SEO Content Marketing Roundup, Week Ending July 27th, 2011

While the buzz around Google+ has quieted down somewhat, social media and search marketers are still humming about its potential and what it does and does not mean to Facebook. Meanwhile content marketers discuss all things content, from curation to chasms to conversions.  Take a moment and catch up with this week’s latest and greatest web writing news.

Content Marketing:

Content Marketing Institute shares its template for creating killer website content (complete with a free download).

Copyblogger posts why split testing is like sex in high school (a tutorial).

Cheryl Burgess questions whether Google+ is a digital disruption for CMOs at Blue Focus Marketing.

The content chasm dilemma is addressed at Content Marketing Institute, as is content marketing as a “force multiplier.”

iMedia Connection posts four “deliberately controversial” ad campaigns, while Copyblogger posts a clever read on mediocre blogging.

Seth Godin addresses defining “quality,” and how there is no such thing as business ethics.

Justin Rachwalksi, Strategy Lead at Google, (guest) posts “Ten Easy Ways to Improve Landing Page Conversions” at HubSpot.

SEO & Search:

Barry Schwartz (Search Engine Land) reports that it’s official: the Google Panda 2.3 is live.

Eric Ward (Search Engine Land) offers a primer on Google+, focusing on links and ranking.

Google’s negative ranking factors are the subject of the latest SEOmoz Whiteboard Friday presentation.

SEO by the Sea discusses how Google might rank pages based upon usage information.

Search Engine Journal posts YouTube video optimization (from a to z).

Level 343 posts why Google+ is not a Facebook killer, and Google’s bigger agenda is (also) discussed at Social Media Today.

Matt McGee (Search Engine Land) reports that Google has overhauled its “Places” page layout to emphasize reviews (by other Google users).

McGee also reports that StumbleUpon is testing a new “explore box” search tool.

So your website has been found…now what? Sid Smith (guest) posts smart marketing suggestions at SEO Copywriting.

Nick Stamoulis (guest) posts seven unbreakable SEO rules at Site Pro News.

Search Engine Land posts key principles to follow when examining keyword difficulty, and Search Engine Watch posts a similar piece on keyword selection.

Establishing clickthrough rates is the ambition tackled at SEOmoz.

B.S. SEO copywriting tips are the subject of the latest video post at SEO Copywriting.

Social Media Marketing:

Seven ways Google+ users are getting more out of their circles are posted at Mashable, and Kristi Hines discusses why she likes Google+ at Kikolani.

Gabriella Sannino discusses lead generation through Facebook at Level 343, and Mashable reports that Facebook has launched a site to help businesses with marketing.

Social Media Examiner posts six daily habits for Facebook marketing success.

Chris Brogan posts a thoughtful piece about influencers, and Kaila Strong asks if your brand would pass a social media background check at Vertical Measures.

A personal branding fail (and lessons to learn from it) is posted at Bruce Clay, Inc., while Mack Collier discusses 10 things to remember when creating a brand ambassador program.

GigaOm warns that if your news site isn’t social, great design won’t matter.

Social Media Examiner shares five tips for building a community management strategy.

The proliferation of self-proclaimed social media experts is the topic of Lee Odden’s post at Top Rank.

Jeff Bullas shares 11 facts and figures on Google+ growth at his blog.

Jay Baer posts how to calculate your blogging ROI in nine steps at Convince and Convert.

Using social media in online market research is discussed at Sexy Social Media.

Finally, Brian Solis posts why social media is not going to save your business.