Yesterday, I wrote that a great way to keep connected to your customer is to provide content.  Preferably original content that shows you are a thought leader in your niche.

Well…shortly after that, Dennis and I started getting calls, emails and tweets all saying essentially the same thing…

I get it…I need to have content that will be of value…where do I get it?

Well, we are both believers in having the info come to you rather you go out searching high and low to find it.  You could set up alerts on Google or I do really like Trackle as well.  But if I want to really see what the thought leaders in any particular niche is thinking, I go to Alltop (http://www.alltop.com)  Alltop is run by Guy Kawasaki, he of Silicon Valley venture capital fame.

Why Alltop?  Can’t alerts do the same thing?

I am not saying Google alerts are necessarily not good.  They do what they are asked to do.  Bring you data based on specific keywords that you want information about.

Alltop is different in that you can see recent posts (titles that link to the post)  from 20 or more thought leaders in your category. For example, if you look under the topic “church”, you will see a variety of blogs there that primarily deal with church and church marketing.  Check out Unity Church Marketing (http://www.unitychurchmarketing.com  shameless plug)

The important thing is that you can see what others are thinking and writing about.  When I am stuck for a subject to write on (which happened a whole lot more when I just wrote about church marketing), this is the place I would go for inspiration and ideas.  Maybe see topics that were trending and that I didn’t have a keyword search on with my alerts to even know it was there!

Alltop makes it easier to be a part of your community/niche!

One of the things that you want to do within your niche is to engage and be a part of the community.  You do that by reading and commenting on blogs in your niche.  Alltop makes it easy to do that.  The result of which is that you will build up some incredible relationships with other bloggers/thought leaders in your niche.  And…oh by the way, the backlinks from Alltop and the other blogs won’t hurt you with Google either.

Drive traffic to your site through Alltop!

One of the things that I would be doing if I was just starting out (or if I was not getting the traffic I wanted) would be to submit my blog/site to All in my category.  The result is that you are going to be seen and read by more people.  Ultimately, they are going to come to your site and along with your awesome content, are going to keep engaged (remember yesterday’s article??)  I won’t say the listing will come overnight, but over time (after they have reviewed your site), it will come and you will benefit.

Believe it or not, not doing social media right can actually harm your business.

If you are looking for free tips or advice on how to approach your social media, go to Social Media Dudes

Or follow our tweets on Twitter at twitter.com/johnpanico

Finally, those are my thoughts from high atop my 2nd floor office above my garage.  What I want to hear are YOUR comments.  Where are you getting your content from?

If you are looking for free tips or advice on how to approach your social media, go to Social Media Dudesand subscribe to your newsletter in the upper left hand corner! Still not convinced that social media is right for your business? Read this and get our F.R.E.E. report on the 7 Myths of Social Media! Or follow our tweets on Twitter at twitter.com/johnpanico Finally, those are my thoughts from high atop my 2nd floor office above my garage. What I want to hear are YOUR comments. Please leave one now.

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