Is this a good way to create engaging content?

[stevedeane]

Hi all,

I believe this is my first question in this forum, so be nice

I am an SEO consultant who has recently gone out and started my own SEO consultancy.  Obviously, I now find myself in a place where I am trying to create good content for my website visitors.  Maybe it's link bait, or more than likely it's a way to hold myself up as an expert in the industry, while providing visitors to my site some reason to keep on coming back.

As I love whiteboard Friday, I did consider - and I'm not ruling it out in the future - creating my own whiteboard Friday videos discussing the SEO issues I was focussing on.  In the meantime, I am thinking of posting up SEOmoz's whiteboard Friday videos and then making my own comments and insights for my website visitors.

So, what I really wanted to ask - do you guys think this is a good idea, a valid way of creating good content and has merit/credibility?

http://www.nustudio.com.au/local-seo-the-basics/ contains an example of what I am talking about.

Cheers,

Steve

[stevedeane]

Thanks Jennifer.  It's good to have the SEOmoz seal of approval.  I have created a link to the blog post now.

[stevedeane]

Done!

Thanks for your advice

[jennita]

Hi Steve,

Using the video is perfectly fine, but only if you show that it was created by us and link back to the original post and not just to the refer a friend page. Let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks!

[TheeDigital]

To begin with, I believe you have to give all credit to SEOmoz for the video.  So maybe a caption below the video crediting SEOmoz, then maybe a "How can you use this information"?
Also instead of an "SEO Tip" why don't you do an "SEO tip of the week", that gives the tip more value and makes users aware that this information will be updated on a weekly basis.

[stevedeane]

Fair point about attribution - I'll update the post on my website now.

[MatthewBarby]

I think that as long as you are offering something to users then it is definitely an interesting and credible way to build links.

If you simply dictate back what Rand is saying in the Whiteboard Friday vids then no, but if you add your own expertise and insights to the points that have been discussed then it would be great.

I know I would be interested in something like this.

Matt.

[RobertFisher]

Steve,

On the whole I don't see a problem with it. I am big on attribution if we use someone else' content and would suggest that you provide attribution within the caption and/or on mouseover even though it is on the feed. Something like ...from SEOmoz, a leader in Search Engine Optimization thought and practice. (this is simply a quick example)

As to the question, I think it is a good idea, is a valid way of creating good content (so long is you remember good attribution), and is credible.

Best,

Robert

[stevedeane]

Thanks Matt, I like your Blackboard Monday spin on things!

More specifically, do you think that embedding the SEOmoz videos and making comment on those is valid/credible/interesting/link worthy?

[MatthewBarby]

Hi Steve,

I have seen quite a lot of these kind of Whiteboard Fridayesque videos created by SEO agencies. I think that they are a great way of making what would be a slightly boring article, quite enjoyable to watch/listen.

This kind of content will also encourage sharing through the likes of social media routes a lot more, which as I'm sure you are aware, can be great for building a few more links.

What I would suggest is to maybe incorporate your own spin on the traditional whiteboard Friday; something unique to you. For example, it could be something as simple as 'Blackboard Monday', where you get out the old school chalkboard! Or maybe using some sort of slideshow in the background. This will just help you stand out from the crowd a bit more.

Overall though, a good idea, and it is one that I have been considering myself!

Matt.