To protect your content, consider these practices:

1. Include a copyright notice

A simple notice at the end of your blog stating that what’s written is your property, while giving instructions on how to properly quote or use any of the content will deter people from plagiarizing.

2. Google Alerts & Google Reporting

Submit your content to Google Alerts, this service will notify you if the same content is published elsewhere. We all have better things to do than troll the internet for thieves, making this a useful tool. If you happen to get a report or discover your content elsewhere there is a way to report it to Google. Google will then contact the server/author and have the content revisited or removed.

3. Watermark your multimedia

If you are publishing original photos, videos or any other multimedia try including a watermark to make sure you’re recognized for your creative content. Here is a tutorial on adding a watermark to your photography through photoshop. Remember, this is for the media you create: when using other people’s images be sure to include sources to recognize the original author.

4. Be Organized

• Create a folder including everything you write, post and create, including multi-media.
• If you receive sponsorship be sure to keep track of contacts, receipts, payments and notes on all interactions.
• Back it up! Back it up! Back it up!

5. Know the Law

• While plagiarism isn’t considered a legal offence (it is a moral and ethical offence), copyright infringement is a serious infraction as defined below:

“Copyright provides protection for literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works (Including computer programs) and other subject-matter known as performer’s performances, sound recordings and communication signals.” – “A Guide to Copyright.” Government of Canada, Industry Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

• “Fair dealing” under the Copyright Act of Canada is the understanding that it is ok for people to use copyrighted works in certain contexts, such as journalism, commentary, private study, criticism or satire. What this means is one can take someone else’s writing and include it in a post with links and sources to the original creator. 
• Photography is automatically copyrighted as it is an artistic work. If the artist is concerned about reproduction, they can submit it to the Canadian Copyright Office. Another form of protection is a copyright symbol or watermark to deter unlawful reproduction.

Since there are a few grey areas in the world of blogging, err on the side of caution when creating posts: always cite written and multi-media content, consult local laws concerning copyright or talk to a lawyer.

Have more tips to keep yourself protected? Leave them in the comments below!

Sure, the brands that do engage in this type of stunt do get a considerable amount of online impressions, but are they memorable enough to boost sales? Chances are, video concepts are remembered, but if not tied tightly to the brand messaging, the producer of the content is quickly forgotten.

Check out Kmart’s “Ship My Pants” video below.

Does this make you want to buy from Kmart? Will you remember that it was Kmart who made this video months from now, or could it easily be mistaken for Target, Walmart, or some other big box retailer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

What does this mean for you and your business? It means that now more than ever, YOU have the ability to control your communications by developing content that will attract your desired demographic – ultimately driving sales, conversions and brand loyalty.

The below infographic from WebBizIdeas outlines 17 of the top content suggestions to help escalate your traffic, and build more meaningful content for your audience. Take a look:

Are there any other types of content that you think should be included in this list? Share them below in the comments!

(Image via)

One of the most important elements of my job is keeping current. I’m constantly surfing the web for content, PVR’ing daytime talk shows, and consuming multiple newspapers and magazines. Each and every day revolves around finding top news stories, digesting other PR pro tips, and reading up on current trends. To an outsider, the amount of information we (as PR peeps) have to constantly consume may be a bit overwhelming – but guess what? We love it.

In an effort to assist those who may be new to the industry, or perhaps want to learn more about PR, I thought I’d put together a few of the industry sites I visit on a daily basis – to keep my mind fresh and up to date:

PRDaily | PRWeek | All Top PR News | Mashable | Inc | Entrepreneur |Techcrunch | Techvibes

When it comes to news/content consumption that’s not industry related, I rely on a few different tactics. Here’s a few extra tips:

1. Learn To Love Your Remote

As I mentioned before, I make sure to PVR many of the local/national chat, daytime and morning shows so that I can watch them in my down time. It’s important as a PR person to know individual show formats, and what they look for in segments – if only to make your job easier when pitching your clients.

2. A Weekly Magazine Run

Each Tuesday, I try to make it out to my local bookstore to stock up on magazines. The selection varies based on what beats my current clients fall under, but I’m constantly on the lookout for opportunities and great fits for potential pieces.

3. A Daily (If Not Hourly) Scan Of The News

Knowing what’s up on a local, national, and international scale is essential.  Having context for potential story pitches, and being able to tie your pitch into current events is something media will love you for.

4. Twitter 

Twitter is a godsend. Of course, you can’t possibly keep up with absolutely everything going on in the world, and do your job – but Twitter certainly helps. Reading realtime news/articles from likeminded people, or those you admire can play a big role in keeping your fingers on the pulse.

For more tips, articles, and advice, be sure to follow us @EmbraceDisrupt.

Until next time,

Cory

2013 will be the year of content

Content marketing remains top priority for both companies and agencies alike, followed closely by conversion rate optimization. In fact, 52% of marketers say the ability to target and personalize content is fundamental to their online strategy.

