Joe Pulizzi On Latest Book, Content Inc.

By Janet Dodrill

The Web Association welcomed Joe Pulizzi, Founder and CEO Content Marketing Institute.

Last month, I heard Joe Pulizzi (@CMIContent), Founder and CEO Content Marketing Institute, speak at The Web Association, held at COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises) in Cleveland, Ohio. He speaks on a regular basis (He noted that ours was his 71st presentation of 2015!), and has authored several books including bestselling Epic Content Marketing.

Joes Pulizzi points out ways to connect and engage on both a personal and professional level.

Joe discussed his newly published book, Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses, which is sold on Amazon.

Using the Content Inc. model, he reviewed the many forms of engaging through social media: social blogs, wikis, video, rating, social bookmarking, internet forums, pictures, microblogging, weblogs, and podcasts.

It was stated that the importance of communicating through the creation and distribution of your own information to build audiences is key.

A few highlights of his talk included these points:

• Create your mission statement: have a defined audience, deliver, then measure the audience outcome.
• Establish your content type and platform, deliver consistently over a long period of time, i.e. e-newsletter.
• Loyal customers can mean increased product sales and revenue.

He pointed out ways to engage socially on both a personal and business level. Personal avenues include blogs, books and public speaking, whereas business methods could be digital media, print (yes, it still a valued form of communication), and in-person contact.

Takeaways:

-Find a niche and become a leading expert
-Develop your content mission
-Focus on content type, platform and delivery consistently
-Build an audience of opt-in subscribers
-Create an amazing e-newsletter and download
-Audience first, products second
-Be patient!

In his book, Content Inc., Joe breaks down the process to visualize, launch and monetize your own business, based on his own success and failures. This is explained through case studies.

Are you looking for a startup-business strategy? Perhaps kick-off the new year with his business-growing strategy. The Content Marketing Institute website is full of good information, plus there is an email news sign-up and podcast network. Also be sure to watch the 43-minute movie which explains how the marketing of the future is all about brands telling stories, in “The Story of Content: Rise of the New Marketing.”

 

Me with Joe Pulizzi!

Joe Pilluzi’s book, Content Inc. (Joe likes the color orange and orange shoes!).

“Janet, go out and be epic!” – Joe Pulizzi (signed in Joe’s favorite color — orange).

A great feature for your business website is an email signup, like that on the Content Marketing Institute site.

COSE, Council of Smaller Enterprises, a division of the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

New Cuyahoga County Public Library South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch Opens

By Janet Dodrill

In line to receive limited edition commemorative library card. (Photo: Karen Sandstrom)

The long-awaited new South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, 1876 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, 44121, had its grand opening on Sunday, October 18, 2015.

Prior to construction of the new building, there was much controversy surrounding the sale of the former building, the charming and historic William E. Telling mansion. It is claimed that the a private sale was made by library officials without the consensus of tax payers. The library claimed that the building was too expensive to maintain and did not lend itself for newer technology and accessibility. The Telling mansion was purchased by an individual who will convert the former library building into the American Porcelain Museum, due to open in spring of 2016.

The new 30,000+ square foot library is very impressive and offers state-of-the-art technology not available at the old library.

An expansive and interactive activity children’s area modeled after the book, Journey by author and illustrator Aaron Becker, has over-sized constructions, movable magnets, and hanging displays, all modeled after its book illustrations.

The youth area houses comic books which can be checked-out, a homework assistance center, and has an attached sound studio for audio recording.

South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library.

3-D printers will travel from library to library within the Cuyahoga County Public Libraries.

A much improved larger DVD browsing area with plenty of room to walk through multiple movie racks.

Skylights and a sense of openness in the large main room, which houses the main information desk, books racks and public computer terminals. All computers have been upgraded.

I was personally impressed with the new technology training room which will offer free technology classes, and the computers are open to the public in-between classes.

Two double-sided fireplaces and all new contemporary furniture, coupled with tasteful fixtures from the previous building, like table lamps, add style and atmosphere, with designated quiet areas. A writer’s center, and individual meeting rooms with sizes for small business meetings to larger capacity conference rooms are available for reserve in at least 2-hour increments.

The natural light is wonderful, and there is a real sense of unique spaces there.

Limited edition library card, artwork by Janet Dodrill.

I was honored to provide the artwork for the limited edition library card, available through October 25th.

