by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links on this website. There is no expense to you.

While doing my research, I found that although AI is faster at producing content than humans, it’s not necessarily more accurate or even more efficient than human-generated content. Overall, human content performs better.

Faster doesn’t equal better. Even though human-generated content takes longer to create, it gets more visitors.


So, what is this advantage that humans have over AI chatbots?

It basically comes down to context and emotion.

AI isn’t capable of always understanding the context of content. Although it can write 2,000-word articles on any number of complex topics, it can’t often fit this information into the context of larger concepts. So, AI-generated content can miss out on nuance and important related and relevant insights.

In order to help readers understand and digest the subject matter easily, human content writers are better able to make big-picture connections.

Another area where AI falls short is emotion and empathy. You can ask a chatbot to write a blog article with a certain tone, but the results can be unnatural and ineffective. People are emotional creatures.

Content writers have life experiences they draw upon to write content that inspires sadness, fear, happiness, or anger because they’ve felt these emotions. They can also be subtle with their delivery, another area where AI-generated content frequently fails.

All of this is not to say that you should avoid using AI. You just need to know when to use it strategically and how to effectively leverage it.


Following are a few tips for using AI in your content creation activities:


Data Collection and Analysis

Although you can’t always trust the data and citations provided by AI, you can trust them with the data you provide yourself. Chatbots are great for summarizing and analyzing data so you can provide more insights to your readers.

Use it to brainstorm. ChatGPT, AnswerThePublic, and other chatbots are able to deliver dozens of blog topic ideas in a few minutes. You can be as specific or general with what you want in your request.

Use it to write a first draft. Although you need to spend time humanizing AI content, you can ask chatbots to create articles by using prompts like the one above. This means adding context, removing redundancies and inaccuracies, and adding to your brand’s voice.

Use it to conduct consumer research. For digital ad testing, content testing, and more you can use tools like Poll the People to conduct surveys and then analyze them.

You can and should use AI freely, but don’t become over-reliant on it. You should view it like any other tool in your digital marketing cache.



Is AI good for keyword research?

If you’ve ever spent hours analyzing spreadsheets, digging through search volume numbers, or trying to predict the best-performing keywords, you’re probably looking for a smarter, faster way to handle keyword research.

AI-powered keyword research can be your definitive SEO partner, helping you to predict trends,  discover hidden keyword opportunities, and better understand user intent.

AI isn’t about replacing your expertise—it’s about expanding it. AI now becomes your SEO assistant. It’s about making your SEO strategies more effective and efficient.

You can use AI tools to save time and effort, speed up keyword research, provide smart keyword suggestions, and analyze large datasets quickly.

Among other tasks, you can use AI for search engine results page (SERP) analysis, for searching competitor strategies, and for searching sentiment insights.

AI can automate tasks, but, as stated earlier in this article, it can’t replace your expertise. For best results, combine AI data with your knowledge.

Relying too much on AI tools, without oversight, can lead to errors. Plus, AI tools for keyword research can be costly and they require a learning curve.

From Semrush to ChatGPT, select tools that fit your strategy needs—whether that’s creative brainstorming or deep analysis.


AI is transforming keyword research, making it more accurate, faster, and more insightful than ever before. By using AI keyword research tools to help create your SEO strategies, you can uncover hidden opportunities, stay ahead of the competition, and save time. Just remember, the most powerful approach combines AI’s data-crunching abilities with your unique industry expertise and creativity. Leaverage this technology when and where it makes the most sense for you.

The future of SEO is here. Take your online journey to the next level by using AI in your small business. Continue your online journey and start experimenting with AI tools today— Don’t get left behind.



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by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links on this website. There is no expense to you.

As a marketer, considering the creation of the best marketing strategy, you need to have a clear understanding of your business, product, and demographics before choosing one that will be effective for your needs.

To grow your online visibility, you need a plan for using different channels to do so. In this plan, you should consider factors such as your target audience, strengths and weaknesses, and your competitors.

To help you decide which marketing channels to use or test, check data from across your business, your target audience, and how you want to communicate your… Read Article


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According to MarketWatch, about 54% of working Americans focus on side hustles or small businesses and freelancing to plan for savings and emergencies and create passive income for normal expenses and planning for the future. The majority of this number is comprised of 71% of Gen Z and 68% of Millennials.

Although launching a business can be exciting, you can easily become overwhelmed without proper planning. Starting a business from your home is like starting any business with one exception. You won’t need to lease commercial space.

If you’re thinking about starting a home-based business, you probably already know the type of business you plan to launch. If not, the first step is to identify your concept. If you have an idea, fine-tune it before launching your home-based business.


What does it take to start an HBB?


Here’s how you should proceed to get your freelance venture or small business up and running:

1. Choose a business concept that aligns with your interests, career background, or newly developed skills.

2. Outline your strategy and create a business plan.

3. Be disciplined and set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals toward achieving your long-term goal.

4. Set up a dedicated workspace and prepare all your essential remote working tools, software, etc.

5. Build your brand identity and expand it through your online presence across social media platforms, and visibility on Google using your website, and through email marketing channels.

6. Before fully launching, prepare to track your finances and business banking.

7. Test your idea on a small group of people, gather feedback, and fine-tune your business model, service, or product offering.

8. Running a business all on your own can be isolating, and mentally and emotionally challenging. Focus on ways to maintain work-life balance and a network with others while operating your business from home.

9. Constantly learn and improve, and as your business picks up find methods to work smarter instead of harder and to shorten hours.


In a nutshell, this is what it takes to start a home-based business.

Starting a home-based business can be exciting and rewarding, although there will be challenges as with anything new.



What are the advantages of owning a home-based business?


Some advantages of owning a home-based business:

No Commuting

No Commuting is the most obvious one, as it saves time and bus fare or car expenses unless you have to travel to visit customers.

