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9 Trusted SEO Blogs

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Image result for 9 Trusted SEO BlogsSearch engine optimization is always changing, requiring constant investigation to keep up. One of the best ways to identify new trends, in addition to research and analysis on your own site, is reading the learnings of trusted SEO experts.

Adding nine blogs to your daily regiment can be a bit daunting, but you can use a feed reader, such as Feedly or The Old Reader, to corral your content into a single place to digest as it is published.

These nine blogs, below, offer information and investigation you can trust to be in alignment with search engine guidelines. They post frequently, and are typically well written and easy to read.

9 Trusted SEO Blogs

Search Engine Land. Considered one of the largest and most reputable search marketing blogs, Search Engine Land offers news pertaining to both SEO and paid search. You’ll also find posts on social marketing and other related topics from sister site Marketing Land. SEL contains more opinion-based articles and columns from many search experts across the industry. If you only have time to read three blogs, this should be one of them.

The Moz Blog. Deeply rooted in the philosophy that sharing information in the search industry will benefit everyone, Moz started off as a blog and forum. Founder Rand Fishkin, of Whiteboard Fridayfame, also has a separate blog on Moz. Moz also publishes a biennial (every other year), deep analysis of the search engine ranking factors.

In short, Moz is one of the best SEO resources and should be on your top-three list. Its popular YouMoz blog is open to anyone who wishes to publish an article, and the best posts are promoted to Moz’s main blog. Be more cautious in how you perceive the YouMoz blog’s content, however, because it mixes questionable and valuable content, based on its “anyone can post” policy.

Google Webmaster Central Blog. As the top search engine in many countries, Google’s own Webmaster Central blog is a wealth of information on the topics and tools within Google’s webmaster guidelines. You’ll find posts on innovations in Google’s search products, additions to its Search Console tools, and more. Bing also offers a webmaster blog, but its posting frequency is far lower.

Search Engine Roundtable. Manned by the vigilant Barry Schwartz, no site dedicates more posts to search engine forum activity and Google news. He writes regular summaries of the activity in the forums, and spices it with his own take on whether the forum chatter is on target or not. This is especially true of claims of algorithm shifts. Schwartz is usually among the first to confirm or deny such activity. If you’re a Google chaser or forum lover, you’ll want to read this one.

Search Engine Journal. Another news and opinion blog, Search Engine Journal covers some of the same topics as Search Engine Land, but its how-to and opinion content will differ. It can be quirkier and slightly irreverent. You’ll pick up some useful nuggets of SEO strategies to try or stop doing on this blog.

SEO by the Sea. If you want to know the inner workings behind the algorithms, read Bill Slawski’s blog. He studies the search engines’ patents and breaks them down into language that’s more digestible. The content is typically a mix between these more scientific posts and more practical posts targeted at everyday SEO life.

Searchmetrics SEO & Content Marketing Blog. This blog is based on findings from search analytics platform provider Searchmetrics. Similar providers — such as BrightEdge, SEMrush, and Conductor — have their own blogs. But I prefer Searchmetrics’ blog because it’s a good mix of posts based on their own data that highlight trends across different industries, and more practical tips on implementing specific strategies and tactics.

iProspect Blog. As a prominent name in search marketing in the U.S., iProspect has plenty of resources to put behind generating relevant SEO and paid search content several times a week. The blog covers trends as well as specific items to implement to improve natural search performance.

Practical Ecommerce. With a slant toward ecommerce, we offer posts from several SEO experts, including technical SEO guru Hamlet Batista and me, weekly contributor Jill Kocher. Veteran digital marketing expert Armando Roggio also covers SEO topics frequently.

[“Source-practicalecommerce”]

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Blogging

3 Ways to Create More Content (and Views) from Your Blogs

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

3 Ways to Create More Content (and Views) from Your Blogs

Content Marketing is still one of the best ways to generate leads for B2B companies. Yet many entrepreneurs struggle with creating a successful content strategy.

In reality, you do not need to write hundreds of individual blogs. In fact, one of the best ways to become known as a thought leader in your industry is to take one well-defined topic and turn it into many related content pieces.

Sounds complicated? It does not have to be. Here are three ideas how you can make the most out of the blogs you’ve already written.

1. Turn your key points into social media posts.

  • Identify 10 to 15 key ideas, quotes, or data points that can be used as social media posts. Any sentence that is under 140 characters can also be a tweet. LinkedIn and Facebook are not as strict with character limits.
  • Find simple images that will support your point. Colorful images increase readers’ attention span by 82 percent.
  • Schedule these posts on Twitter every 1-2 days or 1-2 weeks on LinkedIn and Facebook. Organize your posting schedule with tools like Hootsuite Bulk Upload helps with staying focused.

2. Create visual content to support your blogs.

Don’t get stuck in the world of scrolling text. Multiple studies show a significant increase in views and conversions for content with compelling images. There are countless easy and effective ways to make a post visually captivating.

  • Take several related blogs (or key points in one blog) and turn them into a simple infographic. If you are creatively challenged, hire a talented Upwork freelance designer to help you.
  • You can expand on your content by designing a Preso  or a Haikudeck presentation and share it on Slideshare.
  • Create a simple video to further explain one of the core concepts. It does not have to be an Oscar-worthy masterpiece.  You can use Youtube to convert your presentation into a video. Experiment with live-video streaming options like Facebook live streaming or Periscope.

Remember to create social media posts for each of the content types and schedule them.

3. Write an “expert roundup” blog post.

A great way to get your post seen by as many eyes in your field and in your market is through collaborating with others. Quite frequently your co-authors will share your content via their own social profiles.

  • Think about 15 to 20 experts in your field who covered your main topics in the past. Reach out to them with a request to answer a few related questions. You can use a freelancer or a Virtual Assistant to help you research and contact these individuals. Alternatively, you can also post the question with a deadline on HARO.
  • Compile the answers into one blog post.  Add an easy way to share your content. Click to Tweet works well to encourage others to share your content.
  • Once your blog is live, let the contributors know it is available and ask them to promote via their own social profiles.
  • Remember to schedule social media posts tagging the contributors. This is another sure way of encouraging them to share your content.