Despite missing the much-loved and unique former location and historic Telling mansion, I am very impressed with the accommodations, technological updates, and comfort the new library brings. Below are a few recent photos.

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Resource Links:

Cuyahoga County Public Library

Cuyahoga County Public Library, South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch

3,600 celebrate opening of new South Euclid-Lyndhurst library, Cleveland Jewish News, October 20, 2015

South Euclid-Lyndhurst Library branch opening Sunday draws hundreds, Sun News, October 18, 2015

(Text and photos copyright Janet Dodrill. Not to be used without prior permission.)

 

South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, grand opening.

 

New Cuyahoga County Public Library South Euclid-Lyndhurst branch.

 

Library grand opening crowd.

 

Main library lounge area with fireplace.

 

Main library quiet area with fireplace.

 

Kiosk at new library.

 

Library staff Dianne Rose on left. (Photo: Stuart Smith)

 

Library grand opening dedication plaque.

 

Main library area and information desk.

 

Main library area.

 

Reserved parking for fuel efficient vehicles.

 

Writer’s center area.

 

Magnet poem activity in writer’s center.

 

Technology learning center.

 

Sound studio for audio recording.

 

Youth area.

 

Children’s area.

 

“Journey” by Aaron Becker.

 

Children’s area, decorated with inspiration from the book “Journey” by Aaron Becker.

 

Children’s area castle display, based on the book “Journey” by Aaron Becker.

 

Children’s area magnet board activity.

 

Children’s area lounge.

 

Motion sensor activity, children’s area.

 

Free donuts for the grand opening from DonutLab.

 

Free donuts for the grand opening from DonutLab.

Does Your Site Count (to Google)?

By Janet Dodrill

In attendance at The Web Association’s “What is up at Google? Panda? Google + ?” November 4, 2011 meeting, industry-knowlegeable speakers brought up thought-provoking issues like Google’s May 2011 blog post “More guidance on building high-quality sites” which, in addition to discussing the Panda algorithm search rankings release, lists questions for criteria for, according to Google, what counts as a high-quality site . Can the material be considered trusted, and is the material the sort of thing you would bookmark or share with a friend? Is the content original or does it offer insight on the topic? Would you expect to see the information printed in a publication? These rules may be in attempt to help to reduce ranking importance put on web content farms (sites with redundant article topics and content) created by web scrapers who repurpose article content and create links from web pages and sites not their own. Also discussed at the presentation was, when you write an article it is helpful to target your keywords on each given web page (instead of loading it with too many unrelated keywords), and then to post it to the web and submit it to one article site (a few include: Ezine Articles, Ski Doo, A1 Article, HubPages, etc.).

Are you utilizing the Google “+ 1” button feature on your sites and in your profiles when available?

Do you use the Google Chrome browser (now more popular than Firefox), or Google Analytics for web stats? They are both evolving with added social sharing tools.

Are you sharing all you can across all your sites? Today’s web is fed by user visibility. Google is ever-improving its search engine speed, as it increases its awareness of its users, and strives to define users on the web to better improve their web products.

On Google +? This may be the next large social platform to encompass our multiple lines of web communications, according to one speaker.

Want a fun break-up to your day? Mashable recently posted 10 hidden Google tricks which are revealed in their article Beyond Barrel Roll: 10 Hidden Google Tricks and include some entertaining surprises.

Seeing More of Someone After They Have Gone

By Janet Dodrill

Everett Lewis Dodrill, Jr., 1950s

Why is it we learn so much more about people after they go? You’ve probably heard the expression that an artist (the same may be the case for authors, musicians, composers, and other creative people) never really get famous till after death! Since my dad, Everett Dodrill, died earlier this month, we have pieced together many more facts about his life. People have provided us photos and stories of their encounters with “Ev”. Now I’ve gone from proud to really proud. We wish we knew some of these facts when he was alive to let him know just how wonderful he was and how good a life he had lead. We also heard his life’s story according to him in his final months–what a treasured time to hold onto. People are more complex than we see day-to-day. Have you gotten to know your elders and their accomplishments? What about past generations in your family?

Some information about my father can be found at:

Everett Lewis Dodrill, Jr., Brown-Forward, Cleveland, Ohio

March 9 Post: Everett Dodrill – 1926-2011 by Kelly Ferjutz

Everett Dodrill appeared on local stages and stations, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio