A principal of content marketing is to share insight that’s truly helpful to your readers. Whatever the nature of your business you are providing a product or a service that solves a problem for your customers. Your online content should help people by providing answers to questions they are seeking.

I was encouraged by CC Chapman’s Jan. 2, 2014 podcast to “Create for your head and your heart first”. Often as marketers we focus on developing content with quantitative results in mind. CC suggests that we put some personality back into our communications and to share insights without over analyzing the audience or social media share potential.

So to kick of the year, I would like to share some content that I truly enjoy. This is includes both our work and the work of others that I find very helpful or entertaining. Hope you find it useful and please share your favorites back with me.

My favorite blog we manage - Since 2010 our agency has had the privilege of managing the Business Bank of Texas - Business Resource Center blog. This online resource brings together the insights of over 30 Central Texas business experts to provide management advice to business owners and executives. Each month we work with cpa’s, attorneys and business strategists to share their expertise through this blog. If you want to learn how to manage your business cash flow, get a small business legal checklist, financial management, commercial real estate or human resources tips this is great resource. Please check it out - 

http://www.businessbankoftexas.com/business-resource-center

My favorite social resource - LinkedIn Influencers - I get updates sent straight to my inbox customized by my preferences and I find this very helpful. No matter what your interests are there is likely an expert writing on the topic. Just login to LinkedIn and on the top nav find Pulse, then Influencers. You can select as many as you would like to receive updates from including business leaders such Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Arianna Huffington to name a few. I’ve found articles from Liz Ryan, CEO and Founder of Human Workplace to be very interesting.

http://www.linkedin.com/influencer/52594-Liz-Ryan 

My favorite marketing websites - As a HubSpot Certified Partner, we obviously follow the HubSpot blog which is a leader in providing resources for marketing and sales professionals. Here are a few of the other marketing blogs that I follow weekly. In addition to the blogs these resources also produce content across mediums to include videos, podcasts and slideshare presentations. 

http://www.marketingprofs.com/  - writing techniques and best practices. 

http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/ - content strategy

http://www.marketingsherpa.com/ - research and email marketing

Just for fun - I’m a big Disney fan, I look to Disney Studios for inspiration and love to have fun with the movies, the characters, the parks, the innovation. Here’s some 2014 inspiration via Disney Style.

What online content helps you with your job or inspires you? If you need help planning your business blog for 2014 our free Guide to B2B Blogging can help you get started.