Keeping the Internet Free, Clean and Valuable

by | Aug 4, 2016 | Advertising

The online world has so much potential for delivering incredible content to the end user. It’s essential that this information remains free from distraction by whatever means necessary- keeping the internet free, clean and valuable.

Why The Attack?

In order for great content to remain free and accessible to the end user, the right ad ecosystem needs to be in place. Content publishers need to earn revenue from their content, but they need to do this in the right way- not attack the user with ads that have no interest and pop-ups that damage the user experience.

Sadly, the web is bombarded with unnecessary distractions. Some even argue that the ecosystem is broken- there are too many content publishers longing for revenue that they try to gather it at the expense of the user and his experience with the content and its surroundings. The balance between user engagement and content monetization is critical – if the focus is too strong on monetization, UX will suffer, and vice versa.

How To Engage & Earn Successfully

The solution here is to sustain this delicate balance, keep users engaged with the content/ the host environment and also to generate significant revenues in the process. Employing the right solution is key- and this is where CodeFuel comes in.

CodeFuel has created a solution platform keeping content free with intelligent and intuitive solutions. It has been designed with the end user in mind to keep him or her on site for longer and to also have the content publisher earning in the process. One of our solutions focuses on internal search-  when the end user types into the internal search box, he gets beautifully layered and intelligently generated results including internal content, web results, sponsored contents, and targeted ads in various formats.

There are many different tools trying to bring one-time solutions, but publishers really need something more comprehensive covering multiple aspects such as user experience, monetization, engagement, viability, analytics and many more all at once. CodeFuel is aiming to help the publishers cope with this challenge.

The Right Tech

Technology plays a significant part. The publishers need sustainable and comprehensive solutions where innovative technology is key for dealing with scale, big data, performance, contextualization and machine learning challenges. You won’t get far if you don’t have the right technology to support your solution.

We are creating a balance between engagement and monetization through technology and restoring calm to what many consider a sometimes chaotic ad ecosystem. Head to CodeFuel and learn more.

Top 10 U.S. Online Publishers

by | Feb 21, 2016 | Marketing

Identifying the influencers in your niche is important for many reasons.

You can follow those publishers to get a handle on what stories are trending, how your competitors are successfully reaching your audience, and when the best times are to share stories.

You can also follow those publishers to get ideas for your own content, such as by taking alternative viewpoints, writing about a related subject, or exploring a more narrow focus of a subject.

You can also work to build partnerships with those publishers so that you can grow your influence.

First, you need to find out who the top publishers in your niche are.

Results will vary by niche, but we have rounded up our picks for the top 10 US online publishers across categories.

The New York Times

The Gray Lady has long been the top newspaper in the country, and it has handled the transition to online publishing with the same authority.

The New York Times continues to offer the same high quality of content even among a sea of listsicles and celebrity gossip. Yet it also finds ways to stay relevant and engaging, maintaining a strong social media presence and staying on top of breaking news.

Wikipedia

Wikimedia proves that the lowest common denominator can sometimes result in the best content.

Though the site is written and edited completely by volunteer users online, it has high standards for quality and its community ensures that it meets them.

Anyone may be able to write or edit an entry for Wikipedia, but anyone else can (and will) come along to quality check it and make corrections as needed. The site proves again and again that what users want is reliable and quality content.

Demand Media

This publisher shows that even content mills can be successful if they are operated right.

Demand publishes sites like eHow, Livestrong and Cracked, and it gets content from an assignment database. It recruits thousands of writers and editors, who are added to an interface and are able to choose from generated topics.

Topics are created around keyword research, and headlines are generated according to formulas designed to get the most traffic. It’s a formula that works since eHow alone gets 50 million visitors a month.

Huffington Post

The Huffington Post started as an “Internet newspaper,” and it has grown to become one of the most visited and shared sites on the web.

Not only does the site share hard news, but it also invites bloggers from around the web to share their content for greater exposure. Bloggers are not paid for sharing their content, and the site gets the benefit of viral views.

Web MD

It’s a popular joke that if you check your symptoms on Web MD, you’ll convince yourself that you’re dying.

But the joke exists because the site is a juggernaut. It is the go-to source for medical information by people around the world.

Martha Stewart Omnimedia

Martha Stewart is the name in home decor and baking, and her sites are the first that many people visit to get tips and tutorials.

Even her legal troubles weren’t enough to tarnish her image or stumble her business. Her authority in the home and kitchen has been so well-established that it cannot be shaken.

Salon

Salon is the place that people go when they want more than just the hard news. It’s where they get in-depth analysis and commentary about the impact that the news has on politics, society, and more.

Salon also offers up interesting personal pieces and essays.

Conde Nast

For travel information, Conde Nast is one of the top publishers. It includes a variety of travel magazines that cover different niches.

Of course, Conde Nast also publishes magazines like Vogue, so it has its finger in quite a few jars. It has become a giant in the online publishing world just as it is in print.

National Geographic

National Geographic has long been a trusted source of information for scientific, historic, and sociologic issues.

Like other print institutions, it has handled the transition to digital publishing deftly. The magazine has a strong online presence, including on social media.

Buzzfeed

Love them or hate them, Buzzfeed is an undeniable force in online publishing.

Buzzfeed popularized the listsicle format, and it has had unparalleled success with it. You can find lists on everything from toys you may have loved in the 90s to the weirdest places to visit before you die.

Online publishers across niches have tried to copy what Buzzfeed does because it consistently gets viral traffic for its stories, and it has an amazing social media presence.

Study these online publishers to get ideas for your own content marketing strategy, including topics, writing techniques, and marketing ideas. If you get even a fraction of the traffic that these sites get, you’ll be very happy indeed.