In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi brings on guest Rob Scallon, musican and full-time internet entrepreneur. Rob started sharing his music on YouTube and by doing so, built his own audience over time. He now has over 263,000 subscribers and is able to make a full-time living with his music via the internet. Rob shares the importance of creating content that you truly love. This is key for finding an audience that also loves what you have to offer. Then, just like any investment process, diversify. Once you have your foundation set up on one channel, then begin branching out to other ways to connect with your audience. 

Joe Pulizzi continues the conversation of the six steps you need to create a Content Inc. model. This episode breaks down steps three through six, and again, Joe shares relevent examples for each one. Follow the steps, learn from those who have successfully gone before you and embrace the Content Inc. model to grow your business.

Part II of a two part series. 

If you are ready to develop the Content Inc. model for your business, this episode will start to put you on track. Joe Pulizzi breaks down the first three steps needed in the six step process to creating a Content Inc. model. Joe also shares real-world examples of each step to show you how real individuals around the world are successfully putting the Content Inc. model to work for them. 

This is Part I of a two part series. 

A full-blown content marketing strategy requires necessary time and patience to plan, create, implement and analyze the results. But not every company is willing to wait out the necessary time for this to happen. This is when a content marketing pilot program may be just what is needed to introduce the Content Inc. concepts to leaders in the organization. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi breaks down the 10 key steps needed to launch a content marketing pilot program. If your executive team is hesitant to put resources behind a content marketing initiative, a pilot program could be the perfect short term solution to get things moving in the right direction. 

The old adage of the overnight success is very often, if not always a myth. There are many twists, turns and lessons that take place over the course of months and years to make a successful company become a success. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi has Michael Stelzner share his origin story for Social Media Examiner. Hear how Michael took lessons learned from a previous business to pivot at the right time and build a Content Inc. company around social media. 

Napoleon Hill's book "Think And Grow Rich" is a one of the 'must have' business books in your library. Though published in 1973, Mr. Hill's business advice and tips on success are still relevant today. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi shares seven key lessons he has taken from this book that can directly apply to creating a Content Inc. business. Listen to find out why Joe believes you can learn so much from a book published almost 80 years ago. And if you haven't already added this one to your book shelf, go out and get it. 

As an entrepreneur, you may have already become an avid student of great business tips and success advice. Joe Pulizzi has done much of the same and after eight years growing his company, Content Marketing Insitute where it is today, he has some idea on what to, what not to do and the attitude necessary to make great things happen. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe shares his 15 critical business success tips for start ups that can help you launch and grow with confidence. 

You already know that creating quality content for your audience is critical for success in today's marketplace. But who is going to create all of this amazing content? This episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi shares a simple, yet highly effective trick you can use today to find some of the best content talent within your industry. What is this amazing trick? Listen in and find out. Where your next writer, editor or creative director is located may surprise you. 

As Joe Pulizzi continues to dive deeper into research to deduct what makes up a successful content marketing strategy, one thing is clear: less is more. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe discusses the need for companies to relook at their current content creation process and narrow it down to one channel. He is finding that overwhelmingly, the successful Content Inc. model is to go deep with one channel, build the audience and then go wide with more channel options. He asks you to take a good look at your current content tactics and perhaps, make the decision to kill some of it off. 

Taking on a content first mentality with your marketing, means you must be willing to put yourself out there, possibly in ways you never imagined. Taking a stand, having a strong point of view and perhaps even shaking up the status quo are all elements that need to be considered when developing content for your business. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi is joined by Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs. Ann shares a story from her grade school years of how being forced to evaluate what it meant to literally sit on the sidelines affected more than just one game of field hockey. You cannot expect to succeed if you are not in the game. 

Too often, as start-ups and even as established companies, the marketing messages we create for our audience share only the features, not the true benefits that will help those we serve. In this episode of Content, Inc., Joe Pulizzi brings on guest Jay Acunzo, VP of Platform for NextView Ventures, to share how to get past the features conversation and go directly to addressing the problems you solve for your customers. Don't fail by leading with your product. Succeed by leading with how you improve the current situation for your customer. 

