What exactly user generated content is?

Simple; the content that is not authored by you but written by another person.

Launching a blog these days is a kid’s play; it can be online in a matter of minutes provided one has already decided on a name for his blog and searched for an available domain.

However, building it into a successful blog irrespective of the niche is all about creating high quality content that the readers will be genuinely interested in.

So, what high quality content is?

Put yourself into the shoes of a reader for a moment and forget about being an author. When you have searched for some information and chose to click on a link among several other search results and ended up spending several minutes reading the displayed web page and did not click on any other link to acquire any further information, then, you have just read high quality content.

However, if you kept clicking on the results for the desired information, then, the links that contained the information are said to contain worthless content.

Sites with high quality content are called authority sites and they naturally rank high in the Google search results.

However, writing all that content yourself can be intimidating and tedious. You have to do a lot of research to come up with a ‘Pillar Post’.

Can you name an authority site for example with user generated content?

Yes. Shout Me Loud. It’s an odd name alright undoubtedly the number one blog in India. Even such a site is filled with top class content that all are not written by the owner of the blog Mr. Harsh Agrawal. A team of writers are engaged who are all co-authors. In addition, you can read posts written by guest authors in shoutmeloud.com

The guest authors are not rewarded financially. In return, they are given a link back to their website and that is worth a lot of money.

In the above instance, Shout Me Loud blog got a very high quality user generated content totally FREE.

Therefore, if your blog is filled only with pillar posts, you never have to write another piece but fill it up with free user generated content of high quality.

It becomes easy for such a successful blog to add high-quality content written by guest authors in exchange for a link back to their website.

When you gather a team of multiple expert authors, your blogs gets filled up with free high quality user generated content that engages the readers fully and does not allow them to navigate away from the content.

Finding these guest writers can be as easy as contacting other bloggers who are already established in your niche and telling them that you will begin accepting their high-quality user generated content in exchange for links.

Other ways to get free user generated content.

The avenues are many to let the word out that your blog accepts free guest posts in the same niche of your blog and in return, you give back one or two links to the guest writer.

• In your ‘contact us’ page, you can declare that you accept guest posts.
• You can frequently tweet about your willingness to give free backlinks from a high quality website. The word ‘free backlinks’ will work wonders buddy.
• The same thing can be posted in Facebook, blog and internet marketing related forums.
• Use the right Google plus communities to announce your intention of getting free user generated content.

I know of very popular sites on the web that survive solely on free guest written user generated content. In fact, it is how blogs of high repute work.

From now on Google Wifi, which in the modular principle a WLAN network spans. What it can and if it perhaps even better than a FritzBox WLAN system…

The WLAN of a router has only rarely enough range to ensure in apartments or even houses in every corner still a good Internet connection. The network can then be extended, for example, with WLAN repeaters or via Powerline via the sockets. However, in many systems, the transmission rate decreases with increasing distance or a new network are stretched, in which a device has to register again in order to go online. This will make Google Wifi better. It spans a so-called mesh network with multiple nodes that communicate with each other.

If a user moves from place to place in a mesh network with a device, his wireless connection is automatically passed on to the node with the strongest connection without requiring a new login. The network has a common SSID. In the ideal case, the transmission rate drops only slightly when the distance to the router is small.

This technique is not new, very large mesh networks, for example, provides free-wheeling. Existing solutions for the home application are however relatively expensive, Google Wifi is comparatively cheap: A single device costs 140 euros, in a double pack 250 euros.The Google device is child-friendly and is implemented via the iOS or Android app. Connect the first device to the router, scan QR code, assign name and password – that’s it in principle already. Other nodes are added similarly quickly and easily.

This is something Google can do – you also notice the app through which devices and network are managed. It is simple, clear and provides all the necessary information about the function of the network. This includes the connection strengths of the individual nodes or the transmission rates for a connected device – in real-time or over a longer period of time. In addition, you can set up a guest access or restrict access for children. Good thing is that you can dim the lights of small, white cylinders. Better yet, you could turn off Google Wifi completely, if you do not need it, for example, at night.

