Toolbox: Unlock the Potential of Contributed Articles in Your Marketing Plan

By Bob Decker

I was recently invited by the marcom manager at one of the world’s best established sensor manufacturers to have a Zoom conversation with his team about contributed articles for trade magazines, which is the topic of a marcom brief I put together several months ago.

“What I’m interested in hearing you talk about isn’t so much about how to do contributed articles, but why,” he said. “It would be useful for my team to have your insights on why contributed articles are worthwhile.”

This set me thinking in a new direction, the result was a conversation that covered a lot of different ground from the marcom brief I'd written a few months earlier. At some point I'll revise that document and make it available here, but for now wanted to share with you a few insights that people thought were valuable.

1. Contributed articles are most useful at the top of the sales / marketing funnel. 

They take time to read. They tend to address general questions about various technologies rather than "Whose product should I buy right now?" So it's unrealistic to expect that someone will read your article and then place an order five minutes later. That said, articles (and many other types of long form content) are a great way to let customer know that 1) you're in a given business, 2) you have expertise that can help them solve a problem now or at some point in the future, and 3) you know how to be helpful.

2. A corollary to the preceding point is that contributed articles are best used to promote products that are still relatively new but that have been around long enough that you know well how they'll work in the real world and hopefully you can give some real examples of how they're solving problems for your customers. 

Using a contributed article specifically to promote a new product usually isn't a great idea since most publications don't want free editorial to be used this way and you'll be compelled to refer to your new solution in cryptic language that stops short of identifying what it is and where to buy it. Of course, a contributed article doesn't absolutely need to talk about a specific product at all to build your credibility as someone who understands what challenges your customers are facing. 

3. Paid contributed articles that are indistinguishable from the unpaid kind, i.e. which don't have ADVERTORIAL warnings plastered all over them, are a thing to be open-minded about. 

While you may not want to pay for magazine "coverage," that might be the only choice depending on your industry or which geographical market you're targeting. Besides the guarantee that something will actually get published where you want it to be, paid editorial provides the incentive to get the darn article written. You'll be given a firm deadline by the magazine and if you miss it, you lose the money you paid to get it published.

I could go on and on about this topic! But what I'd really like is to talk with you directly about how Redpines can help you create and promote several types of long-form content, including contributed articles. To request a call, just E-mail me at bob.decker[at]redpinesgroup.com, or go ahead and dial 415 409-0233.

Marcom Brief: Increase Visibility and Engagement: How To Take Center Stage

 By Bob Decker

Speaking appearances at industry conferences are great opportunities to put yourself and your company before a highly informed audience that has actually paid money to hear what you have to say. 

In addition to providing the catalyst for content creation that we all need, the benefits speaking appearances provide are quite significant – from boosting your company’s visibility to giving you the opportunity to interact in a “live” and meaningful way with a group of people who are truly motivated to hear from you.

Unfortunately, the process of actually securing a presentation slot at a prestigious event can often be long and arduous. So, to help you and your company take center stage, I’ve put together the following checklist that outlines the important steps in securing a speaking appearance and maximizing its impact:

Download this simple guide to find out how and when to submit a winning speaking proposal.

If you need even more motivation, Redpines – and our years of experience helping companies deliver their messages more effectively – is here to guide you through the process outlined in the checklist. For a free consultation, please reach out to me at +1 415-409-0233.

Marcom Brief: Maximize Your Impact: Key Tips for Writing & Placing Effective Trade Magazine Articles

 By Bob Decker

Even in today's fast-paced marketing world, writing articles for trade magazines remains a timeless and effective strategy for showcasing your expertise and helping to stand out from the crowd. 

When your name appears in a respected publication from the likes of Aspencore or Future, it's about more than making a mark; it elevates you to a leading, authoritative position. And such recognition offers a level of trust and authenticity that money simply can't buy.

But there's more to writing for these publications than just gaining credibility. In this digital era, search engine optimization (SEO) is key. A well-placed article on a renowned magazine's website can turbocharge your SEO, often more than a flurry of keywords on your own website. And improved SEO is just the beginning. 

These articles can then be used as enriched content for blogs, social platforms, and digital marketing initiatives. This approach not only extends the content's reach, but also allows you to foster a valuable relationship with the magazine. Even the sales team feels the ripple effect, as they can use these pieces to demonstrate their expertise to potential customers.

However, as the boundary between genuine content and advertising begins to blur, it has become essential to differentiate between helpful content and paid promotions. Non-promotional articles – those that magazines offer for free – meet strict standards. 

They're not just sales pitches; they're designed to help readers tackle intricate problems. For example, instead of just pushing a product, such an article might delve deep into the nuances of designing a state-of-the-art DC/DC converter or crafting an IoT edge node.

To sum it up, including well-crafted articles in your marketing strategy is a great way to build trust, boost online visibility, and enhance your reputation within the industry. To help you achieve results like these, I've put together my top seven tips for placing articles that don't just get noticed but leave a lasting impression with readers. So, dive in now to unlock the true potential of this invaluable marketing strategy.