Lower Overhead

Since you won’t have to buy or rent business space elsewhere or maintain a separate office, you’ll probably only have the cost of business licenses and taxes.

Tax Advantages

Check with your Chamber of Commerce for tax advantages.

Operating a home-based business can be a way to recover your business expenses and sometimes reduce the amount of income tax you have to pay. To qualify for a reduction in income taxes, your office space area needs to pass the “exclusive use” test, meaning you must be able to show that a part of your home is your primary place of business and is used regularly and exclusively for conducting business.

Family Time

If you have children, operating a home-based business can allow you more flexibility with child care and more time to spend with family.

When your children are old enough, you can legally employ them in your business, as long as you follow the rules. There are certain restrictions, especially for children under the age of 18.

Always consult with an attorney before taking steps to employ your children in your business so that you can ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, which may vary greatly depending on locality.



What are the disadvantages of owning a home-based business?



An HBB is not for everyone; there are some disadvantages:

Municipalities regulate home-based businesses, and particular neighborhoods may have agreements against them. If you’re renting, landlords tend not to be home-based business-friendly.

Might Not Work for You

A home-based business might not work for you, even if allowed where you live. Signage, parking, and the need for home-based insurance might make running a home-based business a bad idea. Conflict can be created between other tenants and your landlord who may be irritated at the non-resident traffic.

Isolation

Countless people, who run home-based businesses, suffer from feelings of isolation and being out of the loop. This can be particularly intense for people who have spent much of their career in highly collaborative office areas and suddenly have no one to talk to when they switch to an entirely home-based business career.

Interferes with Family life

Some people find that running a home-based business causes a conflict in their family life. They may find that running a business out of the home means that business needs are regularly taking away family time. This blurring of the lines between home and business means they never feel off the clock even after hours.



Starting a home-based business provides you with a unique opportunity to grow at your own pace, achieve the seemingly impossible in your career, and work flexibly at the same time. It allows strong potential for significant professional growth.

If after performing due diligence and research you decide you have what it takes to start a home-based business, use this information to get started today.


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It can be embarrassing when somebody else finds a grammar mistake in your work, but don’t let it get to you. We all make grammar mistakes.


What is a grammar mistake?


A grammar mistake is any incorrect usage of a word or a deviation from established grammatical rules.

As language continually evolves, a phrase or word choice that’s used today may have been a grammar mistake in the past.

We’ll view 13 common grammar mistakes to avoid in writing so you’ll know how to identify, fix, and steer clear of them.

Your goal is to have clear, polished, mistake-free writing. So, we’ll look at 13 common grammar mistakes and show you how to fix them.


1.   Who vs. that


Use who when referring to a person. That is used for inanimate objects.

Example          My brother is the one who wrote the book.

Example          I bought a purse that is light to carry.

Example          They’re part of an organization that promotes organic farming.


2.   Affect vs. effect

Affect is a verb that means to cause something to happen. Effect is a noun that indicates a result.

Example          How will the continuous rain affect construction?

Example          The increasing layoffs will have a major effect on the economy.


3.   Who’s vs. whose

Who’s is a contraction of who is. Whose is a relative pronoun; a possessive form of who.

Example          Who’s ready to go?

Example          Whose bookbag is this?

4.   Who vs. whom

Who is the subject in a sentence, while whom is the object.

Example          Who will be going to the banquet this weekend?

Example          To whom shall I address the package?


5.   Less vs. fewer

Less is used to describe an abstract or otherwise uncountable amounts of items. Fewer is used for countable numbers of items.

Example          The students had less time to practice today.

Example          If fewer people used disposable water bottles, there would be less plastic in landfills.


6.   I.e. vs. e.g.

I.e. which is short for, id est, is used to clarify statements. E.g., short for exempli gratia, is used to provide examples.

Example          I’ll be off again tomorrow, (i.e., I’m still very sick).

Example          I’ve read lots of books over the past year (e.g., Undaunted, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and How Green was my Valley).

Always add a comma following these abbreviations, and enclose them in parentheses.


7.   Then vs. than

Then indicates when something will happen. Than is used to compare things or people.

Example          First we’ll have lunch; then go to a movie.

Example          All my brothers are taller than me.


8.   Each and every

Each refers to two items or the individual items in a group. Every refers to three or more items or to the group as a whole.

Example          Each of my children came to visit me this year.

Example          Every one of my coworkers is going to the restaurant.


9.   May vs. might

May is generally used in the present tense to ask for permission and to indicate something that is likely to happen. Might is used with the past tense and to describe things that either didn’t happen or are unlikely to happen.

Example          May I bring a guest to the party?

Example          There might have been time for review, but the fire alarm went off.


10. Farther vs. further

Farther refers to literal distance. Further means “more.”

The mountain looked farther away than ever.

We’ll have no further communication.


11. Past vs. passed

Past can be a noun, an adjective, a preposition, or an adverb. It refers to something that has already happened. Passed is a verb.

Example          My cousin told us stories about the past.

Example          The bus passed on our right side.


12. Passive voice

While not inherently incorrect, many writers use the passive voice when the active voice would be a more correct, clearer choice.

Passive voice: The layout was prepared by me.

Active voice: I prepared the layout.


13. Possessive nouns

Possessive nouns are versions of nouns that show ownership. They often use apostrophes.

Example          That’s John’s letter opener.


For a plural possessive noun, the apostrophe goes after the s.

Example          The marchers’ instruments.

There are different schools of thought about what to do when a singular possessive noun ends in the letter s. Some say the apostrophe goes at the end, without adding an s.

Example          That’s Jonas’ car.

The Chicago style requires that when a name ending in s becomes possessive, you add an apostrophe and an s.

Example          That’s Jonas’s car.


