Reading Roundup: What’s New in Blogging Lately?

The week the world got confused about Instagram Vs Snapchat stories, we figure out how to create great visual content, make our writing more real, and growth-hack our way to the top.

Have a great weekend!

How to Design an SEO Content Map | SEO AUV

For those of you who love keeping track on spreadsheets etc, this is great – it helps keep all your goals in one place, and gives you an idea of where you are and where you’re headed.

New Stats: Facebook Video is Dominating Other Types of Content | Meet Edgar

So how does that impact on your other content? And what should you do about it? (crying is not an option!). But you can always read the below:

5 Simple Tips for Great Facebook Videos Derived From Facebook’s Best Publisher | Buzzsumo

5 things the pros are doing that are nailing it on video – and how you can do it too.

How to Make Your Writing Real | Copyblogger

Brian Clark shares some home truths for those of us who are fighting the battle for attention. Which is… all of us!

Google’s Rolling out AMP to the Main SERPS – Are You Prepared?| Moz

Once I got my head around all those acronyms, I realised, again, that Google really holds the keys and I’d better be prepared for yet another change! First I had to check if I needed or even had AMPs haha.

Photo: Shutterstock

4 Growth Hacking Strategies that Work Like Magic | Stamford Advocate

Especially useful for online businesses or those wishing to sell products/services on their site.

Can’t Buy Them? Just Become Them: Why Instagram Versus Snapchat Should Come as No Surprise | FStoppers

During the week, Instagram users were waking up to the Stories feature in their apps, which looked suspiciously like Snapchat (minus the crazy filters). Cue plenty of us going “well where do we post now?”. I tried for a day posting almost the same thing to two platforms but I got the sense that Instagram users still just wanted the pretty, not the real. Sigh.

Which leads me to:

How to Use Instagram Stories for Marketers | Hubspot

You’re welcome.

9 Secrets to Beautiful Content For Your Social Media Strategy | Entrepreneur

While we’re on the topic of visuals, here’s how to create what your audience’s eyeballs would like to see! Useful for people like me who are predominantly writers and where images and graphics don’t come naturally.

Google Analytics Lauches Demo Account for Learning and Training | Marketing Land

A boon for GA newbies who feel as though it’s all too overwhelming for words (and it is!). You get to play and learn as you go, which will help you no end when it comes to your own data.

What caught your eye this week? Did you get stuck straight into Stories? Going to now play around with Google Analytics? I’d love to hear!