How many of the 366+ blog posts published in 2016 by CMI did you read? While I read all of them (it’s my job), I’m guessing few others did. I get that – we’re bombarded with content every day.
This list runs down the 12 most popular posts in 2016. We used BuzzSumo and Google Analytics to look at several factors (social shares, email conversions, unique linking domains) and added in a dose of editorial discretion. You’ll find they all have one thing in common: The authors dropped a bunch of knowledge bombs on us that we can use right away in our day-to-day marketing.
Given that you’re probably crunched for time, I ordered these based on least time to read to most time. I hope you find them as useful as I did.
1. 4 Tools to Create Interactive Content in Minutes
Yoav Vilner
What you’ll learn: How to create experiential content for your audience that captures their attention from the get-go and can challenge them to think and respond
Time to read: 3 minutes
2. Your Guide to Creating and Sharing Content in 2016 [Infographic]
Matt Banner
What you’ll learn: Five strategies to create content people want to share plus “cheat sheet” tips for each social media platform, ranging from image sizes to posting times, and shortcuts and sharing tricks
Time to read: 3 minutes for text, add more for the great infographic
3. How to Uncover Critical Content Marketing Insights Using Google Analytics
Jodi Harris
What you’ll learn: How to apply analytics data to make better content marketing decisions as shared by Orbit Media co-founder Andy Crestodina, plus the four types of analytic reports you should be using
Time to read: 4 minutes
4. One Thing Is Killing Content Marketing and Everyone Is Ignoring It
Joe Pulizzi
What you’ll learn: Why you should ask whether the content for your customers differs from anything else out there
Time to read: 5 minutes
5. What Is the Difference Between Content and Content Marketing?
Michael Brenner
What you’ll learn: Why you shouldn’t say “content” when you mean “content marketing” plus eight steps to creating an effective content marketing destination (with real-life brand examples)
Time to read: 5 minutes
6. 10 Mistakes Content Creators Need to Avoid
Neil Patel
What you’ll learn: 10 things the author has or almost has done wrong in his decade-plus of content creation – and none is about using effect/affect correctly
Time to read: 6 minutes
7. [New Research] B2C Marketers Need to Give Content Marketing Time and
8. Content Marketing Takes a Turn for the Better: New 2017 Research
Joe Pulizzi
What you’ll learn: Why the majority of B2C and B2B marketers say their organization’s overall approach to content marketing is more successful than a year ago (plus you can easily access the 2017 research)
Time to read: 6 minutes
9. The Biggest Content Marketing Trends in 2017
Joe Pulizzi
What you’ll learn: 19 trends affecting the industry, from influencer and purpose-driven marketing, to mobile, content technology, and the construction of media organizations
Time to read: 8 minutes
10. 2016 Content Marketing Toolkit: 23 Checklists, Templates, and Guides
Jodi Harris
What you’ll learn: How to think, plan, do, and improve your content marketing program with this DIY toolkit
Time to read: 10 minutes
11. 60+ LinkedIn Profile Tips for Marketers
Lisa Dougherty
What you’ll learn: A step-by-step process to make your online personal branding profile (LinkedIn) more relevant and effective
Time to read: 15 minutes
And we couldn’t end the year without sharing the most popular December post that’s on its way to becoming one of the most popular of the year.
12. BONUS: 50 Best Social Media Tools From 50 Most Influential Marketers Online
Aaron Orendorff
What you’ll learn: What 50 marketers say is their all-time, desert-island, can’t-live-without favorite social media tool
Time to read: 15 minutes plus infographic (though one commenter said she had been reading it for three days)
Thank you to all our contributors who share their smarts with us throughout the year. We wouldn’t be where we are today if not for you.
Don’t miss out on the 365 blog posts from CMI in 2017. Subscribe to the free daily newsletter.
Cover image by Joseph Kalinowski/Content Marketing Institute