You do not have to write 100 blogs or have a huge budget to succeed at content marketing. You can create a low-maintenance, high-return content strategy if you think about ways to maximize your content via social, various media types and creative ways of engaging other thought leaders.

[Source:- Entreprenure]

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Blogging

3 Ways to Create More Content (and Views) from Your Blogs

by Rajdeep
written by Rajdeep

3 Ways to Create More Content (and Views) from Your Blogs

Content Marketing is still one of the best ways to generate leads for B2B companies. Yet many entrepreneurs struggle with creating a successful content strategy.

In reality, you do not need to write hundreds of individual blogs. In fact, one of the best ways to become known as a thought leader in your industry is to take one well-defined topic and turn it into many related content pieces.

Sounds complicated? It does not have to be. Here are three ideas how you can make the most out of the blogs you’ve already written.

1. Turn your key points into social media posts.

  • Identify 10 to 15 key ideas, quotes, or data points that can be used as social media posts. Any sentence that is under 140 characters can also be a tweet. LinkedIn and Facebook are not as strict with character limits.
  • Find simple images that will support your point. Colorful images increase readers’ attention span by 82 percent.
  • Schedule these posts on Twitter every 1-2 days or 1-2 weeks on LinkedIn and Facebook. Organize your posting schedule with tools like Hootsuite Bulk Upload helps with staying focused.

2. Create visual content to support your blogs.

Don’t get stuck in the world of scrolling text. Multiple studies show a significant increase in views and conversions for content with compelling images. There are countless easy and effective ways to make a post visually captivating.

  • Take several related blogs (or key points in one blog) and turn them into a simple infographic. If you are creatively challenged, hire a talented Upwork freelance designer to help you.
  • You can expand on your content by designing a Preso  or a Haikudeck presentation and share it on Slideshare.
  • Create a simple video to further explain one of the core concepts. It does not have to be an Oscar-worthy masterpiece.  You can use Youtube to convert your presentation into a video. Experiment with live-video streaming options like Facebook live streaming or Periscope.

Remember to create social media posts for each of the content types and schedule them.

3. Write an “expert roundup” blog post.

A great way to get your post seen by as many eyes in your field and in your market is through collaborating with others. Quite frequently your co-authors will share your content via their own social profiles.

  • Think about 15 to 20 experts in your field who covered your main topics in the past. Reach out to them with a request to answer a few related questions. You can use a freelancer or a Virtual Assistant to help you research and contact these individuals. Alternatively, you can also post the question with a deadline on HARO.
  • Compile the answers into one blog post.  Add an easy way to share your content. Click to Tweet works well to encourage others to share your content.
  • Once your blog is live, let the contributors know it is available and ask them to promote via their own social profiles.
  • Remember to schedule social media posts tagging the contributors. This is another sure way of encouraging them to share your content.

You do not have to write 100 blogs or have a huge budget to succeed at content marketing. You can create a low-maintenance, high-return content strategy if you think about ways to maximize your content via social, various media types and creative ways of engaging other thought leaders.

[Source:- Entrepreneur]

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Gadgets News

The 12 Best Tech Blogs to Stay Informed about Technology News, Products, and Culture

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Here are 20 of the Top Tech Blogs You Should be Following in 2021

The world of technology is vast. Every second, it seems, we see a new product release, research breakthrough, or other development that will change the way we live, work, and play. Keeping up with this deluge of information is the challenge, as anyone who works in tech knows.
Luckily, there are a host of blogs out there to help you stay informed about tech news, which products are worth buying, and how technology affects our society. The world of tech bloggers, however, is as extensive as technology itself, making it difficult to know whom you should read and follow.
To help you cut through the confusion, we’ve put together this list of the best technology blogs on the internet. Whether you’re searching tech information related to your work, trying to decide which phone you should buy, or looking for inspiration to start your own tech blog, you’ll find it on one of the sites below.

1. CNET

If you want a great place for tech news coverage, tutorials, and product reviews, CNET is your go-to. The site reports on a vast array of topics, giving you the latest news in everything from tech culture to cybersecurity.
They also have an entire section of their site devoted to smart home tech, making it a valuable resource if you want to set up a smart home or tweak your current setup. And they can offer you guidance when buying a car, helping you find the right mix of fuel-efficiency, safety, and performance.
In addition to written blog content, CNET also has podcasts and videos about tech topics ranging from Microsoft to Apple and smartphones to wearables.

2. TechCrunch

Looking for a blog that focuses on a variety of technology industry news, ranging from social media to apps to the hottest new tech startups? Then you’ll love TechCrunch. As you can see from some of the headlines in the image above, TechCrunch focuses especially on the business side of tech, including IPOs to watch and notable tech company acquisitions or mergers. The site also has a clean layout that makes it a pleasure to read.

3. ZDNet

If you’re a business tech professional who wants to stay updated on the latest trends, issues, and events in IT, then ZDNet is a site you should follow. The site does cover mainstream topics such as reviews of phones and PCs, but it focuses mainly on more technical issues (such as how to upgrade to the latest build of Ubuntu, for instance). Think of it as CNET’s nerdier cousin (their similarity isn’t a coincidence, as both are subsidiaries of CBS Interactive).

4. MIT Technology Review

“MIT Technology Review” is the world’s longest-running tech magazine, with its first issue published in 1899. On their site, they cover topics such as the business and political impact of technology, sustainable energy, and AI.
Given that it’s also a print magazine, the editorial standards for “MIT Technology Review” tend to be higher than for other sites that are publishing exclusively online at the pace of the news cycle. Therefore, it’s a source to turn to when you want longer, deeper examinations of how technology is shaping the present and future. On the other hand, it’s not the best place for tech reviews or tutorials.

5. Gizmodo

Gizmodo is a site that covers design, technology, science, and science fiction. In a notable difference from some other tech websites, it also covers politics. It’s a site worth visiting if you want a break from the industry-focused tech reporting of other sites (though you’ll find a healthy dose of that type of content if you want it).