These are just 13 common grammar mistakes to avoid in writing, but there are many others that people make. Practice, reading extensively, and using grammar-checking tools will help you spot mistakes and make corrections. With time, practice, and patience, you’ll be able to improve your grammar skills and become a more confident writer.

I recommend Grammarly as a checking tool. It’s free.


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by Rahimah Sultan

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When it comes to content writing, finding the right topic and angle can seem almost impossible.


If you’re balancing a lot on your plate and facing tight deadlines, you can feel stumped and uninspired. Here are some trending content writing topics to keep your writing rhythm going.

Why is having content writing topics important?


Having content writing ideas is important because it:

Saves time – if you pre-plan your content there’s time to research and write more effectively, thus, saving time and effort.

Avoids writer’s block – To avoid last-minute decisions, have a list of topics beforehand which eliminates stress and keeps your mind clear to focus on creating quality content.

Ensures variety – To meet various preferences and needs and to create diverse fresh content, keep sample topics for content writing ready.

Boosts productivity – When you have a clear map of topics, you can work more effectively promptly produce high-quality content.

Builds topical authority – You can build trust and authority in your niche by planning your content around specific topics that allow you to dive deep and showcase your expertise.

Improves scheduling – If you have content topics in advance, you can create a content calendar, which makes it easier to consistently schedule, write, and publish.


Content writing includes a large blend of niche-based topics that offer you many options to explore.


What are some niche content writing topics?


Here are seven creative writing content niches:

Science and Technology

Cybersecurity Trends And Tips

Breakthroughs In Space Exploration

Machine Learning Algorithms

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Gaming

How Robotics is Changing Industries

Latest Renewable Energy Innovations

How Blockchain Works

Advancements In Medical Technology

The Possibility of Achieving Immortality Through Science

Future Transport: Electric Vehicles, Self-Driving Cars, And Hyperloop

Fashion and Lifestyle

How to Find Your Signature Look

The Evolution of Streetwear Culture

How Clothing Impacts Our Mood and Confidence

Tips For Mixing And Matching Patterns In Fashion

Must-Know DIY Fashion Hacks

Beauty Routines For Every Skin Type

Fashion Icons of The Decade

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe

Seasonal Wardrobe Essentials

How To Make Mindful Purchasing Decisions

Budgeting Tips And Strategies For Financial Wellness

Ways To Design A Cozy And Functional Home Office Space


Health and Wellness

Tips For Reducing Screen Time

How To Maintain A Balanced Diet

The Science Behind Intermittent Fasting

Healthy Meal Prep Ideas For The Week

The Importance Of Sleep Hygiene

Healing Herbs For Everyday Use

The Power Of Positive Thinking

Home Workouts For All Fitness Levels

The Benefits Of Yoga For Stress Management

Natural Healing Through Ayurvedic Practices

Mindfulness Practices For Busy Lives


Travel and photography

The Impact Of Travel On Personal Growth

How To Travel on A Budget

Traveling With Kids: Family-Friendly Destinations

Packing Essentials For Different Climates

Top Destinations For Adventure Seekers

Tips For Solo Travelers

Astrophotography For Beginners

Drone Photography Essentials

The Beauty Of Capturing Culture Through Photography

Landscape Photography Tips


Food and Recipes

Healthy Snacks For Busy Days

The Role Of Nutrition In Healthy Eating

Meal Planning And Prepping For Busy People

Seasonal Recipes For Fresh Produce

Cooking With Alternative Ingredients

Desserts You Can Make In Under 30 Minutes

Creative Plating Techniques For Home Cooks

Restaurant Recipe Hacks

Cooking For A Crowd: Tips And Tricks

Baking Tips For Beginners


Business and Finance

Steps To Start And Launch Your Own Business

Personal Finance Tips For Millennials

Emerging Trends In E-Commerce

The Future Of Remote Work And Its Impact On Businesses

How To Improve Your Credit Score

The Importance Of Networking In Business

Investment Strategies For Beginners

The Role Of Digital Marketing In Business Growth

Inspiring Stories Of Female Entrepreneurs


Sports and Entertainment

Upcoming Sports Events To Watch This Year

The Rise Of Women In Sports And Media

Unforgettable Moments In Sports History

The Best Sports Documentaries To Watch

How To Stay Fit Like Your Favorite Athletes

Celebrity Athletes And Crossover Careers

The Impact Of Streaming Services On Entertainment

Behind The Scenes: The Making Of A Movie

The Evolution Of Stand-Up Comedy


These content writing topics will help excite your readers enough to get them to open and further explore your blog.

Once you have suitable content writing topics lined up for your upcoming blog articles, it’s time to create a blog outline for logical content structure.

This outline should include:

Title – should be appealing enough to let reader know what your blog is about and why they should spend their time on it.

Intro – Follow the title with persuasive introduction ideas that paint a clear picture of what your blog topic will cover and what can be expected from it. Make sure to add ideas that make the reader stay instead of leaving.

Body and Headings – Identify main sections or key points you want to cover in your blog article. These sections form the bulk of your post and should be in logical order.

Divide them into main headings and subheadings. These sections will form the core of your blog article, each addressing a specific portion or idea related to your topic.

Conclusion

You need an engaging conclusion to nicely wrap up your content. Your outline must signal you to recap all the key takeaways from when you actually write the article.



To keep them reading use the following blog post best practices:

Create an Engaging Title

Understand Your Target Audience

Incorporate strategic Keywords

Use Tools to Proofread Your Content

Leverage Internal & External Linking


Check out the aforementioned 7 creative writing content niches trending topics and find the best one for your niche and write about it. Each topic holds its own potential. It’s your writing style that adds a distinctive touch and gets your content to the level of being top-ranked on Google’s search engine results page.

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What is copywriting?

