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How much Web content are you creating and do not own?
July 11th, 2009It hit me tonight. Have you ever looked at all the content you’re creating and that you do not own?
I’m the biggest fan of “own your content”. Whenever I evaluate different technologies or solutions when it comes to content creation, I always ask myself: will I own that data? When I say “own my content”, I mean on my own server or at least I make sure I will be able to leave the service with the data I created.
It is so easy to spend half a day on twitter and Facebook building a brand and retweeting your friends, but these are services that could shut down tomorrow with all your data. Of course you would keep the brand you worked so hard to build and all your connections, but without a solid home (website) and a central place to access the content that made you so special, you’re screwed.
Don’t take me wrong here, social networks are useful tools for sure, but they are only tools: they shouldn’t replace your home (your website). Your brand has to go beyond the tools you use because the platforms can be replaced anytime.
What do you think?
14 Responses to “How much Web content are you creating and do not own?”
What do you think?
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Good points Ben. I think this applies to many bloggers and internet marketers. They spend so much time building content on other people's networks, yet they don't stop to realize how vulnerable all that content is. For example, a lot of people use squidoo.com to make money and build links, yet at any time squidoo could shut down or drastically change its format. When you focus more on creating more content that you own, you are building something a lot more stable.
Absolutely, it's important to find the balance. In fact I think we'll always be working on the balance. I have to fight everyday not to spend too much time on twitter
You are so right about this, but the thing is we still need those platforms in order to promote our website, so I guess at the end it's like you said – working on the balance and never putting all eggs in one basket.
The very one place that I have yet to spend my time on is Twitter. I am a bit weary of Twitter, lately theres been alot of problems going on with Twitter.. and Twitter hasn't shown that it is going to be here for the long run…
Yes with internet marketing it is crucial to diversify. There are simply too many websites that could be replaced with a better format at any time. If you spread your efforts across several strategies, you are much more secure. As mentioned, continually creating content on your own site is the most secure strategy.
That's really true Ben. These tools can change the rules and all the effort we put in will be history. This remind me how ebay change their rules on selling ebook. It used to be just a download link, however they change the rules and no digital product can be sold.
I think as a marketing and promotion platform these socil networks are important but do agree with a healthy balance between promoting on platforms but still building and expanding your own website.
The only content that I've created has been on facebook, but I didn't really spend that much time on facebook. The one place that I have yet to spend my time on is Twitter. I am a bit weary of Twitter, lately theres been alot of problems going on with Twitter.. and Twitter hasn't shown that it is going to be here for the long run… compared to facebook.
Till then,
Jean
Social networks should only be a small part of your business/organization. You need your own content on your own sites.
Sometimes we get so connected to the social network when it comes to our marketing. Unknowingly neglecting our main focus, to promote our homepage.
Fresh Content always works. If you implement it on a right ways. Then no one beat you on search engine if your content are attractive enough.
I think you've made some great points in this post. I've submitted hundreds, maybe thousands of articles over the past few years yet most of my websites have a very small amount of content. Its definitely something I will keep in mind going forward. It's all too easy to put too much trust in websites such as Squidoo, Hub Pages, Ezine Articles, Facebook etc…
Great points, all mediums you have control over (Twitter, Facebook etc.) should really be used to drive traffic to the place you do have control over – your website.
I definitely agree with this. It is far more secure to put your efforts into creating content for your own websites or blogs. Even then, if you are on a free blog network you could be susceptible to negative changes in the future. So you really need to have your own site with a reliable web host.
I don't think it is necessary to avoid every site that allows you to create content. It just means you have to be careful how much you rely on any one of them. Some people have success with a certain strategy and they pour all their efforts into it. Then down the road that strategy loses its effectiveness and they are back to square one. Diversification solves this problem.