6. Engadget

Engadget is a blog that features content related to gadgets, consumer electronics, gaming, and entertainment. You’ll find detailed product reviews, as well as buyer’s guides to phones, laptops, headphones, home theater, and gaming systems. In addition to the English-language version, the site is also available in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

7. Wired

Wired is a tech site with articles on business, culture, science, security, transportation, and gear, as well as the ideas shaping the future. News is certainly the focus above all else, along with plenty of cultural commentary and analysis. The articles tend to be casual and accessible, making it a good site to read if you just want to stay updated in the broad strokes of tech without getting into the digital weeds.

8. The Next Web

Known as TNW for short, The Next Web covers tech news, internet trends, and gadget reviews. They also put on a conference each year that explores how technology is shaping business innovation (this year’s topics included AI and blockchain tech).
As you can see from the screenshot above, the site focuses on breaking news, constantly updating its homepage feed with the latest stories. If you like to be up to the minute on all tech developments, this is the blog you should follow.

9. The Verge

The Verge is a site that covers the intersection of technology, science, art, and culture. Indeed, tech coverage is just a small fraction of what the site discusses, though you’ll find no shortage of info on the latest trends relating to devices, apps, and the impact of digital media on politics.
The Verge also tends to be a bit slower-paced in its content than some other strictly news sites, even including a dedicated “longform” section that examines stories in greater detail than your typical listicle or clickbait news article.

10. TechSpot

If you want a tech take that’s focused on IT pros, power users, and PC gamers, you should read TechSpot. You won’t find as much cultural commentary as some other tech blogs. Rather, the focus is on the technology itself, as the selection of headlines above shows. The blog isn’t afraid to get technical, either, giving you hardware buying guides, software development tutorials, and advice on how to make your PC perform at its optimum level.

11. Mashable

Mashable is a technology website that also examines entertainment and culture. In some aspects, it verges into the pop territory of sites such as BuzzFeed, including quizzes with titles like “Are You an Apple Expert? Test Your Knowledge.” Still, the site includes interesting expositions of many tech innovations, especially in its video content.

12. SlashGear

SlashGear is a personal technology review site, covering everything from cars to wearables to the latest Apple and Android operating systems. They have buyer’s guides to any gadget you could ever dream of purchasing, and they even have columns devoted to science and health. If you want to be on the cutting edge of the latest tech trends, you should subscribe to this site.

Get All the Tech Info You Need

We hope this post has given you a better idea of where to go for tech information, as well as some models to follow when creating your own tech blog. Whether you want to blog about news, culture, product reviews, or app tutorials, you’ll find an example to emulate in the blogs above.
If you’re in the process of launching your tech blog, be sure to check out our guides to starting a blog in 2018, as well as our exclusive discount on web hosting. For even more blogging tips, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

[“source=bloggingtips”]

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News Update

10 Essential Tech Blogs Every CTO Should Follow

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

10 Essential Tech Blogs Every CTO Should Follow

As a CTO, you need to stay up to date on the latest and greatest in the tech world. Following new trends and developments is a must if you don’t want to fall behind the competition.

But how do you sift through the noise? How do you choose your sources of information? After all, you can’t follow every valuable resource out there.

With so much content vying for your attention, it can get pretty hard to decide what’s worthy of your precious time. Not to mention keeping up with your other responsibilities, like, say, helping your CEO run a business.

That is why, having your best interests at heart, we’ve compiled a short and sweet list of the best tech blogs to follow as a CTO to make sure nothing relevant escapes your notice.

Top 10 tech blogs every CTO should follow

1. CTO Vision

You know The Lord of the Rings, right? “The one ring to rule them all”? Well, if there’s one resource for CTOs to rule them all, it’s CTO Vision.

CTO Vision offers you a broad selection of articles on a wide variety of topics, including cloud computing, AI, and cryptocurrencies.

2. The CTO Advisor

Keith Townsend is an experienced CTO advisor. He has been working in the tech industry for the past 20 years. This is his blog.

Townsend uses The CTO Advisor to share his precious insights through writing and podcasting. You can find both on the site, and both come highly recommended.

3. High Scalability

This one takes the cake as far as “content over form” is concerned. And “looks can be deceiving.” And “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Just click on the link and you’ll know what we mean.

However, if it’s reliable, educational, trustworthy information on supporting user growth you’re after, High Scalability is second to none.

To put our money where our mouth is: Netflix: What Happens When You Press Play?

4. CIO Journal

Backed up by the full might and prestige of The Wall Street Journal, CIO Journal should for all intents and purposes be your go-to choice, for a variety of reasons.

We especially recommend it if you like your articles to be neatly separated into categories. Some of these include “Security,” “Analytics,” and “CEO Reads.”

5. IT Professional

This is a digital version of the printed magazine, which is a renowned authority on all things tech.

IT Professional publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles for IT executives, project managers, researchers, and application developers.

6. Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review offers a variety of both digital and analog content, including books and magazines.

Some cool additional features are also available, such as highlights picked by the editor. “Management Tip of the Day” and “Best of the Issue” are but a couple of examples.

7. Searchmetrics

Searchmetrics is a respected blog about online marketing and SEO.

They provide a unique window into the world of search and how you can move up in it.

8. Crunchbase News

Apart from the usual tech suspects, Crunchbase News stands out from the crowd by embracing a wider scope of subject matter.

For instance, they provide articles on topics such as diversity, where you can find texts on women in tech.

9. CIO

Simply put, CIO is the place to be for all the business technology executives.

Whether you’re a CTO, CIO, or just interested in tech, you’ll find tons of content to your liking here.

Like this: Machine Learning and AI Are Ideally Suited for Cryptocurrency Investing.

10. The Hustle
Last but not least, we have a bit of wild card for you.

If you’re looking for something more on the entertainment side, yet still highly informative, you’re going to love The Hustle.

This blog is chock-full of fascinating articles wrapped in neat, hilarious packages. We can’t recommend it enough.

