Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses- Joe Pulizzi

(Reviewed by JD Jung)

Do you have an idea for a great product or service but have limited funds, and don’t know how to attract customers?

Joe Pulizzi , founder of Content Marketing Institute (CMI) and author of Content Inc. presents a step-by-step business model that demonstrates how someone with a passion for their product or service can build a vast online and industry presence that will attract customers .

The first step is to have a passion for your product or service. Without that, Content Inc. won’t work. You also must have a “content tilt” that will separate you from the competition.

Though Pulizzi gives many examples of people who have profited  from Content Inc. principles, the one that impressed me the most was Andy Schneider, the “Chicken Whisperer”. His passion for teaching and knowledge of backyard poultry led to a successful business. Come on, raising chickens?

This shows how creating a specific niche and defining and listening to your audience is more important than just “selling”.  However he shows you how to think in regards to monetizing your site right from the start.

Pulizzi helps you devise a social media as well as an influencer marketing plan and work towards a high SEO ranking. He lists many tips and free online resources. He shows how to utilize Google Alerts and Google trends as well as free and paid apps.

Though the core principles are stated throughout the book, there is no redundancy or “fluff”. The sequence of the book make sense, is easily to follow  and at the end of each chapter is a summary.

There’s just so much to Content Inc., that you’ll need to read it more than once. This is not a book you can  simply borrow; you’ll need to keep it to reference often.

Anyone who has an idea for or already has  an online or even a brick and mortar business will benefit from Content Inc.