Copywriting is the act or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing. Copywriting is aimed at selling products or services. The product, called copy or sales copy, is written content that aims to increase brand awareness and ultimately persuade a person or group to take a particular action. Copywriters help to create billboards, brochures, catalogs, jingle lyrics, magazine and newspaper advertisements, sales letters and other direct mail, scripts for television or radio commercials, taglines, white papers, website and social media posts, and other marketing communications. All this aligned with the target audience’s expectations while keeping the content and copy fresh, relevant, and effective. Wikipedia

This article discusses several types of copywriting you can use in your business.

Businesses have always needed to reach prospective customers and effectively communicate what they offer.

In our modern information age, Continue


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What is the best blogging platform?

Through research, I’ve found the following list to be five of the best blogging platforms for beginning bloggers.

There are many popular options to choose from including Wix.com, Tumblr, Weebly, Blogspot, Joomla, Typepad, Ghost, Squarespace, and others.

We’ll focus on only five (FREE) platforms for beginning bloggers.

1. Medium

How to get started

Medium has several ways to register.

Go to Medium.com, and to avoid having to remember yet another password Click the “Get started” button.

Choose to sign in with Google or a social media account then click “OK.”

For $0 you get a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) minimalist blogging platform.

After you join, click the avatar (floating head) and select new story. You’ll land on an easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.

There’s no trial and error or guessing.

Medium’s pros:

Built-in audience of over 60 million readers!
Good for all blog types
Your blog looks professional
More business-friendly than WordPress.com
Monetization is possible with the Medium Partner Program


Medium’s Cons:

Little to no customization. Your blog will look like all other Medium blogs. Medium offers stats, but you can’t link to your Google account to use Google Analytics


2. WordPress.com

How to get started

Go to WordPress.com and click the “Get Started” button.

Enter your email address, a username, and a strong password.

For step 2, enter some details about your blog.

In step 3, enter an address for your site.

Start typing and you’ll get a list of options. Select the “Free” one.
Then, pick a plan. Again, select the “Free” option.

The “free for life” plan has numerous features.

For $0 you get:


A free WordPress.com subdomain
“Jetpack” essential features
Community support
Dozens of free themes/templates


A domain is what comes after the https:// at the top of your browser.

In the case of WordPress, the domain name is wordpress.com.

So what’s a subdomain? If the domain is the parent, the subdomain is the child. Anything between the “https://” and the domain is a subdomain.

Some examples:

alumni.harvard.edu

braves.mlb.com

finance.yahoo.com


So, if I wanted to start “Marketing Success Review” on WordPress.com, my subdomain might be
marketingsuccessreview.com.

Readers would type marketingsuccessreview.com.wordpress.com in their browser to browser to view my site.

If you’re a business blog, this is not a good look. But for a sandbox blog where you’re testing ideas, it’ll be okay.

Jetpack Essential Features

Unless you upgrade to their “business” plan, WordPress.com doesn’t permit third-party plugins. So, if hear about an amazing SEO tool plugin, you’re out of luck until you upgrade to a self-hosted version.

Nevertheless, the free plan does come with many built-in WordPress plugins that offer everything from spam protection to contact forms.

Community Support

Perhaps WordPress.com’s best feature (beyond the pricing) is its extensive support system and knowledgebase.

You can find practically anything you need to know about using their free platform in WordPress.com’s Support section. To call their collection of how-to articles merely “extensive” would be an understatement.

At the WordPress.com forum, you can see if anyone else had you same question. If you can’t find the solution, post the question yourself.

Free Themes

WordPress has dozens of free themes from which to choose for design flexibility that isn’t available with Medium and the other free platforms.

Although WordPress.com offers so much for free, it is not for anyone who wants to present a professional business blog.

WordPress.com Pros:

Suitable for a variety of blog types
Solid support articles and forum
More design options than other free platforms
Shorter learning curve if you choose to transition to self-hosted WordPress later
Website builder that’s good for more than just blogs
Premium plans are available, for those interested


WordPress.com Cons:

Not ideal for businesses
You can’t install premium or free WordPress themes and plugins (or another blogging tool) from third parties
Lack of community makes it difficult to build an audience from scratch
WordPress advertising and banners may appear next to your blog content


3. LinkedIn

How to get started


Go to LinkedIn.com

Enter your name, your email, and a strong password. Then click the “Join now” button.

You’ll be asked to answer a few more questions.

For zero money you get a free-to-use publishing platform that’s focused on professionals and business contacts.

If you’re already a LinkedIn member, publishing content will be easier than WordPress.com, Medium, or any other blogging platform, because it’s built right into your LinkedIn profile.

Click the “Write an article” button and start writing.


LinkedIn Pros:

Clean, simple design
Good for professionals and business blogging
Built-in audience of like-minded professionals
Ease of use — publishing platform is built right into your LinkedIn profile


LinkedIn Cons:

Very few customization options
Only good for professionals and businesses
You can’t schedule posts for future publishing


If you want to write posts to reach professionals and business, LinkedIn is the best free blogging platform available.


4. Instagram.com

How to get started

On your personal computer, go to Instagram.com where you’ll see the log in page.

Enter your phone number or email address, your name, your desired username, and a strong password. Then click the “Sign up” button.

Or, if you have a Facebook account, skip all that and click the “Log in with Facebook” button.

You could also do the above using the Instagram app on your mobile device.

For $0 you get a very popular social media platform that’s perfect for microblogging.

An example of microblogging is:

Uploading a great image such as a photo from your camera or a Creative Commons image that fits your current mood.

Upload your image to Instagram.

Then write a short blog post stating what you want about the image.

Anyone who focuses on highly visual topics should use Instagram.

You can have great success using Instagram as a microblogging platform if you can combine impressive visuals with short posts that pack a punch.

