course): https://www.creativelive.com/class/turn-customers-fans-first-100-days-joey-coleman

Can you remember a time when you were afraid of something before you did it for the first time?Can you remember how that felt?Can you remember how you felt once you did that thing? As some time in your life you have started something new.We’ve all had to learn something from scratch. Take the first lesson.Be the new person. Be at the bottom of the class.Somehow we made it through, regardless of how nervous or how afraid we were. We got on with it.Fear is something we all suffer from, from time to time. Some more than others. Regardless of how trivial it is from the outside looking in, for the person with the fear it’s very real. But it’s almost always never as bad as we think it’s going to be, is it?When it comes to content marketing, fear manifests itself in many different ways.In this podcast I talk about these fears, how you can change the way you think about fear, and ultimately help you to feel more confident about creating content and sharing your ideas and words with the world. Enjoy and DFTBA!Chris.