Just take a look at this: How to Make Extra Cash Selling Useful Guides on Pretty Much Anything (A Guide).

Bonus: Twitter feeds
You don’t always need long articles to provide valuable insights or start stimulating discussions. Sometimes, all you need is a short snippet of information. Like a tweet.

Which is why we thought you could also benefit from us including some Twitter feeds for you to follow in this article. Here they are:

If Twitter’s your thing, head over to the site or open the app and follow these accounts.

Any one of them will bring you closer to all the recent tech updates, 280 characters at a time.

Final thoughts
There you have it: a comprehensive list of the most valuable blogs for CTOs to follow.

If you’re pressed for time—and let’s face it, of course you are—but want fresh, regular, high-grade updates on every notable piece of news from the world of technology, look no further.

We hope this helps you manage your time more efficiently, get all the info you’re after, and become a better CTO in the process.

Additionally, if you’re on the lookout for even more resources to help you grow in your role as CTO, here’s a list of over 10 must-read books for CTOs.

Did we miss a blog or two that you really like? Let us know, and we’ll surely add it to the list for everyone’s benefit.

Want to get more updates from STX Next? Go ahead and subscribe to our newsletter to get them fresh.

And if you have any other questions or comments, drop us a line here. We’ll get back to you before you know it.

[“source=stxnext”]

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Online Marketing

Jay Baer’s Top 30 Digital Marketing Blogs

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Jay Baer’s Top 30 Digital Marketing Blogs

Digital marketing blogs may be numerous, but I find them still to be critical. I’ve been in digital marketing for over 20 years, and the only way you can stay relevant that long is to read A LOT. In digital marketing, if you don’t learn, you die. Period.

Members of the Convince & Convert team all have their own reading lists, based on their interests and their topical expertise. Together, we read nearly close to 200 online publications routinely.

Believe it or not, we keep up with blogs by a familiar and comfortable (for me) method: email. I subscribe via email and read (or at least scan) nearly 50 blogs that way. It’s actually far more than that because several of the sources I devour are actually email aggregators that pull the best posts from many, many blogs. I find that gives me the best coverage.

I recently went through my email for a week and put together this list of the 30 top digital marketing blogs and subscriptions that I consume regularly. If yours isn’t on this list, it doesn’t mean I don’t read or don’t subscribe. I just don’t read it as routinely as I do these others.

Please add your own suggestions in the comments for digital marketing resources I may have overlooked. I’m eager to see which you read, as well.

Buffer

This blog has gotten hugely popular in a short period of time because the content is fascinating, topical, and useful. Proud investor in this company, am I.

Cassandra Daily

If it’s not #trending, they don’t write about it. Subscribing is like having a focus group of teenagers that you don’t have to feed.

Contently Content Strategist

I’m really impressed with these guys. Solid info every day for the advanced content marketer.

Content Marketing Institute

The powerhouse of the content marketing industry. Strong information and insights, delivered daily. Great job by the CMI editorial team for keeping the quality consistently high on this multi-author blog.

Convince & Convert

Hey, that’s us! I only write one post a week (in addition to a weekly newsletter, Convince & Convert ON), so I definitely read Convince & Convert every day. Subscribe via email here.

Copyblogger

One of the originals, and still one of the best. A must-read, in my estimation. I owe these guys a huge debt, too, because they’ve helped me a lot with my own blog.

CoSchedule

Smart and purposeful content always wins, and CoSchedule does this as well as any of the top content marketing blogs.

The Daily Carnage

Curated marketing news that is handpicked by the Carney team and delivered with just enough snark to ensure it’s opened daily.

Duct Tape Marketing

From John Jantsch and occasional guest contributors, everything that gets published here is worth examining. We work mostly with medium and large businesses at Convince & Convert, but I still learn a lot from Duct Tape and their scrappy, small biz sensibilities.

Econsultancy

Solid, broad-based digital marketing coverage with a research bent. Very strong in global perspectives and trends, too.

GatherContent Blog

In addition to having a terrific platform, GatherContent has also crafted a highly informative blog. It features posts from GatherContent’s own contributors, plus guests posts from experienced content creators, content strategists, content marketers, and more. They’re giving an amazing amount of strategic information away.

{grow}

From my friend the author, speaker, and college professor Mark Schaefer and a good crew of guest writers. {Grow} is a place to find conversations about topics that aren’t covered in the more news-oriented blogs. Also a great example of a multi-author blog that somehow maintains a consistent editorial voice.

Hubspot

Remarkable volume of useful content. Essentially defined what a B2B blog could (and should be). These guys live and breathe Youtility (which is why they are mentioned in my book).

Hootsuite Blog

The Hootsuite Blog is a fantastic example of what it looks like to provide real value and relevance through content. Yes, the blog leans more toward social updates and how-tos, but it also has a mix of everything you could need when it comes to digital strategy advice and insights.

Ignite Social Media

I don’t read that many blogs written by a single agency, but Jim Tobin and the crew at Ignite seem to consistently come up with interesting approaches that I don’t see everywhere else. Bravo! Jim’s book Earn It, Don’t Buy It is full of TRUTH, too. (I got to write the foreword).

MediaReDef

Must-read for media observers. A delicious, curated mix of tech and pop culture. Great trend watching.

PR Daily News

From Ragan, a nice aggregation of posts of interest to public relations folks. Curated from other sources, and some original content.

PSFK

Maybe my favorite email to receive each day (other than Quartz, which didn’t make this list because it’s not about digital marketing). PSFK is like Willy Wonka marketing. Amazing case studies and super interesting experiments from around the world. I find a TON of my Youtility examples for keynote speeches from PSFK.

Readwrite

My preferred tech news, geek, gadget site. Not strictly digital marketing per se, but terrific at keeping me up on broader tech and social media issues.

Six Pixels of Separation

I’ll never be as smart as Mitch Joel, or as prolific. Thoughtful brilliance flows on this blog like water from a tap. The wide topical array makes it such that not every post is for every reader, but stick with Mitch, and you’re guaranteed to receive something worth your attention at regular intervals.

