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Content audits, SEO, & Deep Seek! Oh my!
Published about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hello Reader!
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Expert Interview | Maria Jose Rodriguez
1/ Tell me more about yourself and your journey into content.
I’ve always loved writing—from scribbling stories as a kid to setting up personal blogs and newsletters back in high school and college. But I never saw writing as a viable career option. I actually started out as a fashion designer back in 2010 and spent about six years in that field before going back to school for an MBA in Marketing and Strategy. When I graduated, I joined a B2B digital marketing agency, and that’s when everything clicked. I realized I could actually make a living out of writing… through content marketing! I dove in headfirst, and today, I work as a ghostwriter helping B2B founders and executives share their stories online. It’s a pretty sweet space to be in
2/ What makes a LinkedIn post stand out?
To answer this question, I’m going to take a big-picture approach first. Because in order to figure out what makes a LinkedIn post stand out, you need to know what makes it blend in. It’s like Charlie Munger once said: “All I want to know is where I’m going to die, so I’ll never go there.” For LinkedIn, that means understanding why posts get ignored—and avoiding those mistakes. The biggest mistakes I see people commit on LinkedIn are: 1. Following “best practices.” That’s basically doing the bare minimum and what everyone else is already doing. It won’t help you stand out. 2. Copying your competition. If you do what everyone in your space does, you’ll just sound like everyone else. 3. Sticking to vague generalities. This usually happens when people are afraid to share too much, thinking readers only care about cold, hard facts. But the truth is, they also care about your stories and experience. So, if you actually want to stand out, you need to look beyond your industry and the competition. Yes, you should check out your competition—not to copy, but to find gaps or a unique tone you can use. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to share your own stories (failures and successes). When you dare to be yourself, like no one is watching, you are more likely to hit the mark on being different. Just make sure you keep it professional. 😉
Jobs
👉 Here are some of the latest content marketing job listings:
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese startup that's turning heads in the AI world with its open-source, cost-effective models that rival heavyweights like OpenAI and Google. With a chatbot that soared to the top of app charts and breakthrough performance in coding and math, DeepSeek's rapid rise and disruptive approach make it a tool you won't want to miss. See the full article to see how this innovative player is rewriting the rules of AI and sparking a tech revolution.
👉 Why care?
Is this tool going to improve content creation? Is it another threat to our jobs? Personally, I tried it out and found it no different than Chat-GPT. Same story. Different name.
2/ How to perform a content audit + free template (Exploding topics)
👉 The skinny:
This is a step-by-step guide on how to perform a website content audit to boost your SEO and overall site performance without creating new content. It walks you through setting clear audit goals—like spotting declining traffic, outdated pages, technical glitches, and keyword cannibalization—and then shows you how to compile an inventory of all your pages using tools like Semrush and Google Search Console. The post explains how to analyze key metrics such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, backlinks, and on-page SEO, and wraps up with tips on creating an action plan to update, consolidate, or remove content, all supported by a free audit template.
👉 Why care?
If you haven't performed a content audit in a while, this is an easy step-by-step to get your site back in order. Plus, it comes with a free template, which is kinda cool.
TopRank Marketing breaks down effective SEO strategy in 2025 amidst constant algorithm changes and the rise of AI-powered search. It covers the essentials—from intent-driven keyword research and quality content creation to technical SEO, link building, and regular performance analysis—while highlighting new trends like Google's AI Overviews and evolving Core Web Vitals. Read the 8-step roadmap to help marketers build genuine authority and drive sustainable organic growth in an ever-changing digital landscape.
👉 Why care?
New tools, but nothing truly new with strategy: SEO success hinges on creating authentic, user-focused content supported by agile, data-driven strategies that adapt to evolving algorithms and AI trends.
4/ How Writing for Humans (vs. Search Engines) Increased Blog Conversions by 66% to 900% (Grow & Convert)
👉 The skinny:
This case study by Grow and Convert highlights how optimizing content for human readers—rather than just rankings—led to 66% to 900% increases in conversions. A client ranked well for bottom-of-funnel keywords but struggled to convert traffic into leads. The issue? Content felt templated and lacked flow, prioritizing SEO over audience needs. After rewriting posts with better product positioning, clearer messaging, and audience-focused narratives, conversion rates surged. The study shares best practices, including tailoring content to search intent, highlighting product benefits, and strategically incorporating CTAs.
👉 Why care?
Another example of why SEO rankings don’t guarantee conversions—content quality and relevance do.
Subscribe now to grow your content marketing and writing muscles! Each week, you'll get an expert interview from a leading content marketer (free consulting—yay!), quick & actionable writing tips, and content marketing trends you may have missed delivered straight to your inbox. It's an easy decision—join 7000 other content marketers now!
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Hello Reader! Good writing has rhythm, structure, and intention. Every choice you make shapes the story. It can mirror or elicit emotions—sharp and staccato for tension, like Raymond Carver: “He sat. She looked at him. He didn’t say anything. The clock ticked.” Or, it can flow like music—melodic, immersive, and full of wonder—like Brian Doyle: "What is it about the hum and thrum of a mother to her son and a father to his daughter that is unlike anything else in the universe, unlike anything...
read it Hello Reader! I know we've said this before, but content has been so bonkers lately. I've been experiencing so many instances of "let's use AI to make this more efficient." And, while AI can make many things more efficient, sometimes it really is better to have a human driving the carriage. Here are some instances where you may be asked to use AI, and ways to make it work: 1/ AI is great at summarizing. This is my FAVORITE use case. ✅ Use it to decode transcripts and articles and give...