You need a Google account to set up, and only the account owner can add additional administrators. The Google Wifi connection of a smartphone to the nodes is encrypted. Google promises to collect nothing but diagnostic data. If you do not want that, you can remove the authorization in the settings. “We earn money by selling the devices,” said a Google manager at the presentation. The principle of collecting data for advertising would not exist in this case. Google Wifi Connections to devices to be constructed depending on the location and interference automatically in the 2.4 or 5 GHz band. In addition, Google Wifi is constantly searching for the channel in which least other devices are broadcasting.

The Fritzbox gets it also

So far the theory – in practice, has been in the approximately 80 square meter test apartment but not everything worked as perfectly as expected. Because the range of a device is relatively short. Because the router is behind a supporting wall, a second device had to be placed at a distance of about 5 meters to keep the signal strength high. In order to reach even the most remote point of the apartment with acceptable signal strength, a third node had to be installed, with the lack of sockets not an ideal location. The Fritzbox Cable 7590 used as a router creates this distance in the 2.4 gigahertz network at almost the same transmission rate all by itself.

In order to span a mesh network with high signal strength in the entire apartment, a total of four nodes were necessary. But then the network worked almost perfectly. The connection remained constant during movement and the handover of the nodes was virtually non-delayed.

For users who have only got a simple router from their provider, Google Wifi is such a good solution, in order to be able to span a widescreen WLAN network. But the principle is not revolutionary. If a newer Fritzbox is in the household, the investment is rather unnecessary. In combination with repeaters or powerline adapters from the manufacturer, a similar mesh cover is also achieved without difficulty and relatively inexpensively.

Amazon’s “smart loudspeaker” Echo with its language assistant Alexa has changed from the curiosity to the hype. Latest buffoonery: the echo show with the display. At the same time, many major names in the industry are already active in the same field: Apple with Siri, Samsung with Bixby, Microsoft with Cortana and Google with his nameless Chattbots. Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg programmed his “Jarvis” as a sub-project. But what is the factor? Do these ChatBots have the potential to fundamentally change online marketing and web search, as some experts claim?

Chatbots Alexa and Echo: Amazons “iPod moment”

Looking back, Amazon had the first echo probably his “iPod moment”: When Steve Jobs introduced the MP3 player 2001, the puzzle was initially great and of enthusiasm no trace. Why did Apple, who just barely escaped the bankruptcy, brought out such a device? In the beginning, the iPod was not a big hit – but it eventually became one and changed the music industry together with the iTunes Music Store and paved Apple’s way to the iPhone.

Likewise, the coverage of Amazons Echo was initially very reserved. Amazon had just been embarrassed with his smartphone. The Kindle had a lot of momentum and the new “Kindle Fire” tablets everywhere not synonymous as a striking hit. Why, all over the world, Amazon launched in 2014 that was practically a smart speaker with a microphone? And who, then, would like to have such a device at home, which had practically only one function?

We spool some years forward into the present and Amazon has developed the echo with the language assistant Alexa clever in many respects further developed. On the one hand, there are now other versions of the Echo: the compact “Dot”, the mobile “Tap” and the “Show” with a built-in touch screen. On the other hand, it has developed into the platform: developers can teach Alexa new skills and manufacturers can integrate the wizard anywhere, even in echo copies. Several devices to cars are now “Alexa ready”.

Why language assistants are such a hype

But where does this enthusiasm for ChatBots and “voice search” come from? The basic idea is that they give us a look into the future. In this or very similar form, we will most likely be interacting with computers in the future, as we know from Star Trek. And that this may become such a big revolution as touch screens, apps or the mobile web.

In fact, there is a clear tendency when looking at the development of user interfaces in computers: they are increasingly approaching how people interact with one another and with their environment. In the early years, this was still so abstract that it was only specialists after appropriate training understanding. Display and keyboard made the next step a little easier, as far as the familiar commands.

The graphical user interface of such ChatBots, in turn, was still a habit but tried to make many processes pictorial – in addition, you can try here in doubt. The natural language would now be an understandable and efficient form of operation in many situations. With touch screens, the ChatBots reacted to familiar gestures like wiping and tapping.

The ideal is that the ChatBots understands us just as well as a human being or even better. At the same time, the electronic helper knows everything the Internet knows. And he knows us so well that he can tap into missing information himself. Maybe he can even provide us with answers before we’ve ever asked.

If this were to be the case, this could lead to a significant change. Many situations where we had previously tried a search engine like Google or an app would now be covered by the ChatBots.