Social Media Examiner

Outstanding tactical coverage of all things social media, from Mike Stelzner and his excellent team. Brings the best of Social Media Marketing World to your inbox all year long.

Social Media Explorer

Founded by my pal Jason Falls, this is a thinking person’s blog of social media and digital marketing issues.

Social Media Lab

The Social Media Lab houses Agorapulse’s latest “experiments”—detailed, data-backed explorations of the hottest topics and questions in social media marketing. Launched in 2017, it’s one of the newer social media marketing blogs on the scene and definitely one to keep an eye on.

Social Media Today

A powerhouse aggregator site that has more and more content written specifically for it, too. Noise-to-signal ratio can be a little high, but frequently you’ll find interesting concepts, and it’s a very good source of fresh voices.

SocialPro Daily

From Adweek, this daily digest covers the social webs from breaking news to how-to posts. If you only check one source to keep up with the heartbeat of social media, this is a best bet.

Spin Sucks

Outstanding blog for PR folks, with a side order of content marketing and social media. Led by rockstar Gini Dietrich, with help from a great cast of guest writers. Incredibly active community too, similar to {Grow} and GatherContent.

Statista

Info-junkies like me will never tire of discovering new or useful research and stats to plug into blog posts and speaking presentations. Statista sends a Chart of the Day infographic to your email, and offers a wealth of free (in addition to paid) data and infographics on the website.

Think with Google

While not a “traditional blog,” this resource center makes my UX-loving heart happy. With insights and mind-blowing studies galore, Think with Google is a wonderful cross-section of content, design, UX, CX, marketing, and more. It’s an absolute must-read for everyone, no matter what industry or role you work within.

TopRank

Outstanding coverage of content marketing, search marketing, research, and interviews from Lee Odden and his team. Popular, and deservedly so.

Uberflip

Content experience is the name of this game, in both thematics and UX. Uberflip’s content hub mixes short videos with podcast episodes and traditional blog posts. Bonus: the meta experience of getting Uberflip’s best thinking on their own Uberflip hub.

Yext

When everyone, including Facebook, is shifting attention back to local community and location, expect marketing advice to follow. My friend Jeff Rohrs and the team at Yext are one step ahead here providing sound advice for SMB and B2C marketers.

[“source=convinceandconvert”]

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Gadgets News

10 Essential Tech Blogs Every CTO Should Follow

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

10 Essential Tech Blogs Every CTO Should Follow

As a CTO, you need to stay up to date on the latest and greatest in the tech world. Following new trends and developments is a must if you don’t want to fall behind the competition.

But how do you sift through the noise? How do you choose your sources of information? After all, you can’t follow every valuable resource out there.

With so much content vying for your attention, it can get pretty hard to decide what’s worthy of your precious time. Not to mention keeping up with your other responsibilities, like, say, helping your CEO run a business.

That is why, having your best interests at heart, we’ve compiled a short and sweet list of the best tech blogs to follow as a CTO to make sure nothing relevant escapes your notice.

Top 10 tech blogs every CTO should follow

1. CTO Vision

You know The Lord of the Rings, right? “The one ring to rule them all”? Well, if there’s one resource for CTOs to rule them all, it’s CTO Vision.

CTO Vision offers you a broad selection of articles on a wide variety of topics, including cloud computing, AI, and cryptocurrencies.

Don’t just take our word for it, though: How Artificial Intelligence Is Making Big Data Better Than Ever.

2. The CTO Advisor

Keith Townsend is an experienced CTO advisor. He has been working in the tech industry for the past 20 years. This is his blog.

Townsend uses The CTO Advisor to share his precious insights through writing and podcasting. You can find both on the site, and both come highly recommended.

Here’s a sample article for you: Why I Chose to Go Work for VMware.

3. High Scalability

This one takes the cake as far as “content over form” is concerned. And “looks can be deceiving.” And “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Just click on the link and you’ll know what we mean.

However, if it’s reliable, educational, trustworthy information on supporting user growth you’re after, High Scalability is second to none.

To put our money where our mouth is: Netflix: What Happens When You Press Play?

4. CIO Journal

Backed up by the full might and prestige of The Wall Street Journal, CIO Journal should for all intents and purposes be your go-to choice, for a variety of reasons.

We especially recommend it if you like your articles to be neatly separated into categories. Some of these include “Security,” “Analytics,” and “CEO Reads.”

5. IT Professional

This is a digital version of the printed magazine, which is a renowned authority on all things tech.

IT Professional publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles for IT executives, project managers, researchers, and application developers.

6. Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review offers a variety of both digital and analog content, including books and magazines.

Some cool additional features are also available, such as highlights picked by the editor. “Management Tip of the Day” and “Best of the Issue” are but a couple of examples.

7. Searchmetrics

Searchmetrics is a respected blog about online marketing and SEO.

They provide a unique window into the world of search and how you can move up in it.

8. Crunchbase News

Apart from the usual tech suspects, Crunchbase News stands out from the crowd by embracing a wider scope of subject matter.

For instance, they provide articles on topics such as diversity, where you can find texts on women in tech.

9. CIO

Simply put, CIO is the place to be for all the business technology executives.

Whether you’re a CTO, CIO, or just interested in tech, you’ll find tons of content to your liking here.

10. The Hustle

Last but not least, we have a bit of wild card for you.

If you’re looking for something more on the entertainment side, yet still highly informative, you’re going to love The Hustle.

This blog is chock-full of fascinating articles wrapped in neat, hilarious packages. We can’t recommend it enough.

Bonus: Twitter feeds

You don’t always need long articles to provide valuable insights or start stimulating discussions. Sometimes, all you need is a short snippet of information. Like a tweet.

Which is why we thought you could also benefit from us including some Twitter feeds for you to follow in this article. Here they are:

If Twitter’s your thing, head over to the site or open the app and follow these accounts.

Any one of them will bring you closer to all the recent tech updates, 280 characters at a time.

Final thoughts

There you have it: a comprehensive list of the most valuable blogs for CTOs to follow.

