The #1 hallmark of really good content is...

How do you know whether an article you're about to publish is good great? You're not going to like my answer, but it's the way I see it. You'll know it when you read it. That's my answer. ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- -PAID AD- ​ ​ Most agencies are expensive, and freelancers are inconsistent. Plus, managing a team of freelancers can be more difficult than writing the content yourself! But there’s another solution: [EasyWriter](). We’re an affordable content agency that drafts, edits, and polishes high-quality content for your website, blog, or business. Here’s how it works: -  Place an order and send us your content request. -  Wait a maximum of 7 days for all projects up to 25,000 words. -  Receive your polished and proofread content, ready for posting! ​ With our team of 100% native English writers at your beck and call, your content is in safe hands. Forget the headaches and long hours drafting content yourself or sifting through freelancer proposals. Instead, make your life easier and your business better with EasyWriter! ​[Order now]() with coupon code Fatstacks for 10% off any package. -END PAID AD- ​ --------------------------------------------------------------- That's been my experience. Whether I wrote it or commissioned it and reviewed it before publishing, I know it when I read it. I have one freelance writer who writes regularly for me who is a brilliant writer. That's not hyperbole. Every article is excellent. I've had readers contact me telling me how much they love her articles. When I was hiring her, I knew she was exceptional after reading the first paragraph of her first trial article. I didn't have to read any more. She has it. She knows it too. I've published some great articles on my sites. I've also come up short. There have been no shortage of instances where I've written for hours only to be unhappy with the outcome. It happens. I publish it anyway. It's not totally useless. It just didn't come together as I'd hoped. Many of my top 100 traffic articles that I wrote I knew when I was done that they would perform well in the long run. I just knew it. It's not one aspect or attribute or anything I can point to that makes them great. It's the entire thing including: - Well researched and referenced; - Succinct; - Humorous (not always but when possible, I try to inject a bit of humor or levity into content); - Personable; - Loaded with spot-on concrete examples (photos included if they help); and - Meets search intent in every aspect. ​ My reward: Top rankings and lots of traffic. It takes time to figure out what is great and what is merely okay When I started in this business, my idea of quality content was a whole lot different than it is today. Back then 500 words was hefty. Back then 500 words could rank for 100K monthly searches no problem. These days 500 words is reserved for Twitter threads, not blog posts. Oh, how the online world has changed. It's not that I got smarter over the years. Instead, I've had to up my game in order to make it work. In many ways, I wish 1,000 word articles were considered long. It is long but not for Google. Content would be more concise. I'd be more concise. That may explain, in part, why social media is still so popular. Regardless the length, instead of having some content checklist to follow, go with your gut. Once you gain a foothold in your niche you'll know great content when you read it. More importantly, you'll know it when you write it. And just before you thought you got to the end of one of my shorter emails, I'd be remiss not to mention the following. The curse of Google is if you want traffic from Google, you have to play the Google game. You really do. That boils down to ensuring your content makes it clear to Google (a computer) what your content is about. That means: - Putting your keyword in the title (or a synonym... something Google can interpret as to what the article is about) - Put related keywords in your subheadings and text. - Use relevant images and include alt text describing those images in context to what your content is about. ​ It's not a lot of extra work but it will compromise your content. That's the price you must pay for Google traffic. That's the price readers pay in order to find your content. I'll end with this. Scaling is a double-edged sword. A constant balancing act of quality vs quantity. I'm constantly sliding up and down that spectrum. When it was just me writing, quality was paramount. Much of that content continues to outperform so most other content. Not all but a statistically significant amount of it. Yet, I don't regret going the scaling route. It was the right decision. Does that mean you don't publish unless content is perfect? No, not at all. I have plenty of far from perfect articles earning well. I'm not a purist. I won't publish garbage but if it's reasonably good, I'll publish it. I tell myself I can always go back and make it better. Speaking of making content better, I'm doing that too... again. Not sure how much it'll move the needle but I'm madly putting systems in place to do the largest-scale, most thorough content upgrade ever. Many moving parts. New hires. I've tried before with less than stellar results. I hope I'm not spinning my wheels yet again. I'll keep you posted. This much I know and that is for content updated, I'll know quickly whether it's outstanding or merely good. Jon P.S. It's been a long time since my course was available. You will be able to get it July 25. Stay tuned. ​ ​ [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 2016 Hill Drive, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7H 2N5