Have You Lost It?

mlns='> Don’t worry, you can get it back. [View Message in Browser]( / [Add Us to Safe Sender List]( Weekly News 7.29.22 Connect With CMI [Is an Unbranded Content Site Worth It? All Signs Point to Yes at SAP]( Do unbranded content sites really produce business results? Most people who work in content marketing have gotten that question. The Future of Customer Engagement and Experience site offers a definitive answer. Here’s how it works for SAP and its audience. [Read more]( By Ann Gynn More of the week's best stuff: - [CMI News: Brands Get CCPA and GDPR Wrong – But Content Can Save the Day]( by Robert Rose - [Can You Keep the Human Touch When Using Marketing Automation?]( by Andrew Davis - [4 Metrics To Watch in Your Next Content Audit]( by Claire Brain - [Is It Time for Content Marketers To Care About Web3? 20+ Experts Weigh In]( by Ann Gynn - [What Do You Do When Inspiration for Your Content Marketing Wanes? [Rose-Colored Glasses]]( by Robert Rose  Have You Lost It? I read an article last weekend by a content professional who lamented the state of content marketing and thought leadership. He complained about the increasing uselessness of platforms like Medium, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even trade publications. The problem in his eyes? The prevalence of algorithmically driven content marketing. He said it’s easy to spot the content marketing on all these platforms thanks to headlines such as 6 Easy Steps To Solve X Problem. And, he says, few of those articles offer helpful ideas or education. But they inevitably contain a product pitch. “Is this proliferation of bad content the beginning of the end of content marketing?” he asked. Is content marketing dying? I don’t think so, but it may enter a new phase where you can no longer rely on algorithms to feature differentiating content. But let’s put that aside for the moment. "The disappointment in the author’s piece struck me more than anything he wrote. He’s lost inspiration for his practice." Has the overwhelming content environment sucked the inspiration out of you? It’s all too easy to dismiss an idea by saying, “Oh, I’m sure that’s been covered a million times. Who are we to try and answer that?” So you don’t. Have you lost your inspiration? It’s a funny word: inspire. Most people think of inspiration as something ephemeral. It’s that burst of emotional energy that comes from a supernatural place and propels you toward something. It is, in a word: awesome. When you’re inspired, you jump into life with both feet. Every opportunity seems to awaken another. You transcend the normal experience of whatever you’re doing – playing a sport, performing your art, designing your business strategy, or even changing a diaper. You’re present. No one is better at that thing at that moment than you are. Inspiration removes limitations, improves your performance, and leaves you exhilarated. It’s the best of all possible drugs. What happens when you lose your inspiration – or, more to the point, your inspiration loses you? When people lack inspiration, they sometimes think getting it back is a matter of moving, acting, and pushing to yield better results. But that thinking confuses inspiration with motivation. When you lose motivation, you lose confidence in the usefulness of the task. When you lose inspiration, you lose confidence that you are the person to do the task. The writer of the article I mentioned suggested an antidote to content marketing overwhelm. He pleaded with the world (mostly content marketers) to slow down and only say things when you have meaningful things to say. I love that sentiment. But that kind of slowdown or thoughtfulness seems unlikely in our world. So what can you do? How do you make sure you don’t lose inspiration for your craft? You can’t force inspiration. But you increase the chances that inspiration doesn’t lose you. In this week’s [Rose-Colored Glasses]( I suggest some ways to stay inspired – or help inspiration find you again. I hope you’ll read it, then let me know how inspired you’re feeling. Send me [an email](mailto:cmi_info@informa.com) or leave a comment on the [article page](. In the meantime, remember: It's your story. Tell it well. Robert Rose Chief Strategy Advisor Content Marketing Institute Do you have colleagues or friends who would benefit from Robert's weekly updates? If so, please invite them to [subscribe]( here.    Sponsored Content Industry Link Building Guides Discover how your site performs in search with our free technical audit. Our SEO experts will help you identify issues and help implement solutions that significantly impact your site's performance. Fill out the form to get your free technical audit! [Download now »](  Sponsored Content How to Make the Case for a Bigger Budget: Guide to Measuring Content Marketing ROI Packed with expert advice from marketing leaders, our new guide lays the groundwork for tracking content performance, proving its value, and making a smart, data-driven case to the C-Suite. [Download now »](   Content Marketing Job Listings Currently on a job search? Thinking about switching gears with your career? Please check out our job listings below. Available positions: - Digital Communications Specialist - Carolina Performing Arts at UNC Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, NC – [Learn More]( Interested in posting a job here? Please see our [CMI Careers]( page for more info.   More from CMI Content Marketing Awards: Category Winners Revealed Join us in congratulating the category winners of the 2022 Content Marketing Awards! Our all-star panel of judges reviewed nearly 1,000 entries to determine the best of the best among cutting-edge projects, standout results, and exceptional experiences that are leading the way in content marketing. Check out the list of category winners and stay tuned for the top awards, including Project of the Year, which will be announced live at Content Marketing World in September. [See the Winners »](   More from CMI Fuel Your Team at Content Marketing World Wouldn't it be great to get your team on the same page, uncover fresh ideas, and learn new ways to drive growth? With 100+ sessions, your entire team will benefit from the education and inspiration at Content Marketing World. Watch this video from Craig Coffey, content marketing leader at Eaton, on the value he receives from attending with his team each year – and then make plans to join us September 13-16 in Cleveland. Discounts are available for groups of 4 or more. 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