Instagram Pros:

Great for visual topics
Ideal platform for microblogging (short posts)
Great if your target audience primarily uses mobile devices

Instagram Cons:

Limited to 2,200 characters
Limited to one hyperlink (in your bio)
If your target audience isn’t on mobile, it’s less than ideal


5. Guest Blogging


How to get started

The best platform for building your authority is guest blogging.

The first way to get started is to determine if the blogs you like to read, (that are relevant to your niche) accept guest post submissions.

Browse their “About” or “Start” pages. Try their “Contact” page. Sometimes, they’ll make it easy and have a “Contribute” or “Write for Us” link in their navigation menu or footer.


The second approach involves using Google’s and Twitter’s search capability.

You can query a topic (for example: “blogging”) together with a search phrase (“write for us”).

Not all sites are worth your effort. Click on the results that look promising, browse them, and see if they’re a good fit. Skip the ones that aren’t and bookmark the matches.

Continue with similar queries.

Do the same on Twitter.

Type “guest post”, “guest blog post”, “guest article”, etc. in the search box. Twitter will give you a list of tweets where people used those exact phrases.

For $0 you get the chance to put your words in front of already-existing, relevant audiences and a chance to acquire fans for life.

You should guest blog if you want to build credibility and boost your authority.

You should NOT if you want to build up your own blog.

Guest blogging is no longer a great way to increase traffic to your blog.


Guest Blogging Pros:

Write for interested, targeted audiences
Fastest way to build your authority and reputation


Guest Blogging Cons:


Fastest way to destroy your authority and reputation
Not an efficient method for getting traffic to your own website
Getting published on quality sites is hard work
Time-consuming — may be hard to fit into busy schedules


WordPress.org

Technically, there’s one more free option.

WordPress.org software — the same software used by WordPress.com — is also free for everyone.

However, WordPress.org’s software isn’t actually free once you add up the other expenses.

To use the software you’ll need a blog hosting provider (aka web hosting services), you’ll need to register a domain name (some hosting providers give you a free domain, but you should keep  your domain registrar and web host separate), you’ll have to install WordPress on your own web host, and you’ll also need your own domain name. All of these cost money.

This is something you’ll eventually want to do, but not right now when you’re just getting started.

So how will you know when you’re ready? One source recommends making the switch once you reach a 20% outreach success rate.

The best blogging platform depends on what you want to accomplish. There’s no one platform that fits everyone.

This article has covered Five of the Best Blogging Platforms for Beginning Bloggers.

It all boils down to what suits your needs and situation.


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by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. There is no expense to you.

With the surge of AI where everybody can publish generic blog posts, remember the foundation of high-quality content is sharing authentic, first-hand experiences.

In its latest search engine updates, Google says content should be helpful and come from human experience.



What is content marketing?


Content marketing is the publishing of written and visual material online to attract more leads to your business. These materials can include e-books, infographics, blog posts, videos, web pages, and more.

It isn’t just publishing a shallow piece of content that offers little value. The focus is on making valuable content that your audience can discover themselves while browsing.

Content marketing is the planning, creating, distribution, sharing, and publishing of content through channels like social media, blogs, websites, podcasts, press releases, apps, print publications, and more. The goal of content marketing is to reach your target audience and increase brand awareness, engagement, sales, and loyalty.

Some of the most common types of content marketing are:

1. Online Content Marketing

Online content marketing is any material you publish online, but specifically, it applies to your web pages.

With a strong online content marketing strategy you’ll be able to rank higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs) and get in front of the right people at the right time and immediately engage visitors with specific content about your products or services.

2. Social Media Content Marketing

There are billions of social media users worldwide so it’s easy to see why many businesses invest in social media marketing.

There are several platforms to work with including Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Snapchat. Each one offers various ways to create and share content, like photos, pre-recorded videos, pre-recorded videos, live videos, and stories.

3. Infographic Content Marketing

Infographics display content, information, and data in an easy-to-understand graphic format that includes a mix of simple wording, short statements, and clear images. These are a great way to effectively communicate your content. They work well if you’re trying to simplify an educational or a complex topic so all audience members can understand it.

4. Blog Content Marketing

A blog is a great source of inbound content that allows you to be creative in your choice of topic and writing. You can use your blog to promote related content using links and social share buttons as well as incorporate product information.

5. Video Content Marketing

According to research, 91% of businesses video as a marketing tool.

You can use video marketing to help build a strong bond with your audience, boost conversions, and improve ROI. You can also choose to share your video content on landing pages, social media platforms, or on a co-marketer’s website.

6. Podcast Content Marketing

Experts predict that in the future over 71 million people will listen to podcasts. That’s 10 million more than the current listeners across the Spotify and Apple Podcast platforms. This is the reason many businesses and media outlets create and share their own podcasts.

Since podcasts can be about any topic, you have plenty of room for a lot of creativity.

You decide the pace of episodes, guests, where you advertise the podcast, and the length of each episode.

7. Paid Ad Content Marketing

You can reach a broad audience with paid ads and position yourself in all the places you want to be seen. Pairing paid ads and inbound marketing is especially beneficial.

Paid ads can be shared on landing pages, social media, banners, and in sponsored content.



What are some content marketing trends?


Google says content should be helpful and come from human experience. This is one of numerous ways to increase your traffic.

Here are some ways content marketing is moving forward and how to use them to your advantage.

1.  Use of AI

The role of AI is to scale and improve, not to come up with the original insight that hasn’t been shared before.

AI writing tools base output on information already somewhere on the internet – other blogs.

For your content to work for you, it has to stand out. The best way to make that happen is by sharing expert insights. AI can’t give you unique, experience-based ideas.