For this reason, some experts expect that online marketing and, last but not least, search engine optimization must react to this trend. In our survey of the SEO trends of the year “Voice Search” was mentioned several times.

Examples of language assistants

Practically all the big names in the industry now have their own assistants. The theme is just too interesting and the potential to be alluring. Here is a look at the current state of affairs:

Amazon Alexa Chatbots

Alexa is the language assistant, the Amazon Echo is the in-house hardware. In 2014 Amazon showed both for the first time to the public. The echo is a loudspeaker connected to the Internet, including several microphones. By voice command he can, for example, play music, announce the weather forecast or order it from Amazon. The latest model and one of the best ChatBots called EchoShow has a touchscreen and a webcam installed. In addition, video calls are now possible, called “Alexa Calling”.

The system is extensible via “Skills”: third-party providers can teach Alexa more skills. In this way, the echo can also become the central hub for the Smart Home. The number of these skills has increased significantly between June and November 2016: from 1,000 to 5,000.

Alexa, however, is not caught in the echo: Via Amazon’s “Alexa Voice Service” other manufacturers can integrate the wizard – free of charge. This has recently led to the launch of a top Android smartphone from Huawei in the US with Alexa pre-installed on the market. This is probably little Google likes, but they make their competitor “Google Assistant” only gradually. Lenovo, with the “Smart Assistant“, even released a cluttered echo clone that costs $ 50 less than the model.

Amazon, it is quite obvious to secure a place in this market as quickly as possible. This is the only way for them to determine how their e-commerce offers are integrated.

Apple Siri Chatbots

Already in 2011, Apple presented its language assistant Siri. At that time he was still an exclusive feature of the iPhone 4S. Siri was not developed by Apple itself but bought up. Planned versions of Siri for Android and BlackBerry have been thrown in the process. In the meantime, Siri is represented on all platforms of the Californian company – from the watch to the desktop Mac.

Latest japery: the smart and most admired ChatBots named as “HomePod”. With it, the company would like to build on the success it iPod. It is marketed primarily as a compact, well-sounding loudspeaker that has a digital music expert installed – Siri eben. But Siri can also do everything the assistant can do, so give answers to various questions or even control the Smart Home, as long as it is based on Apple’s HomeKit. However, the HomePad is not yet available on the market. He is currently scheduled to enter the market in December 2017 in the US, UK, and Australia.

Similar to Alexa, third parties can now link their apps to Siri. However, this is currently only very limited in some specific categories of apps.

Facebook Jarvis Chatbots

Jarvis is not (yet) a finished product of Facebook. Rather, it is a finger exercise by Facebook’s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. What you can do in your spare time when you have created the largest social network in the world. In his own words, he was concerned about learning about the state of things in artificial intelligence. Via Jarvis, he can control his Smart Home and the assistant is also to learn about the habits and preferences of the user over time. Instead of installing new “skills” manually, as with Alexa, Jarvis is supposed to find out how to do so far unknown tasks. This combination of language assistant and self-learning. Basically the users do not want to install functions, but at any time and immediately get meaningful and helpful answers to every conceivable question.

Officially Jarvis is currently only a private project by Mark Zuckerberg. In his own opinion, however, he thinks about making the source code freely available (alias “Open Source”). At the moment, however, this is all too directly connected to his home and the existing devices there. Alternatively, Jarvis could also be the basis for a new product.

Google Assistant Chatbots

Google Search has been a topic for Google for a long time and since 2012 it had found its home in the digital assistant Google Now. With the Google Assistant, it is now to be brought to the next level and at the same level as the competition. Amazon’s Echo and Google Home – there is a lot of correspondence between these two ChatBots.

At first, only a few users were able to try out the new wizard. The “Pixel” smartphones from Google itself. In February 2017, Google then announced to bring it to all Android smartphones version 6.0 (“Marshmallow”). If you can do without the language part, a version of the wizard is currently available on Google’s chat app Allo.

What Amazon calls “Skills” is called “Actions on Google”. This allows developers to develop third-party capabilities for the wizard.

Microsoft Cortana Chatbots

Microsoft has shown its Cortana assistant for the first time in 2014. He was named after an artificial intelligence in the “Halo” series. Cortana has been used for the first time in Windows 10 and is now also available for Android and iOS devices as well as on the Xbox One. The functionality is comparable to what has already been described in the competition. Cortana is closely linked to Microsoft’s browser edge and its search engine Bing.

