I thought I’d revisit an article I created a month or so ago, but then extend it with this fantabulous infographic for the clueless content creator. You don’t want to miss a word of this.

Actually, I’m going to direct you to the article, “Magnetic Content: 21 Ways to Attract Traffic,” if you missed it. And here, we’ll get to the meat of it, the list…

21 things I believe billions of web-browsers are attracted to:

1. Demonstrations—Can you show what it is you’re trying to say? Do it. Since the dawn of marketing, demonstrations have demonstrated to have massive magnetic power.
2. Comparisons—Windows, Mac; Venus, Mars; men, women; apples, oranges—comparisons give us context. Us humans long for context, so bring it when you can.
3. Mistakes—As magnets go, nothing pulls quite like telling someone what they’re doing wrong. If you know the moves and maneuvers that lead to failure, offer ‘em up and expect the bugs to come a buzzing like flies on you-know-what.
4. Interviews—Hey, know someone who knows what they’re talking about? Get ‘em to talk and people will line up to listen.
5. Instructions—How to (blank). Fill in that blank. Everyone responds to instructions, even leaders.
6. Stories—Once upon a time some character met some other character. They overcame a conflict and lived happily ever. You love that story. I do too. Everyone does.
7. Examples—There’s no denying the court of public opinion values evidence. If you have some, take the stand and present it. Reveal stuff that actually happened, for example.
8. Stupid truths— People love this stuff. “It ain’t over till it’s over” and all those ironic truisms Yogi Berra spouted get a rise out of people, however obvious they may be.
9. Exposés—We all love rolling around in the shit, so go ahead and expose the pigs.
10. Threats—Know what? If you know something that poses a serious threat to something, something tells me you’re onto something people will be drawn to.
11. Findings—If you did the homework for someone or you somehow managed to stumble upon the answers to, er, anything, you’ll find sharing what you found will find a good size audience.
12. Confessions—Hmm, 12 suggestions into my list and I’m feeling a little opportunistic, dirty even. But I must confess, we all harbor a hidden desire to hear what priests get to hear.
13. Scores—If you have the credibility to call the score, call it my friend. Us humans really want to know who won, who lost, or if the game’s still being played, what the score is.
14. Reasons—Why does this cause that? You have no idea what I’m talking about and still you’re dying to hear me give you the reasons. It’s reasonable to conclude we want reasons.
15. Humor—Laughter is such powerful medicine. If you have something funny to share, it’d be tragic not to try tickling some funny bones.
16. Applications—There might be 100 things you can do with a toilet paper roll. You can really fascinate an audience by detailing how to apply something that seems so ordinary in different ways.
17. Quotes—People relish what other people have said. You can quote me on that.
18. Opinions—Insiders, outsiders, experts, novices… Everyone has an opinion and everyone has an opinion about someone else’s opinion. Valid or not, it’s divine to opine.
19. Lessons—The guide, primer, 101, cliff notes, need-to-knows… Any form of “how to” is magically magnetic.
20. News—Old news: everyone needs to know what’s new.
21. Lists—What author in his right mind would write an article called “21 Seriously Strong Content Marketing Magnets” and leave lists off of such a list? People love lists and good ones keep you hooked until to the end.

And now, courtesy of a really good writer and a really smart marketer, Brian Clark, of Copyblogger (links below), gives us…

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Cool, eh?

Over and out. ~ Barry