Producing content requires much more than just pumping out text. For it to be valuable for readers, it needs a proper strategy, in-depth research, first-hand knowledge of the industry, and a person to put it all together in a way that’s relatable to readers.

It’s best to use AI to generate top-level outlines, like a skeleton to set a flexible foundation that can be modified later. Then using your expertise, you can elaborate on the details and add insights and depth that only a human can present.

2.  First-Hand Experience

Prioritize sharing first-hand experience. The public loves other people’s stories. If you don’t have expertise in a particular area, you can interview people who do and base your article on their insights.

3.  Source Content

One of the top-ranking factors for content marketing is backlinks, so publish “Be the Source” content to get more traffic, links, and shares from your content marketing.

4.  Authority

Participate in establishing authority in your area of expertise.

Google prefers content created by knowledgeable and reputable people. Setting up yourself as an authority in your area of expertise improves the credibility of your content.

This is really important now when there’s a lot of AI-generated content on the internet.

You want your content to have a face and a story. This will boost your content’s relevance and trustworthiness in the eyes of users and in search engines. Search engines like Google must decide between high- and low-quality content.

5.  Leverage

Use community contributions to boost the credibility and depth of your content by tapping into the collective expertise and experiences of a diverse group.

You can do this by:

a) Collaborating with industry experts in your field to create content and inviting them to share insights.

b) Organizing Q&A sessions with experts or influential people in your industry through live streams, webinars, or interviews.

c) Develop collaborative projects where several contributors can add their expertise. This could be a blog post, a webinar, a research paper, or an industry-related guide.

d) Leverage UGC (User-Generated Content). Urge your audience to contribute their ideas or experiences. This can be through comments, social media interactions, or guest posts.
Promote their work on your platforms as part of the collaboration.

Be sure to give proper credit when you use other people’s content, whether it’s from experts or UGC.

6.  User-Generated Content

A bit more about UGC.

Users or customers create and share content about your brand or product which may include images, reviews, social media posts, or videos, which you can then use in your marketing endeavors.

Instead of using traditional search engines like Google for information, many young people turn to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Especially when they’re looking for how-to guides or local restaurant recommendations.

There are two main benefits of using UGC:

They prioritize content that comes from other customers, such as unboxing, reviews, and lifestyle videos featuring your product and now that users are creating content for you, you get to:

1. Accelerate the content generation process
2. And you get authentic content that your audience can relate to

7.  Repurpose Content

A great way to scale up your content marketing, without starting over each time you want to create a post for a new format, is repurposing your content on different platforms. Content repurposing is now a hot content marketing trend.

But, over the last few years, people’s standards for content have risen a lot. You can no longer just copy and paste a section a section from your blog post and publish it on social media nor can you just read an article into a microphone and call it quits.

But you can match the content to each format.

For example, repurposing a blog post for a YouTube video requires you to add elements at the beginning like a relatable story, use strategies that work well for the video, and rewrite portions to make sense in the new format.

Another example is reusing steps and tips, as you don’t have to repurpose a total piece of content. As an alternative, take the best sections from a current piece of content and reuse them elsewhere. Using this approach allows you to highlight specific, valuable parts of your content on platforms or in different formats.

8.  Emerging Topics

Another way for your content to stand out is jumping on developing trends BEFORE they take off.

Use Google Trends to confirm that a keyword is growing or shrinking. And check out the “Related queries” section for your chosen topic.

First, check out a keyword you think might be trending up.

Then, go to the bottom of the page and check out the “Related queries” list.

Although Google-related queries are helpful, a check for exploding topics is better.

9.  Improve Content Design

Improve your content design and user experience to suit Google’s algorithms for site speed, navigation ease, and user interaction when ranking websites. When your site loads fast, answers users’ queries, and is easy to navigate, people will stay on your site and interact with it, and they’re more likely to visit other pages of your site.

To improve UX (user experience), you need to:

a) Improving site speed

b) Being thoughtful about pop-up use

c) Design an easy-to-navigate page layout

d) Make call-to-actions and monetization contextually relevant

e) Link only to genuinely helpful content

f) Answer user intent early in your content and not hide important information at the bottom

10. Explainer Visuals

Custom explainer visuals like videos and graphics like screenshots and custom diagrams, are essential in explaining complex concepts.

Focus on creating content that is informative, engaging, and visually appealing.

Design graphics that visually represent data or explain steps needed to do something complex. Establish a YouTube presence. It’s a great place to distribute your content, and Google features YouTube videos on the first page of SERP.

Embedding YouTube videos in your article makes it more engaging and it’s an even greater way to distribute your YouTube videos. If you have a blog and a YouTube channel, embed your videos in your articles to help readers understand the topic even deeper and to increase your video views.

11. Distribute Your Content via Email

Continue distributing content by “personalized” email which involves providing value, encouraging interactions, and building trust. Email is still an important marketing trend.

12. Streamline Content Operations

Streamlined content operations refer to the structured and efficient management of content creation and distribution processes that include:

Setting clear content objectives
Having clear roles and responsibilities
Mapping your content creation process
Organizing tasks and projects
Incorporating effective tools for content planning, writing, and SEO optimization
Continuing to optimize and repurpose your content


Here you have 7 of the most common types of content marketing and future trends. Now you can put a strategy together and work on creating content that will offer real value to your audience and significantly increase your website traffic.


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by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. There is no expense to you.

Affiliate marketing is a versatile flow of revenue that you can leverage no matter what your niche or industry. It’s a great way to monetize your web traffic and earn added income.

While it is possible to “earn money while you sleep,” as you’ve seen advertised, it takes work. Affiliate marketing is certainly one of the best ways to generate nearly passive income online, but you must go about it the correct way. This article covers some general information that you can use, if you want to get started in affiliate marketing this year.


What is affiliate marketing?