In addition to Chatbots, Cortana is part of what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has summed up as “conversation as a platform”. Microsoft wanted to “take the power of human language” and apply it in many places. He explained this at the build conference 2016 in San Francisco in his keynote speech. He sees language as a new form of user interface. “Bots are the new apps, digital wizards are meta apps,” he said.

One year later, Microsoft also showed an interface for developers (“Cortana Skills Kit”). In the future, Cortana will also be able to be used by other manufacturers as well as Alexa for their devices.

Harman-Kardon also shows his echo competitor “Invoke”. The smart loudspeaker is expected for this year. And Microsoft also works with “HomeHub” to make every Windows device an echo competitor.

Conclusion

Between a successful tech demo and a successful product for consumers, there is still a long distance that should not be underestimated. Often screenings on a stage are completely scripted and not as “live” as they seem. In addition, the makers there know exactly what they should say so that the desired result comes out. In reality, however, the language assistant has to deal with dialects, ambient sounds, and linguistic peculiarities, to cope with bad Internet connections or to answer questions that the software has generally only understood half or which are so ambiguous that no simple answer can be given.

Nevertheless, it seems clear that progress in the artificial intelligence has been so rapid and impressive in recent months that the abilities of these ChatBots – Alexa, Siri, Cortana, and others can soon be improved very noticeably. And then it is actually interesting for online marketing and here not least for search engine optimization.

To pursue a full time career as a blogger in the blogging world, you must establish yourself as a:

• Serious blogger
• Knowledgeable blogger
• Person ready to help with new bloggers
• Blogger willing to share your knowledge

By doing these things, you will be looked upon with some respect and whenever you publish content in your blog or on social media such as Twitter and Facebook, readers will give priority to your posts and read with curiosity and genuine interest.

This is called establishing your voice in the blogosphere; an authority in your chosen niche.

Answering questions in Quora.

As a blogger with several years of experience, I used to answer questions in Quora, the internet’s number one user generated content platform in the form of questions and answers. By now, I could sense the pattern of questions that require my answers and they get forwarded to my email by Quora.com As I have been sharing my knowledge in affiliate marketing without expecting any benefit, people look upon my answers as genuine guide.

Asking questions in forums and answering

I don’t claim I know everything in the field of blogging and affiliate marketing. I too would want answers to my doubts. Apart from Quora, I post my questions in internet marketing and blogging forums. One of the best forums to linger around to learn and share is Digital Point Forums. It is a huge platform to meet knowledgeable people who are more than ready to answer your questions without asking for a fee. Similarly, you too should be ready to answer questions.

Developing your own style in your writing

It is very essential that you develop your own writing style when you are writing for the web. Without expecting any appreciation and listening to criticisms and persisting with your improvement, you will evolve with your distinct style.  This is again another way to develop your own “voice” as an internet writer.

Blogging is your online diary and as such, you should always write in first person. This kind of writing naturally involves your emotions. As you write, you will feel various emotions and that should reflect on the words you compose. By this way, you stamp your style clearly and people will start identifying you.  This won’t happen overnight. After having tried out various styles you will find one that echoes you.

Frequency of writing

Internet is a crowded and noisy place. It is thickly populated. In order to stand out in such a big crowd, you have to make your presence (rather absence) felt by writing very frequently. I would say three blog posts per week is an ideal frequency. On ‘non-blogging’ days, your voice should be heard in Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. However, remember to adhere to your style.

Admire, Appreciate and Share

Another way of developing your voice would involve admiring, appreciating sharing frankly.  As a serious blogger, you should be reading blogs in your niche. When you do that, if the content (text and image) of a website impresses you, you should openly express your admiration and appreciation in the comment field and also share it with your followers in Facebook and Twitter. Your ‘shares’ and the ‘likes’ will be intimated to concerned authors and they will remember your name. They are more likely to look up at your writing and eagerly reciprocate your actions.

Lastly, the development of your own style will depend a lot on your life’s experiences. You should include some of your own opinions and experiences into the articles you write or in the comments you leave as it will distinguish you from run-of-the-mill writers. In addition, it will allow your readers to connect with you instantly and easily.