Stunting 101: Why Evel Knievel Could Teach a Class on Content Identity – SEO Monday
Vlad August 20, 2012Ever wonder how Evel Knievel could teach a class on content identity?
Stunting 101: Why Evel Knievel Could Teach a Class on Content Identity
Following the trajectory set by my previous article on the importance of targeted content, I’m going to create a vision for what your targeted content should sound, look and feel like. The gestalt term I’ve elected to use for these qualities is “content identity.”
Content without an identity can often be traced back to websites that – to the chagrin of their owners – lack identity themselves. It’s an age-old story in the Book of Bad Content (a terrific read, by the way). Here’s a simple assessment that you can employ to see which camp your content belongs to. Do you think writing content for your website is enjoyable? If your answer is “yes,” then your website likely has an identity. If your answer is “no,” then you’re depleting your content of its conversion potential. In a world full of dynamite writing, generic content is a dud.
With well-written content as the foundation and an understanding of your content targets as the vehicle, content identity becomes the final piece in this triumvirate. The pyramid below will provide visual confirmation of this.
A simple-but-effective content pyramid
And now I would like to talk about a man that seemed to have been more imagination than reality. Could someone survive a month-long coma, 433 broken bones, bankruptcy, divorce and a number of additional horrors, all while receiving the constant support and applause of a nation?
I’m talking ‘bout Evel Knievel!
Mentioning his name alone will stir the memories of anybody who was fortunate enough to witness him in his heyday, whether in-person or on a low-definition television screen. He was an icon, if there ever was one. While you may not want to pattern yourself after Knievel too closely, you should understand how his identity correlated with his legacy. That unmistakable identity is what made him special; it was why he stood out.
An emblem of an era
People forget that content isn’t entirely graded analytically. Just 15 percent of Google’s search algorithm hinges on keyword usage according to SEOmoz survey data (outdated, but in all likelihood, still fairly accurate). Care to guess how important keyword usage is to a potential customer that arrives at your website, as compared the quality and identity of your content? Yes, you need to have SEO-ready copy in order to attract visitors, but only well-written content can turn them into customers. And content identity will keep them coming back.
Your website needs content identity because it’s indistinguishable without it. Evel Knievel’s legacy lives on because of his identity. He was memorable, just as the copy you create for your website should be. If any of your content pages can be seamlessly transposed to another website without alterations, your content lacks identity. Does that mean buttoned-up pharmaceutical companies should start rolling out over-the-top content? No, but that doesn’t mean that generic copy is the answer, either. Think of the top companies in this space: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, etc. Their identities are crystal clear. They care about their customers; they help people through their medicine; and they have a squeaky-clean image with a humanistic element. That’s what it means to have content identity.
Join me next time, when I may actually explore an SEO-centric content topic.
Image courtesy teadrinker
Comments (2)
I usually do not create a comment, but I browsed a few comments here
And, if you are posting on other online social sites, I would like to keep up with you. Could you post a list of all of all your public sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
Exclusive Concepts Blog | Stunting 101: Why Evel Knievel Could Teach a Class on Content Identity – SEO Monday.
I actually do have 2 questions for you if it’s allright. Could it be just me or do some of these comments appear like they are left by brain dead people?
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Thank you for the comments.
We don’t think respondents to our blog are brain dead at all. Online commerce and it’s marketing are large and complicated topics to understand. There is certainly a steep learning curve for those not already familiar with tech terms and concepts so we try to help where we can. During a recent webinar someone asked us to clarify the acronym SEO. Are they brain dead? Not at all, they have a very successful brick and mortar business that hasn’t allowed them the time to research online marketing. While we know all about online marketing, put us on a sailboat and we couldn’t find the jib with both hands and a flashlight!
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