Boldly, 84% of marketers say their work will be more measurable in 2013 – no doubt due to more emphasis put in the digital areas (and shrinking budgets).

Mobile remains a close focus

However, marketers say they need to understand more on how users research and purchase products. Have a look at the INFOGRAPHIC below for all these stats and more (points if you can correctly identify the number of spelling errors within Adobe’s image).

As a public relations professional and writer, I’ve always had a great appreciation for captivating content. I love to talk about my company’s product, including how it helps our users, and why we work the way we do.

In other words, I’m a storyteller.

As organizations are expanding their digital presence, “content” seems to be the hot topic now—specifically, organic and targeted content. I’m not highly educated on pay-per-click, Google rankings, link baiting, and so on; however, what I do know is that if you create relevant and useful content, people will read it.

There are several different ways that companies organize their marketing teams. But rarely is the PR person also the content manager. Working for a small company, I’ve adopted both roles. It’s been an interesting journey. I’ve learned that the skills built within the public relations field apply to the needs of a successful content strategy. So it got me thinking, why don’t all PR folks take charge of general content—or at least have a hand in it?

Here are a few reasons I’d like to share:

1. We’re storytellers.

Have you ever been stuck in conversation with someone who drags on a story, goes in circles, jumps on a tangent, and still hasn’t made a point? As trained PR professionals, we know how to capture an audience, reel them in with good details, and make the freaking point already.

2. We’re more concerned with people than rankings.

Will I be crucified for this? Maybe. But Google rankings are a foreign concept to me. All I know is that popularity votes sucked in high school, and they still do. Stop trying to be so dang popular. Think about it: Why are you writing for Google? They don’t care about you. But you know who does? The person that needs your product and could use some well-versed, straight-forward information about it.

3. We’re reasonable team players.

OK, yes, I know that SEO, or search engine optimization, is important. And that’s why we have an SEO professional. He helps me stay on track with targeted key words and link sharing. However, he doesn’t initiate the content, nor does he go it alone. We’re a team. I create the story, and he makes sure we’re getting it to the right people through the right channels.

Essentially, I’m driving the content vehicle along the road trip of marketing, and he’s making sure I don’t fall asleep at the wheel and go into the ditch where non-optimized content goes to die. (We also like metaphors.)

4. We’re imaginative, yet strategic.

I consider myself a creative type. I love to put myself in the place of our customers and imagine their pains and how we can alleviate them. But my job isn’t to simply daydream about hypotheticals. As a PR professional, it’s my duty to take those ideas and tie specific goals and objectives to them. We need to be creative, but we also need to be productive.

5. We’re good writers. 

Good writing is essential for capturing the attention and respect of your audience. If you’re not striving for clear, informative content, you run the risk of confusing—and potentially misleading—your readers. Google does not like the misleaders. I do know that much.

6. We’re skilled at driving attention.

Hello! Over here! Come look at how awesome we are!

I’d say one of my biggest strengths is that I am a WOO-er (Win Others Over). I know how to grab attention, and I know how to do it with some pizzazz. Whether that’s through social media, email, Web content, or feature stories, PR professionals know what grabs the attention of others.

7. We’re fans of individualization.

Not only is attention something we master, but also so is individualization of audiences. We know that Group A has different pains than Group B. We know that what’s relevant to John may not be relevant to George. You don’t treat your children, your friends, or your coworkers all the same, so why do it to your customers?

Breena Fain is the PR and marketing specialist at Formstack. A version of this story first appeared on the company’s blog. Follow the author on Twitter @beefain.

This video inspired over 12,000 people to subscribe to Dollar Shave Club within a 48 hour span. Impressive, right? It begs the question: why were people so on board with forking out cash to this particular subscription service?

First off: the concept is genius. As a guy, it’s definitely an annoyance having to constantly buy new razors at completely unrealistic prices. Really, does anyone know why we have to pay so much for such a simple tool? Men aren’t the only ones suffering from this pricey industry standard, women also have to buy the latest and greatest razors – in hopes that leg maintenance will be that much easier. But let’s be honest, it’s not only the price point that made Dollar Shave Club a success…

“Content is a big part of our strategy, and there will be more coming,” owner Mike Dubin says. “I wanted people to laugh, and people tend to remember something it if it gives them a visceral response.”

In my opinion, there couldn’t be more reason to agree with Dublin’s strategy –  I constantly hear the all important phrase: content is king. The thing is, our society demands more transparency within advertising. Perhaps the more tongue-in-cheek approach can be linked to the more likely people are going to pay attention? Obviously not every product can benefit from this type of strategic angle, but it certainly raises a good point. Why are brands that have the capability to be light-hearted taking themselves so seriously?

What do you think? Would you respond to more candid advertising techniques, or do you prefer companies stick to status quo?