While it may seem counterintuitive to some, sharing third-party content on your business website can be a great thing to do. You can’t talk about yourself all the time. However, you must ensure you do it in the most effective way possible to get the most out of it. Here are five things to think about when posting third-party content correctly. 

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What is third-party content? 

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Third-party content is anything external to your website. This can include Youtube videos, hyperlinks to other articles, apps, images, etc. So, why do you need it? 

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1. SEO

When it comes to SEO, hyperlinks are crucial. You’re giving your page a little boost by sharing third-party content. It’s also an opportunity to collaborate with another business — you can show them that you link to their site, and maybe they will do the same for you… Like a little search engine double-whammy (or you scratch my back, I scratch yours?).

Want to know more about how to boost SEO for your business? Check out our other post on long-tail keywords! 

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2. Value

You can’t share third-party content just because you find it interesting. It should also offer value to your audience, be it information related to your brand and business, a fun little video that adds humour and personality to your other content, or a neat tool they can use in their day-to-day life. With so much content in the world, readers are quick to determine if what you’re sharing is worth the read. Make sure it is interesting and of value!

 If you’re thinking about sharing something, go through this checklist:

• Is it related to my business or product? 
• Does it provide something to my client(s) or audience (eg. Context, information, a helpful tool)? 
• Does it detract from my brand?
• Does it waste my audience’s time if they click through?
• Is it interesting enough to share?

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3. Be thorough

If you find a share-worthy article, read it all the way through! You could discover by the end that it doesn’t support the type of service your business offers or maybe has some other conflicting opinions that don’t align with your business. When it comes to third-party content, thoroughly vetting anything you share is critical. Plus, in a world where “fake news” is extremely common, you want to make sure that you’re sharing things that are true. 

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4. Personalize

Just posting a link isn’t enough. You still have to make it yours and give it context! A short blurb about why you’ve included it goes a long way. It can also help build your brand and reputation and let readers and potential clients know your stance on content. 

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5. Give credit

Don’t forget that you must give credit any time you use someone else’s content. That means a link, a name attached to a quote, or some other indication of who created what you’re using. This is also important when it comes to third-party social media content, so check out our post for pointers on that. 

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Ready?

If you want to create thoroughly-vetted, well-written, shareable content for your business to boost your SEO and convert clicks... You’ve come to the right place. Book a call with us today to get started!