Articles by Ann Smarty


Ann Smarty
November 10, 2021

12 Tools That Make You a More Productive Blogger

There is a general rule of thumb that states a blog with quite aggressive content and SEO strategies will take at least 4-6 months to become profitable on any minor scale. Keep in mind this is with continued and consistent effort as well as significant investment of time (and money). How long does it take…


Ann Smarty
July 5, 2021

Turn One Research into Dozens of Awesome Articles!

[Updated June 29, 2022] Alright, full disclosure time: I love doing content research. For some people, it is the most tedious, boring, long and agonizing part of writing for the web. But to me, it’s the quiet fireplace time with my cup of coffee that will get me busy for the next week or so…


Ann Smarty
May 1, 2021

Why Voice Search is Making Q&A Pages More Relevant Than Ever (Updated)

Voice Search is Growing. Are you ready?

All content marketers are aware of how important keyword research is. But what if I tell you it’s evolving more quickly than ever before? We are well past the era of “keyword strings” and we are entering the age when natural language research becomes increasingly important. That’s because many people interact with search through voice…


Ann Smarty
December 20, 2020

How to Build An Influencer Driven Content Campaign

Influencer marketing and content marketing are two effective long-term ways of promotion which have all kinds of benefits beyond higher traffic (like trust, brand awareness, natural link acquisition, etc.) And yes influencers can bring in sales! Megaphone Marketing lists multiple case studies proving the concept. Put the two together and you have a match made…


Ann Smarty
November 22, 2020

How to Make Money by Freelance Writing

I have lost count of how many times I have been asked about freelance writing, and blogging in particular. Everyone wants to know how I got my start, and I have gotten a fair few others involved in paid writing in the last couple of years. It is so rewarding to help people find a…


Ann Smarty
November 21, 2020

How to Drive Traffic from Social Media

[Updated 11/21/2022] By now, you’ve almost certainly heard the term “content marketing.” It’s not a new concept, but it’s become one of the biggest buzzwords in online advertising. And for good reason: Content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing, and generates about three times as many leads. But there is, of course, a catch:…


Ann Smarty
August 26, 2020

How to Get Started with Podcast Marketing

How to Get Started with Podcast Marketing

Most people who provide content online do so through the more traditional text medium of blogging. But if you stick with a single platform, you are really missing out on your chance to expand your user base and offer something special to your readers. Which is where podcasts come in, one of the most popular…


Ann Smarty
June 9, 2020

Get Out of Town! Automating Digital Marketing for Vacations

Vacation season is upon us! This means sun, sand, and lots of travel are on the horizon and vacation days are populating your calendar. As a small business, time away from the office needs to be handled carefully, whether you’re a team of one or have a handful of employees. You know that just because…


Ann Smarty
April 28, 2020

5 Steps & 5 Tools For Making a Great Editorial Calendar

In the past eight years I have worked as an editor for several huge websites. Those don’t include my own, where I have been 100% responsible for all upkeep and content published. I can say, with a great deal of experience backing it up, that having a solid editorial calendar is the most important tool…


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