Content marketing requires specialized knowledge of diverse online tools. As technology editor for Chief Content Magazine, I review helpful tools and strategies. Here is a growing list of tools, apps, and sites helpful for anyone building a comprehensive content marketing strategy.

Sections below:

• Creating a Website and/or Blog
• Creating a Membership Site
• Creating Affiliate Sales Program
• Content: SEO Web Writing
• Monitoring Social Media Activity
• Productivity Tools

Creating a Website and/or Blog
Blogs are a the cornerstone of any content marketing strategy. WordPress is my CMS (content management system) of choice.

Easy steps:

1. Register a domain and select website hosting options. I love the customer service provided by Nettica; if you’re looking for easy 1-click WordPress install, choose DreamHost.

1. Choose a Template. A common misconception that a template will be impersonal. In fact, you can customize templates a number of ways to make it your own. Three companies I like -
   

• StudioPress
  Genesis framework automatically buffers between WordPress and plug-ins, so an updates are less likely to break other elements of your site’s functionality.
• Woo Themes
  Professionally designed templates. Some offer additional scripting specific to certain kinds of businesses.
• Headway Themes
  Headway Themes offer a very intuitive drag-and-drop layout functionality for page design.

Creating a Membership Site

BuddyPress is a free resource for “social networking in a box”. It turns a WordPress site into a multi-tiered membership site; another option (for a fee) is Wishlist. Wishlist also offers a coaching program for creating membership sites.

Creating Affiliate Sales Programs

Set up an affiliate sales program using the Affiliate Platform WordPress plugin.  This plugin also works with Wishlist membership sites, too.

Content: SEO Web Writing

Hiring a specialized web writer familiar with SEO web writing techniques is ideal; if you insist on doing it yourself, Scribe Makes SEO Simple.

Regular web writing tips found on my free newsletter. Sign up for free here.

Monitoring and Growing Social Media Activity

Econsultancy A membership resource to learn all about growing your social media program (and other digital marketing programs)

HyperAlerts allows you to monitor Facebook page activity. Read more.

Productivity Tools

Read It Later – 1-click way to save content for offline review and curation