If you’re pressed for time—and let’s face it, of course you are—but want fresh, regular, high-grade updates on every notable piece of news from the world of technology, look no further.

We hope this helps you manage your time more efficiently, get all the info you’re after, and become a better CTO in the process.

Additionally, if you’re on the lookout for even more resources to help you grow in your role as CTO, here’s a list of over 10 must-read books for CTOs.

Did we miss a blog or two that you really like? Let us know, and we’ll surely add it to the list for everyone’s benefit.

Want to get more updates from STX Next? Go ahead and subscribe to our newsletter to get them fresh.

And if you have any other questions or comments, drop us a line here. We’ll get back to you before you know it.

[“source=stxnext”]

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Online Marketing

8 Great Digital Marketing Blogs

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Top Digital Marketing Blogs to Follow

A vital aspect of successful marketing programs is staying up to date on the latest news, trends and best practices across the industry. Great resources for staying on the leading edge of what’s working and what’s not are the many blogs that report on the digital marketing industry — including topics ranging from search engine optimization to social media marketing to conversion intelligence.

To help you stay on top of the latest and greatest in digital marketing we’ve created a list of eight of the best marketing blogs — highlighting their special features, why you should visit them regularly and what “extra credit” special insight they provide today’s marketing organizations.

Check out these leading marketing blogs and bookmark the ones that resonate with your information needs.

Top Digital Marketing Blogs to Follow

1. Occam’s Razor

Occam’s Razor Blog

Each week Google’s Digital Marketing Evangelist, Avinash Kaushik, shares solutions to real-world analytic challenges, unpacks future-looking opportunities and highlights frameworks to inspire marketing professionals to “think smart and move fast.”

Go for the: Unique insights on deciphering Google’s search engine mysteries.

Stay for the: In-depth, how-to guidance on both Google Analytics basics and advanced Google Analytics tricks to help measure website and campaign performance. The blog is a goldmine of inspiring and practical information on web analytics and data intelligence — including qualitative analysis, competitive intelligence analysis, web metrics and more. In particular, Kaushik presents insight on how to extract meaningful stories from data and turn them into actionable insights.

Extra credit for: Bringing the fairly dry subject of analytics to life.

Recent post examples:

  • Smart Data Visualizations: Quality Assessment Algorithm
  • Responses to Negative Data: Four Senior Leadership Archetypes
  • The Impact Matrix: A Digital Analytics Strategic Framework

2. The Moz Blog

The Moz Blog

The Moz inbound marketing and SEO blog provides tips, tricks and advice for improving websites and doing better search, social and inbound marketing. Industry experts contribute their experiences, advice, insights, how-tos and more.

Go for the: Step-by-step SEO how-to guides.

Stay for the: Proven insights on earning customers through winning search strategies. Blog posts keep readers up to date on industry news related to SEO or inbound marketing initiatives, including the ever-changing guidelines, rules and regulations for search. The blog gives marketers an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of SEO and learn how they can better integrate it into their overall marketing plan.

Extra credit for: “Whiteboard Friday” videos, which dive deep into niche topics under the vast SEO umbrella.

Recent post examples:

  • When (and When Not) to Outsource Link Building
  • 6 Ways to Build Brand Authority with Content Marketing
  • Sustainable Link Building: Increasing Your Chances of Getting Links

3. Neil Patel’s Blog

Neil Patel Blog

Marketing expert Neil Patel’s digital marketing blog provides a wealth of insight into email marketing, content marketing and more. Patel is one of the top marketers in the country and has built successful companies of his own, including KISSMetrics and CrazyEgg. He is also a consultant for several Fortune 100 brands.

Go for the: Tactical resources on how to get things done.

Stay for the: Actionable insights that can help drive marketing results in digital marketing, conversion optimization, e-commerce and SEO. Blog posts feature engaging content that is useful regardless of where a marketer is in their journey.

Extra credit for: Daily Marketing School podcast episodes with top-level marketing tips and strategies from entrepreneurs who “practice what they preach.”

Recent post examples:

  • How to Find Paid Social Media Keyword Ideas from Top Hashtags
  • How Core Web Vitals Affect Google’s Algorithms
  • How to Choose the Right Technical SEO Agency

4. MarketingLand

MarketingLand blog

Publishes daily posts on marketing news and management insights, including breaking stories, industry trends, and the tips and tricks of various aspects of the digital marketing industry. It is the sister publication of MarTech Today and Search Engine Land.

Go for the: Daily breaking news stories about all aspects of the digital marketing industry, which help marketers stay ahead of the competition.

Stay for the: Practical tips and strategies marketers can use in their digital marketing campaigns. Blog post topics are informative and relevant, ranging from updates in content management systems to new features on social media platforms to the latest best practices in email marketing.

Extra credit for: Detailed analytic reports, such as MarTech Intelligence Report Enterprise Digital Personalization Tools: A Marketer’s Guide, B2B Marketing Automation Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide, and Enterprise Local Marketing Automation Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide.

Recent post examples:

  • Why businesses that Prioritized Martech, Data and Organization are Faring Better during COVID
  • Is Your Transformation Strategy Really a Strategy?
  • Virtual Events are Here to Stay: and They’re a Digital Channel

5. Search Engine Land

Search Engine Land blog

Publishes the latest news on search engines, search engine optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM).

Go for the: Comprehensive guide to SEO to get the basics down fast.

Stay for the: Data-driven articles about SEO and search engine marketing (paid search). The blog also features breaking news, trending topics and data projection forecasts related to local search, retail, Google and Bing. Blog posts are excellent resources for helping marketers maximize search traffic. Posts share insight that allows readers to take actionable insights to improve their online marketing efforts.

Extra credit for: Its series of live discussions, presentations, tutorials and less formal meetups led by the editorial team at Search Engine Land.

Recent post examples:

  • Google December 2020 Core Update Rolling Out
  • The Problem with the ‘Structured Content’ Mindset
  • Be a Digital Marketing Winner with these 3 Powerful Video Storytelling Strategies

6. Econsultancy

Econsultancy blog

The latest global marketing and digital insights marketers need to know from Econsultancy’s analysts and experts.

