Increasing Your Digital Footprint
While reading through my daily list of blogs, a recent post by Adam Singer really stuck out to me…titled “Developing Content Isn’t Choice…It’s Core to Digital Marketing Strategy.” As I made my way through the post, a term caught my eye and I couldn’t stop thinking about it…even though I’m sure we’ve all seen it before: digital footprint.
Here’s a snippet of what he said: “Adding totally new content is even trickier for many. It is just not part of their plan to continually add valuable, unique and interesting content to their site monthly to increase their digital footprint.”
The above demands one question: what is a digital footprint?
Whether someone is using a search engine, blog directory, social networking, YouTube (which is basically a search engine) you’ll run across a piece of digital information left behind by a specific entity of individual.
Of course Wikipedia has a fancy definition for everything: A digital footprint is the data trace or trail left by someone’s activity in a digital environment.
So, let’s talk about the “data trace” and what kind of “digital environment” it should be left in.
- Sowing & Reaping: The more you plant, the more you’ll sow. Even though it’s an elementary principal, once you get serious about creating content and sharing it across social networks, whether it’s video, articles, 3rd party content..such as sharing, you’ll reap the benefits of a user who feels compelled to share.
- Reputation is Everything: As your content output increases, so will the perception of your company and website. Creating valuable content on a consistent basis shows you are not only serious about your company, but that the needs of your clients and followers are important. Don’t underestimate how content can change the perception of your company…remember, it will help more than your SEO rankings when you develop a strong content plan.
- Discover What’s Important: Remember, being on every social network, video channel, directory and forum is not necessary to achieve success. Of course, the only meter capable of measuring success is you and deciding which networks and digital avenues to “plant your seed” is vital to leaving a strong digital footprint. To use the farming analogy again, not all soil is created equal.
- Keep Your Message On Target: Yes, it’s OK to write articles and produce videos of different subjects…however, don’t make a point on your blog and contradict it on your YouTube channel. And, if you want to show viewers how organized and “on top of things” you are, when doing a product release or article about an important subject – make sure it coincides with the other digital outputs…i.e Twitter, Facebook and press releases.
Even though the above tips are a great starting point in approaching your content plan, don’t ever forget the importance of just getting started and quieting the lizard brain.
If you have a blog and produce or ship regularly, than tools like the EzineArticles WordPress Plugin will help a little bit in expanding your digital footprint. I’ve heard mixed thoughts on the concept of article marketing…and you do run the risk of being penalized for duplicate content – however, picking up a few links with minimal effort has never hurt anyone.
Some content producers are able to create a video a day, but if you’re not creating any videos start with one a week. Don’t set goals you don’t intend to keep. I know blogger and entrepreneur Chris Guillebeau has said he writes 1000 words a day…that’s great for someone who is an experienced writer and is dedicated to the process. The point is, content producers create content…no matter how much or little it is.
In terms of being found by search engines, as you create content you give bots more content and keywords to find and possibly rank you in the SERP’s.
More videos = another avenue for users to comment and interact.
More Facebook posts = a simple way for users to know you are around and care about being there.
The bottom line is, more content = more commitment.
Are you ready?
As always, I value all feedback and constructive / destructive criticism alike. Feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line
Thanks for your article, it is great. As SEO, we need to let google know what we want it be found, did we chose the right keyword, does our content is related?