Affiliate marketing is promoting and selling someone else’s product or services for a commission. Although it’s a simple concept, the actual process can involve a lot of moving parts.

In affiliate marketing there are sellers who create affiliate programs and make available unique links that the affiliates use to promote the seller’s products. These links are unique to each affiliate marketer to track which marketer makes a sale.


How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

When someone clicks on the affiliate link, a cookie (a small file used by web servers to save browsing information), is stored in their browser. This cookie lets the seller know who sold the product or service and lets the affiliate earn the commission even if the person decides not to buy immediately. Cookies have an expiration date, so to get credit for a sale, the purchase must be made before the cookie expires.

For example, if you’ve clicked on an affiliate link that expires in 30 days but decided not to buy the product and you go back a few days later and make the purchase, the affiliate marketer will get credit for that purchase because it occurred within the 30-day window of the cookie being stored.


Who Are the Participants?

There are three to four key participants in affiliate marketing that include:

Affiliates: people who promote the product or service

Sellers: the creators of the product or the people who are selling the product or service

Networks: networks managing the affiliates (optional)

Consumers: end-users of the product or service


Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these participants.


Affiliates

Affiliates, sometimes called publishers, can be individuals or businesses. More often than not, affiliates are content creators in the same niche of the product they’re promoting. They promote products and services through content like social media posts, blogs, videos, and a number of other types of content. Affiliates can also use paid ads to bring in traffic, but there are typically rules around the keywords that affiliates can use for the products they’re promoting, such as not using the brand name or trade names of the products.

Sellers

The sellers, who can be individuals or companies, create the products or services that affiliates promote. They also pay affiliate commissions for sales.

Networks (optional)

An affiliate network connects publishers with companies who want to promote their products or services like influencers or blog owners.

Many sellers choose to work with an affiliate network to manage their affiliate marketing programs. This network handles third-party checks and manages relationships between sellers and affiliates. ShareASale, Awin, Amazon Associates, ClickBank, and Rakuten Advertising are some of the top affiliate marketing networks.

Consumers

Consumers are the people who buy products and services through affiliate links.


How Do Affiliate Marketers Get Paid?

Usually, affiliates are paid when a person completes some type of action like a click, form submission, or sale.


How Much Do Affiliates Make?

Affiliate earnings can vary greatly depending on what industry they’re in, the program they join, the commission rate, the price of the products they’re promoting, their marketing skills, and audience size.



What are the benefits of affiliate marketing?


Passive Income

You can make income any time of day or night with affiliate marketing, which makes it a nearly passive income option. You only have to create content and do promotions. You don’t have to be actively participating in the transaction to make it occur. With a system set up to keep things running, you have the potential for a large return with very little continuing effort.

Flexibility

You have incredible flexibility to do what you want and still bring in revenue for your business. You don’t have to create, store, produce, ship, or provide support for the product, you just sell it. This saves you many hours of work. Just choose products you like and think your audience will like, create the content for promoting the products, and then do the actual promotion.

Cost-Effective

It takes money and sometimes a lot of money to start your own business, especially one selling physical products. Affiliate marketing offers you a low-cost way to start your own business and you’ll only need to consider the time it will take to create content and promote.

Low Risk

Another benefit of affiliate marketing is that it’s low risk. As an affiliate, you don’t have to invest money to create or store products. Your only role is marketing and promoting the products to your followers and paid traffic (if you decide to go that route). Even if you use blogging to promote affiliate products, it won’t take a lot of money and if you decide it’s not working out and you quit, it won’t be huge loss. There are large numbers of affiliate products and services you can promote. If one doesn’t work, try another.

No Customer Support

An affiliate marketer doesn’t have to worry about customer support for the products and services you sell. For many affiliate marketers, this is a great relief and gives you the freedom to start your own business without thinking about how to deal with actual customers.

Be sure that the products or services you promote to your followers are of good quality that you would actually use. You want people to get to know, like, and trust you. So, be particular with the affiliate products and services you promote.


You can promote affiliate products through product reviews, in your email newsletter, product comparisons, paid ads, on your blog, and more.

Now that you have a relatively good idea of what it’s all about, you could get started in affiliate marketing this year, even today.


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by Rahimah Sultan

Advertising Disclosure: Marketing Success Review may be compensated in exchange for featured placement of certain sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. There is no expense to you.

A home-based business can offer a quicker startup path, lower startup costs, and more flexibility.

Nevertheless, to succeed you still have to stick to the same startup steps as every other business and there are added considerations due to working from home. Now, on with how to start a home business.


What should you consider before starting a home business?

1. Questions to raise before starting a home-based business

Focus and motivation

Can you stay focused and motivated?

When working from home, you’ll have many distractions—pets, TV shows, household chores, or wanting to take a nap.

Support system

Will you have a support system?

Is there a mentor, family, or someone else you can count on for support—you should have someone to count on when you get stuck. Preferably someone with remote business experience who can relate to your situation.

Goals

What are your goals? What is your vision for the long term? Why do you want to start a business and why from home? Depending on your answers, you may want to rethink starting a remote business.

Suitability of your home for business

You need to establish whether or not your home setup is suitable for running a business. If not, you may have to make changes to create a suitable working area.


Balance work and personal life

Will you be able to maintain a balance between your personal and work life?

If you’re a business owner, this is not guaranteed. This balance can be more difficult for a home-based business, as your office is only a step away.

These questions are geared specifically toward starting a business at home and not for first-time entrepreneurs.


2. Business idea that works remotely

Come up with a business idea that will work remotely. It should solve a problem, have a market demand, and fit your goals. Even if it meets these criteria, it may not work well as a home-based business. Additional things to consider include:


Digitalization: Can your business be operated completely online or with minimum physical interaction?

Independence: Can it be run by you without the need for a large team or physical infrastructure?