Go for the: Practical advice for brands on how to market themselves online in a way that both follows best practices and integrates innovative trends.

Stay for the: Insights on the entire digital marketing spectrum, along with deep dives into niche industries. The blog shares marketing advice that businesses can apply to their marketing programs to help reach their objectives.

Extra credit for: In-depth reports on everything from mission-critical SEO tactics to data-driven analytics.

Recent post examples:

  • The Vital Role of ‘Slow Data’ in Ecommerce
  • Will Subscriptions be the Next Big Thing in Travel?
  • Preparing for Google’s Page Experience Update: What Should Marketers do Between Now and May?

7. Social Media Examiner

Social Media Examiner blog

Insights to help marketers discover how to best use social media marketing to connect with customers, generate awareness and increase sales.

Go for the: In-depth, step-by-step guides on strategies, content calendars and more to stay ahead in the social media game.

Stay for the: Advice on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok and more, including what’s working today. The insight shared helps marketers formulate effective social media strategies on different channels. Posts include the latest social media updates and news, along with case studies, podcasts, interviews with experts and reviews of the latest industry research.

Extra credit for: The annual social media marketing industry report on the major social platforms.

Recent post examples:

  • YouTube Ad Targeting: What Marketers Need to Know
  • Facebook Lead Form Ads: How to Optimize for Results
  • TikTok Content Marketing: How to Grow Your Business with TikTok

8. Unbounce Conversion Intelligence

Unbounce Conversion Intelligence blog

Publishes conversion intelligence insights on all things related to marketing since 2009, from landing pages to conversion rate optimization to A/B testing.

Go for the: Landing page templates.

Stay for the: Great content on building optimized web pages that convert site traffic, e-commerce and using AI in digital marketing. Insights shared in posts help marketers increase conversions on landing pages, improve content and get the best results from e-commerce.

[“source=kunocreative”]

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Online Marketing

The 10 Best Digital Marketing Blogs You Should Be Reading

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

The 10 Best Digital Marketing Blogs You Should Be Reading

As we kick off a brand new year and everyone heads back to work, we have tried to find a way to fill up those commuting hours once again. So we put together our list of the best digital marketing blogs that we think are informative, entertaining, and essential to the marketing community. Some light reading to help the time pass on the train. So take a look at one (or all) of them, and see if any of your favorites made the list.

1. The Moz Blog:

The Moz blog is undoubtedly one of the best to read if you’re looking to stay on top of industry news related to SEO or inbound marketing initiatives. Any good digital marketer understands the importance of SEO, and how ever-changing the guidelines, rules, and regulations associated with search results can be. The Moz blog covers everything you need to know with the right amount of detail to make it comprehendible without being overwhelming. Even if you’re a beginner with SEO, their content is quite digestible. Each of their posts provides real value, offering actionable insights or even “how-to” articles related to SEO. Every Friday, they post a “Whiteboard Friday” video as part of a recurring series, diving into different topics under the giant SEO umbrella. Whether it’s an analysis of an announcement from Google about a recent algorithm update, or a guide for keyword planning, the MOZ blog should be a go-to for any marketers or business owners looking to deepen their knowledge of SEO and learn how they can better integrate it into their overall marketing plan (if they aren’t already).

digital marketing blog - moz

2. Content Marketing Institute:

Content is an essential aspect of any digital marketing campaign. The Content Marketing Institute offers some of the best advice around in terms of how content can help your brand. From industry trends to best practices, their posts offer helpful advice on how to create the best strategies for your business and how your content marketing should play a role in the “bigger picture.” One of their main objectives is to provide education to marketers, so there are plenty of events and research documents, as well as access to a lot of resources including eBooks and whitepapers. Any successful content marketing plan has undoubtedly utilized some of the expertise shared through the Content Marketing Institute-whether they realize it or not!

3. Marketing Land:

Marketing Land provides a lot of quality content on different topics and industry news. From updates in content management systems, to new features on social media platforms, their posts are informative and relevant. Recently some of their posts covered the CES Tech event in Las Vegas by posting panel discussions and blogging about different topics that were covered throughout the event. This live blog allowed people, who may not have been able to make it to the actual event, stay informed and become a part of the discussion even though they were not in attendance. Their blog lets you interact with various industry leaders, while providing their audience with content that is engaging and educational.

4. Econsultancy:

The insights on the Econsultancy blog range from the entire digital marketing spectrum, and even dive into more specific niche industries. The resources they offer provide practical advice for brands to market themselves online in a way that follows best practices but also integrates innovative trends. When it comes to innovation and the latest and greatest in digital marketing, Econsultancy always has it covered. Whether you’re B2B or B2C, or work in fashion or healthcare, Econsultancy offers advice for marketing that nearly any business can apply to their tactics to help reach their own objectives.

5. Kissmetrics:

The Kissmetrics blog offers analytics and testing insights on everything you’d ever need when it comes to marketing. Data-driven marketing is truly their expertise. The team at Kissmetrics regularly examines statistical trends to create reports that can better inform brand’s online performance. These posts help create solutions for companies looking to improve their online marketing, and a lot of their findings can help to shape the decisions made for a lot of companies as they try to achieve their marketing goals. Arguably the best part about their insights, and their real differentiator in comparison to blogs that are seemingly similar, is that nearly all of their thoughts are backed by corresponding metrics that support and provide reasoning for the advice they’re giving.

6. Convince & Convert:

Convince & Convert offers a variety of resources including a website, blog, podcast, books, and ebooks. They are digital marketing advisors led by Jay Baer, and it is the perfect stop to learn more about digital advertising. Each of the articles are short and simple that get to the point of what they are discussing, while still remaining insightful and informative. Their articles help you look at your own content in a new way, and think outside of the box in regards to what opportunities you could be incorporating into your own digital marketing strategies. Their content, can help your own content.