This episode of Content Inc. Joe Pulizzi has guest Jon Loomer, a Facebook Marketing Expert who has grown his business using a content marketing approach. Jon shares how he grew his audience and subsequently his revenue, by building a solid content base. In his first two years, he generated over 600 blog posts. This was truly a solid base that then allowed him to diversify into other content platforms as well as create products that his audience wanted. Listen to hear more of how Jon became the Facebook Marketing Expert by focusing on content first. 

Launching products on the web is not a new idea today, however, a few years back when Brian Clark started Copyblogger, these ideas and concepts were quite new. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi has Brian share how he launched the first product for Copyblogger and how that initial process continues to evolve and grow the company. Learn why building your audience before you have a product is a critical component to a successful content driven business model. 

What are the rules to building a Content Inc marketing approach to your business? The rule is there are no rules. In this episode, Joe Pulizzi brings on Brian Clark, founder of Copyblogger, to share a bit of the origin story of launching his business and site. Brian had two aspects he knew he wanted for his business. One, he wanted to apply his copywriting skills to content to make it more engaging, more reader friendly and more valuable. And two, it had to sell stuff, not advertising, to make money. 

Creating content for the sake of just creating content will not necessarily be the best strategy for your business. This episode of Content Inc. Joe Pulizzi addresses a few things to consider when honing in on your content niche. Joe is also joined by good friend Jay Baer, Convince and Convert, to ask you two questions you better be able to answer before you start any content creation. Learn why caring more about the content you create can mean the difference between just creating content and creating great content that converts. 

It's time to take on a publishing mindset. If you want to dominiate your industry, thinking and acting more like a media company vs. the traditional marketing tactics of the past, will get you there. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi breaks down the four ways you can dominate your marketing by publishing quality and useful content for your target audience. Become the leading authority on your topic or in your industry by being helpful. Choose a media platform and own it. Watch your business become the dominate player in your field. 

Technology has not only changed how we do business with customers, it has also changed how we work as in organization. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi discusses why now is the time to consider ditching the traditional office and creating a virtual working model for your business. Joe cites this one decision as perhaps the best decision they made at Content Marketing Institute. By choosing the right talent, having less meetings and the ability to be agile, becoming virtual could put you ahead of your competition. 

Cause marketing is not a new idea. However, finding a cause that your business can get behind can be the driving force that makes a huge difference not only in the lives of others, but also on your bottom line. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi shares how Content Marketing Institute, in partnership with the Easter Seals of Northern Ohio, has raised over $100,000 with their CMI Golf For Autism event over the past eight years. Learn the six tenets your company needs to successfully integrate cause marketing into your content strategy and align with the future of our purpose-driven economy.  

Is landing more speaking gigs one of your goals for the next year? This episode of Content Inc. has Joe Pulizzi sharing the five key elements that can help you book more speaking as part of your content strategy. Get organized, get focused and get on more stages in the this year! 

You understand that content marketing will build audience and drive business growth. Now it's time to get more organized in building a solid content marketing strategy. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi breaks down the seven strategies that are key to creating a successful business using content marketing. 

Writing a book can seem like a daunting task. Yet, you know that a book puts you in a different level of thought leadership and can change your business. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi shares the seven tips to getting that book out of your head and onto paper...and published. A published book can not only change your business, it can change your life. 

Joe Pulizzi learned his first lessons of entrepreneurship from his grandfather. These lessons have stayed with Joe over the years and have been a big inspiration to his own success. In this episode of Content Inc. Joe shares two lessons of storytelling that he learned from his grandfather and that still resonate with him today. 

In the past, it would have taken a lot of resources in both time and money to build an audience. Today, technology allows anyone to build an audience without many of the barriers that were in place in the past. In this episode of Content Inc., Joe Pulizzi breaks down the eight steps needed to successfully build an audiene with content marketing and turn that audience into business growth. 

The world is changing. The definition of security does not necessarily include having a full-time job and working for someone else. This episode of Content Inc Joe Pulizzi offers up some hard questions that each of us need to consider when it comes to our professional careers. How much say do you have in the company you work in? Is it really that risky to go out on your own vs. working for someone else? Get Joe's take and then decide for yourself.

Does your organization have a content marketing mission statement? This episode of Content Inc Joe Pulizzi breaks down the elements of a content marketing mission statement and why having one for your team is critical for consistency and content success. Ensure your content team has clarity and consistency with their content by developing a content marketing mission statement.