A new blogging services client asked me to help get her blog set up on Google Blogger (blogspot) a few months ago. I was happy to help.

This particular blog’s purpose was to provide useful information and legal tips on personal finance and debt management. The client wanted to monetize the blog through some affiliate programs and with AdSense.

I had no problem getting the content in place and laying out the pages, etc. I’ve used Blogger quite a bit so it didn’t take much time. A few weeks later, I went into Blogger to edit this personal finance blog. To my surprise, Google had disabled the blog completely as they believed it was spam. WTF??????

Now, it’s about 6 weeks later. Today, for the THIRD time I clicked the link to get the blog restored within Blogger because it was mis-characterized as spam. Meanwhile, the blog is not live, is not available to the public or EVEN TO THE BLOG ADMINISTRATOR, so even if I decided to try making some adjustments so the Goog wouldn’t consider it spam in the future, I CAN’T. In essence, then, Google Blogger has hijacked this content since it is no longer accessible. And meanwhile, of course, I see spam blogs all over the blogspot domain all the time. URGHH!!

Of course, all of this points out that if you want to have a blog, you are best off hosting it on your own domain so this doesn’t happen to you. And yes, there are countless other benefits to hosting your blog on your own domain, but that’s a post (or several) for another time.

I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the statement that all content is advertising.

One of the problems with push marketing is that consumers just got tired of the ads and to being “sold” everywhere they turned. To me, content marketing as a pull mechanism (as you mention) needs a bit more emphasis. It’s content that solves problems being experienced by your targeted prospects. The “meat and potatoes” that your ideal dinner guests want.

I think that what’s not stressed enough here is that content used in a content marketing campaign is used to inform – to provide solutions – and to provide reasons why people should consider you an authority on the subject over time. In other words, to build trust so they WANT to do business with you.

If you are going to adopt the position that all content is advertising, I think you need to qualify that a bit with content used in a content marketing campaign – if it is indeed advertising – needs to take a much more subtle approach than advertising and direct marketing, as discussed in this content marketing white paper.

(Disclosure: I helped create this paper. My intention in linking to it here is not to advertise it, but to provide it as an additional resource for providing context to this discussion and to the concept of content marketing – at least how I see it.)

I think most of us still need to promote content that’s part of a content marketing program – in the appropriate places and in the appropriate way – and that it’s unrealistic to expect that, because you created great content that’s different with graphics and a catchy headline, it will somehow, magically be popular and get found on its own, much less that your key prospects will find it useful. Unless, of course you have a ginormous following, like this blog (a well deserved and hard-earned following, of course).

Originally posted as a comment
by randyduermyer
on Online Marketing Blog using DISQUS.

I’ve been busy lately – working for my clients and their clients. In the meantime, I’ve decided that the old HelpDocuments.com domain just didn’t make much sense for me anymore.

When I started HelpDocuments.com I was a contract technical writer. It only made sense – Help – like online help, and Documents – for all of the documents that I created. But I don’t get many technical writing contracts any more.

I had decided some time ago that it wasn’t worth constantly paying for software upgrades for RoboHelp and Framemaker, buying technical documentation software like Madcap Flare and all the stuff that goes with it to fit myself into a niche I found somewhat boring.

It’s all about the web for me, and it has been for years.

Even before I became a Certified Webmaster in 1999 it was about the web. When I was writing technical documentation, I wanted to specialize in online help and go “under the hood” in the tools that create online help to tweak the HTML and XML to my liking.

Then I got involved in SEO copywriting for a search marketing firm right here in New Hampshire. I loved it! I also had a thirst to know more about SEO and how I could apply my web knowledge to more than just copywriting and delivering keyword articles as Word docs. I wanted to get at the code!

So I started freelancing out full SEO services, including keyword research and coding. I got exposed to eCommerce sites and I got exposed to MFA (made for AdSense) sites. One thing led to another and I decided I’d start SEO Searchlight in addition to HelpDocuments.com. That site was intended to showcase my subcontract SEO services.

One thing led to another. I started getting a little frustrated with SEO and decided to return to my roots – writing! Yes, I still love to write, always have and always will. And, I can write for the web so that works out great, too. I took to blogging as part of my duties on About.com and fell in love again. What a great way to deliver content!

So here I am now, at a crossroads of sorts. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of becoming associated with a copywriting agency in New York City. That brought me back almost full circle. First for SEO and web content, and more recently for writing papers. Wow, I had fun doing the research and learning about a relatively new area – content marketing.

Now I’m focusing on subcontracting again. Why? Because the experience with the NYC copywriting firm reminded me that I have a lot to learn, and if I service only direct clients, I’m not likely to learn much – they need me to teach them! I also remembered the great relationship with the search marketing firm her in New Hamsphire that introduced me to SEO in the first place. These are the types of clients I want to serve. This is the direction I want for the rest of my career.

So here I am now. Starting randyduermyer.com. Why? Because it’s me. I don’t need a company name if I’m primarily working as a subcontractor. My clients want me to serve their clients as if I were there employee – not an independent business that might steal their clients in the end. And, because I’m focusing more now on communications and marketing – getting back to my writing roots, Because my SEO services are mostly centered around content – SEO copywriting (and coding pages for turnkey deliver when needed), and because in my mind there’s no such thing as an “SEO expert” – we’re all just enthusiasts trying to figure out what the search engines are doing – I really don’t need SEO Searchlight, either.

So if you ‘ve been wondering why both seo-searchlight.com and helpdocuments.com seem to be fading off of the search engine’s radar, or if you ended up here from a redirect on one of those sites, it’s because some of their content will be brought over here. It’s also because I have other plans in the works for both sites – when I get the time!

And, when I get the time to build out randyduermyer.com, which has to take priority right now – in between client work and my site at About.com – I’ll feel a lot better. But I feel pretty good right now. About my decisions and new direction, anyway.

Thanks for listening and stay tuned!

Randy D.