7. Socialfresh:

What is great about Socialfresh’s posts is that many of them include alternative media embedded in them. Most of them are podcasts covering the topic of the blog post that it is within, but others include videos and speeches or presentations at various events. This is a great blog for someone who may not have the time to sit and read multiple articles at a time. This offers you more than one way to consume the content that the blog is providing. It’s an obvious choice to include some digital media in a blog that highlights digital marketing, and a welcomed alternative way to consume the information being presented. The diverse topics that are covered focus a lot on the power of social media and how the industry is evolving.

8. PR Daily News:

PR Daily News combines industry-related news with other top stories going on throughout the world that day. It keeps all the information you need to stay on top of things in one easy newsfeed as opposed to switching to a bunch of different outlets to learn about news topics from different industries. It hones in on communication and PR conversations and topics by highlighting tools, trends, and techniques to make you sharper, while making your job easier. It offers a nice blend of readings on content marketing, as well as tech information. This balance makes for a blog that is easy and enjoyable to consume a variety of topics at once, without anything getting too repetitive.

9. PSFK:

This amazing blog is one step ahead of the game. From gadget and tech coverage to marketing campaign insight and analysis, they offer a lot of quality information. Aside from being visually appealing, they pose questions and topics that are interesting and engaging to the curious reader. They provide interesting technology focused articles, and some predictions for the industry, while constantly remaining ahead of their field. They have a section of their blog that includes a number of downloadable trend reports that discuss ” the future of…” a number of different industry-related topics. And forget about discussing marketing trends for 2016, these guys already have forecast for 2017.

digital marketing blog - psfk

10. Blue Fountain Media – The ROI Factor Blog:

Of course we have to include our very own ROI Factor Blog. We take pride in our work, and we enjoy discussing a number of different topics that shape the industry in which we operate. Our digital marketing blog prompts a number of different conversations from digital trends, to marketing innovation and best practices. We balance the scale between the importance of technical and results-driven marketing, and creative campaigns, and work to highlight everything in between through our bi-weekly posts. From strategy, design, and marketing, to website and mobile app development, you can find it all here at BFM.

[“source=bluefountainmedia”]

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News Update

10 of the Most Popular News Blogs on the Internet

by Loknath Das
written by Loknath Das

Blogging may be a fun hobby for Tumblr teens or WordPress writers, but it certainly isn’t limited to personal pastimes. Today, blogging is one of the most popular ways to report on newsworthy topics.

The most popular news blogs on the internet today have countless numbers of pages and receive millions of visits per month from people around the world. Have a look through a handful of the top blogs below and consider adding them to your favorite news reader to keep up with breaking news topics that interest you.

The Huffington Post

HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post) specializes in reporting on news stories and events from practically every major category and subcategory you could imagine—including world news, entertainment, politics, business, style, and several others. Founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti in 2005, the blog was acquired by AOL in February 2011 for $315 million and has thousands of bloggers who contribute newsworthy written content on a wide range of topics.

BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed is a trendy news blog that targets millennials. Focusing on social news and entertainment, the secret of BuzzFeed’s success has a lot to do with the image-heavy listicles published on their platform and end up often going viral. Though founded in 2006, BuzzFeed really took off as a brand and news blog of its own in 2011 when it started publishing serious news and long-form journalism on topics like technology, business, politics, and more.

Mashable.com

Founded in 2005 by Pete Cashmore, Mashable delivers newsworthy content about video entertainment, culture, tech, science, business, social good, and more. With verticals for Asia, Australia, France, India, and the U.K., the blog is one of the largest and most reputable go-to sources for all things in digital culture. It sees 45 million monthly unique visitors, 28 million social media followers, and 7.5 million social shares a month.

TechCrunch

TechCrunch is a blog that was founded by Michael Arrington in 2005, which focuses on blogging about breaking news in technology, computers, internet culture, social media, products, websites, and startup companies. The blog has millions of RSS subscribers and inspired the launch of the TechCrunch Network, which includes a number of related websites like CrunchNotes, MobileCrunch, and CrunchGear. AOL acquired TechCrunch in September 2010 for ​$25 million.

Business Insider

Originally focused on financial, media, technology, and other industries, Business Insider launched in February 2009 and now reports on additional topics also, such as sports, travel, ​entertainment, and lifestyle. With international editions in regions including Australia, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the blog offers some of the most up-to-date information on current events and related topics.​

The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast is a blog created by former editor of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker, Tina Brown. Launched in October 2008, The Daily Beast reports on news and opinion pieces on a wide range of topics including politics, entertainment, books, fashion, innovation, business U.S. news, world news, U.S. news, tech, arts & culture, drink & food and style. It now attracts over one million visitors each and every day.

ThinkProgress

Interested in politics? If you are, then the ThinkProgress blog is definitely for you. ThinkProgress is associated with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, which is a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide information for the advancement of progressive ideas and policies. Some of the main sections on the blog include climate, politics, LGBTQ issue, world news, and video. It now runs on the free blogging platform Medium.

The Next Web

TNW (formerly The Next Web) is a blog that focuses on news, apps, gear, tech, creativity, and much more. The blog was launched as a result of organizing a technology conference called the Next Web Conference, which was initially held in 2006. After the two more annual conferences, the Next Web blog was launched in 2008, which has grown to take its place among the most popular blogs on the web today.

Engadget

For those who like to stay on top of all things related to gadgets and consumer electronics, Engadget is a source for getting the latest news and information on everything from smartphones and computers, to tablets and cameras. Engadget was cofounded in 2004 by former Gizmodo editor Peter Rojas and purchased by AOL in 2005. Its talented team helps produce some of the best videos, reviews, and features about technology.

Gizmodo

Formerly part of the Gawker Media network, Gizmodo is a popular tech and digital culture blog that mainly focuses on delivering information and news about consumer electronics. Gizmodo was launched in 2002 by Peter Rojas before he was sought out by Weblogs Inc. to launch the Engadget blog. It’s heavily integrated with other former members of the Gawker network as well, including io9, Jezebel, ​Lifehacker, and Deadspin.

[“source=lifewire”]

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