Fresh content is an important aspect of any successful web site. But
who has all of the free time that it takes to change your web pages
on a daily basis? Allow me to introduce you to "syndicated content."
By including syndicated content on your site, it stays fresh with
very little effort on your part. So how do you get it? How does it
work? Slow down... All will be revealed in due time. Remember,
patience is a virtue.
Syndicated content is dynamic material that constantly changes. Your
first step is finding it -- preferably, for free, although some will
charge you for the privilege. In most cases all you do is fill out a
short form, and are then given some HTML code to paste into your web
page where you want the content to appear. The content will
automatically change depending on the service you're using, every
24 hrs, weekly or bi-weekly.
Syndicated content comes in many different forms: News feeds, stock
tickers, weather updates, tips and tricks, short articles, and even
graphics like cartoons. Using syndicated content saves you time since
you don't have to create or maintain it and it keeps your site fresh
and interesting so visitors will want to come back to see what's new.
Make sure you check for any restrictions on use before signing up to
use any service.
There are disadvantages to using syndications such as:
- May slow down the loading of your site due to the fact that the
content is being pulled from the syndicator's server.
- Since most free content involves a link back to the syndicator's
site you may lose visitors who are curious enough to click on it.
The advantages are:
- Fresh updated content with no work on your part
- Saves you time creating new content
- Keeps visitors returning to see what's new
OK, so it sounds great, but where do you find it? Here are some links
you may wish to investigate:
Live News feeds:
http://www.isyndicate.com Syndicates over 850 sources to well over
210,000 web sites. Most of their feeds come with a price tag, but
some are free.
http://www.moreover.com This is my personal favorite, with over
300 categories to choose from. Pick a topic that matches the theme
of your site; you can even control the link colors and size.
http://www.myzips.com/content.asp
Add the top 10 software downloads to your site by filling in the
short form and pasting the code given onto your page.
You also may be interested in purchasing software to syndicate your
own content. Check out "Master Syndicator" which makes it easy to
start syndicating your own content. Selling for only $99.00, it runs
on UNIX or Linux servers. For more info go to
http://www.mastersyndicator.com
So next time your web site needs some fresh content, you may want
to seriously consider using syndicated content. Why not benefit from
someone elses work? Your web site visitors will keep coming back for
more, and you won't have to work so hard at keeping things fresh.
I hope this helps in your future marketing decisions.