Scalability: Can you scale the business without substantial physical infrastructure? 

Supply chain: Does the business require minimal physical inventory or a supply chain you can manage remotely?

Remember to conduct thorough research to check for demand. An idea can look great on paper and meet the requirements of remote functionality, but without demand, it won’t be practical.


3. Business plan

Write a business plan to help you think through every aspect of your home-based business.

In the business plan, you describe the product or service.

Document your research.

Create a financial plan.

Outline marketing and sales efforts.

Provide an overview of your procedures, team, and business structure.

As you’re just starting, pay particular attention to the day-to-day operations, financials, and product/service description.

Operations include the day-to-day outlook and the space you’ll be using.

Financials include start-up costs and how you will scale to make a profit. Can you do this from home or will you need another space?

The product/service description will detail why it can be sold from the comfort of your home and whether there is a competitive advantage for doing so.

Although a detailed business plan is essential, you can start with a one-page plan that can easily be updated.


4. Legal requirements

There are legal requirements for any business and a home-based business is no exception. You have to:

Choose a business structure – https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/launch-your-business/choose-business-structure

Register a business name

Apply for a state and federal tax ID

Get the correct licenses and permits

You’ll need to check on:

A home business permit

Zoning laws

Homeowners Association (HOA) rules

Business insurance; although not a legal requirement, you may need to purchase additional coverage if your home insurance policy does not cover home-based businesses.


5. Costs and finances

Figure out your startup costs and finances. These costs can widely vary depending on the kind of business and your circumstances. For sufficient funds, a detailed budget and forecasting revenue and expenses are essential.

The minimum to account for is:

Home office setup

Utilities

Technology and equipment

Legal expenses

Marketing and advertising

Open a business bank account immediately to separate your personal and business finances to easily track performance and avoid potential legal issues.

6. Workspace

Choose a dedicated space to run your business, an area with minimal distractions, and a way to separate your work and home life. If you have limited space, set strict boundaries for how and when to use this space.

When you have a space in mind, make the necessary adjustments to turn it into a productive work environment. Consider the following:

Bright natural lighting

Creative storage for files and supplies

Prioritize comfort with a good back-supporting chair

Upgrade your equipment with a high-speed internet connection. The rest depends on your business idea.


7. Time management

Manage your time by:

Using project management tools

Setting clear expectations

Set regular breaks

Regularly communicate using tools like Slack or Zoom to stay connected with your team, contractors, or vendors to facilitate collaboration.

Avoid multitasking

Focus on one task at a time to ensure quality work and avoid mistakes.



What are some home-based business ideas?


1.  Freelance Writing and Content Creation

The demand for skilled writers is limitless. Use your writing skills to create engaging, SEO-optimized content that attracts both readers and search engines.

The key to standing out is creating content that not only engages readers but also aligns with SEO best practices. By seamlessly integrating relevant keywords and providing valuable information, freelance writers can elevate their content, ensuring it not only captures the audience’s interest but also ranks favorably on SERPs (search engine results pages).


2.  Virtual Assistance Services

Businesses and entrepreneurs often need support with managing administrative tasks. You can position yourself as a vital resource by offering virtual assistance services such as scheduling, handling emails, and other organizational responsibilities.


3.  E-commerce Store for Niche Markets

Set up an e-commerce store and take advantage of the growing trend of niche markets. Find a specific niche with high demand and low competition. To ensure visibility in the search engines optimize your product listings with well-researched keywords. Use a platform like Shopify or Etsy to kick off your online store.

As there’s a current surge in the realm of e-commerce and niche product stores, there’s an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs can carve out a distinctive space for their products in this market by carefully identifying a niche with high demand and minimal competition.


4.  Online Coaching and Consulting

If you have expertise in a particular field such as fitness, personal development, or business strategy, consider online coaching or consulting. People are willing to pay for valuable insights. Use a well-optimized website to establish your credibility and use SEO strategies to attract clients seeking your knowledge.


5.  Social Media Management

Help clients build and maintain a strong presence across various platforms. Use effective strategies to increase engagement and followers ensuring your clients stand out in the crowded digital landscape. Deliver services that aid clients in establishing and nurturing a strong presence across various platforms. Utilize effective strategies to increase engagement and followers, ensuring your clients stand out amid the digital competition.


6.  Graphic Design Services

If you have graphic design skills, convert your passion into profit by offering design services. A curated portfolio showcasing your work, optimized with relevant keywords, serves a dual purpose. It not only attracts potential clients but also bolsters your website’s SEO, making it more discoverable to those seeking your artistic expertise.


7.  Affiliate Marketing

Use affiliate marketing to monetize your online presence. Promoting products/services and earning a commission for each sale can turn your interests and expertise into a revenue stream. Research carefully a niche that resonates with you, and create engaging content seamlessly integrating affiliate links. This approach not only delivers value to your audience but also enhances your potential for revenue through successful affiliate partnerships.


8. Remote IT Support

Consider offering IT services to businesses and individuals, if you have technical skills. To ensure visibility optimize your website with keywords related to IT services to make it easier for those in need to find and benefit from your expertise.


9.  Online Tutoring Services

As the landscape of education evolves, online Tutoring Services have become a crucial resource. Leverage your expertise in a specific subject to offer online tutoring. Just optimize your website with relevant keywords to attract students seeking assistance. Provide valuable and you can establish yourself as a credible source in the ever-expanding online education niche.


10. Handmade Crafts and Artisanal Products

If you’re creatively inclined, you can turn your passion into a home-based business and fulfill your endeavor. Show your creations through an e-commerce platform. Optimize your product descriptions and website content with keywords to enhance visibility and attract buyers.


There is much more you can learn about how to start a home business. This article is a starting point. By using these steps, you can be well on your way to starting a profitable home-based business.


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