The Long Game

Jenn Long on Complex Content Migrations, Keywords as Customer Research, and Content Portfolio Allocation

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Long Game podcast, host Alex Birkett interviews Jenn Long, who shares her expertise in SEO and content strategy.

Episode Notes

In this episode of the Long Game podcast, host Alex Birkett interviews Jenn Long, who shares her expertise in SEO and content strategy. They discuss the challenges of content writing, the synergy between SEO and content quality, and the significance of keyword research for customer insights. Jenn also talks about a blog migration project, the role of AI in content creation, and its limitations. The conversation also touches on Jenn's professional role models, productivity tips, and her marketing approach, concluding with her personal interests and perspectives on loyalty.
Topics

Show Links
Connect with Jenn Long on LinkedIn
Connect with Alex Birkett on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Omniscient Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter

Past guests on The Long Game podcast include: Morgan Brown (Shopify), Ryan Law (Animalz), Dan Shure (Evolving SEO), Kaleigh Moore (freelancer), Eric Siu (Clickflow), Peep Laja (CXL), Chelsea Castle (Chili Piper), Tracey Wallace (Klaviyo), Tim Soulo (Ahrefs), Ryan McReady (Reforge), and many more.
Some interviews you might enjoy and learn from:
Actionable Tips and Secrets to SEO Strategy with Dan Shure (Evolving SEO)
Building Competitive Marketing Content with Sam Chapman (Aprimo)
How to Build the Right Data Workflow with Blake Burch (Shipyard)
Data-Driven Thought Leadership with Alicia Johnston (Sprout Social)
Purpose-Driven Leadership & Building a Content Team with Ty Magnin (UiPath)
Also, check out our Kitchen Side series where we take you behind the scenes to see how the sausage is made at our agency:
Blue Ocean vs Red Ocean SEO
Should You Hire Writers or Subject Matter Experts?
How Do Growth and Content Overlap?
Connect with Omniscient Digital on social:
Twitter: @beomniscient
Linkedin: Be Omniscient
Listen to more episodes of The Long Game podcast here: https://beomniscient.com/podcast/

Episode Transcription

Key Takeaways

[00:00:00] The value of content writing
Discussion on the difficulty and importance of content writing in marketing and the perception of its value.

[00:01:28] Content format and quality 
The importance of championing great content writers and the impact of artificial intelligence and macroeconomy on content quality.

[00:03:44] SEO and content quality
The relationship between SEO and content quality, and how to create compelling storytelling while meeting SEO requirements.

[00:06:44] Understanding user needs
The process of predicting and understanding user needs for a given search query.

[00:08:03] Creating unique content
Strategies for creating unique content, including using different formats and customer feedback.

[00:08:57] Identifying great content writers 
Characteristics of great content writers for SEO and the importance of agility and fluidity in their writing.

[00:11:21] Content strategy and SEO
The role of SEO in content strategy, including planning, managing writers, and identifying gaps in existing content.

[00:12:14] SEO and brand strategy 
The intersection of SEO and brand strategy, and the importance of involving SEO in product development and naming.

[00:13:15] Keyword research and customer research 
The significance of keyword research as customer research and the impact of using terms that resonate with users.

[00:17:52] Balancing innovation and industry terms 
The use of competitor keyword research and balance between innovation and using industry terms in content creation.

[00:18:33] Review Sites and Industry Standards
Discussion on the importance of reviewing industry standards and deviating from norms when creating something unique.

[00:25:44] Blog Content Migration - Case
Discussion on the challenges and benefits of migrating the blog content to the company website, including the impact on SEO and website architecture.

[00:27:34] Project Planning and Execution 
Insights into the planning and execution of the content migration project, involving multiple teams and the streamlining of CMS.

[00:29:19] Pros and Justifications
Exploration of the benefits beyond SEO, such as efficiency gains for engineering teams and improved website management.

[00:30:52] Potential Risks and Challenges
Consideration of potential downsides, resource requirements, and the risks associated with domain migration.

[00:32:11] Post-Migration Tracking and Analytics
Jenn's observations on post-migration performance and the tracking of keyword rankings and website authority.

[00:33:48] Governance and Content Inventory
Expectations of easier governance and improved content inventory management due to the streamlined CMS and migration process.

[00:35:37] Content Portfolio Planning
Jenn's approach to prioritizing content creation based on product importance, industry trends, and customer value.

[00:36:56] Industry Trends and AI in Content
Brief discussion on industry trends and the increasing relevance of AI in marketing and content creation.

[00:37:12] Using AI to Write Content 
Jenn discusses her initial skepticism about using AI to write content and the limitations of AI-generated content.

[00:38:15] Understanding AI's Limitations 
Jenn explains how AI struggles with subjective understanding and the limitations of AI when it comes to understanding human behavior.

[00:39:12] Complexity of Content Creation 
The speakers delve into the complexity of content creation, the role of taste, and the limitations of AI in ideating topics.

[00:40:17] AI's Struggle with Subjectivity
The discussion continues on AI's limitations in dealing with subjective understanding and the essence of a topic.

[00:41:18] Challenges with AI-Generated Content 
The speakers highlight AI's struggle in embodying a true essential understanding of a topic and the limitations of AI-generated content.

[00:42:12] Rapid Fire Non-Work Related Questions
Jenn answers non-work-related questions, sharing her professional admiration, productivity hack, and personal attributes.

[00:45:34] Consumer Preferences and Learning 
Jenn discusses her preference for consuming content outside the industry to enhance her skills as a marketer.

[00:46:20] Conclusion and Online Presence 
Jenn shares her online presence and where people can find her.