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Content Machine: Use Content Marketing to Build a 7-figure Business With Zero Advertising
Content Machine outlines a strategy for using content marketing to build a 7 figure business with zero advertising.
By teaching the fundamentals of content marketing, how to create great content and how to stand out from the crowd, it simplifies the otherwise challenging process of creating content with impact.
Since the purpose of content marketing is to build a great business, Content Machine focuses heavily on how to create a high growth business off the back of your content. Author Dan Norris shares his story about how he grew his WordPress support business from scratch to over $1m AUD annual run rate in 2 years, spending only $181.23 on advertising.
The lessons learned form a framework for building businesses and scaling content marketing, that are documented throughout Content Machine in terms any entrepreneur can understand.
The book outlines the #1 biggest mistake that kills content marketing efforts and how the best content marketers in the world have built their audience, their content and their business. It provides downloads and frameworks to help the reader with every aspect of content marketing, from idea generation, to writing guidelines, to hiring and scaling a content team.
Whether you are a blogger, content marketer, entrepreneur or marketing manager, Content Machine will help you see the return you deserve from your content marketing efforts.
By teaching the fundamentals of content marketing, how to create great content and how to stand out from the crowd, it simplifies the otherwise challenging process of creating content with impact.
Since the purpose of content marketing is to build a great business, Content Machine focuses heavily on how to create a high growth business off the back of your content. Author Dan Norris shares his story about how he grew his WordPress support business from scratch to over $1m AUD annual run rate in 2 years, spending only $181.23 on advertising.
The lessons learned form a framework for building businesses and scaling content marketing, that are documented throughout Content Machine in terms any entrepreneur can understand.
The book outlines the #1 biggest mistake that kills content marketing efforts and how the best content marketers in the world have built their audience, their content and their business. It provides downloads and frameworks to help the reader with every aspect of content marketing, from idea generation, to writing guidelines, to hiring and scaling a content team.
Whether you are a blogger, content marketer, entrepreneur or marketing manager, Content Machine will help you see the return you deserve from your content marketing efforts.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2015
310 people are currently reading
877 people want to read
About the author
Dan Norris
3 books57 followersDan is an Amazon best selling Author and serial entrepreneur.
He was voted Australia's top small business blogger in 2013. In the same year he started WP Curve (http://wpcurve.com), A WordPress support company that he grew to 45 team members in 7 countries, thousands of customers and a million dollar AUD annual run rate in less than 2 years.
Dan relied solely on Content Marketing and word of mouth, and used the techniques documented in Content Machine.
He was voted Australia's top small business blogger in 2013. In the same year he started WP Curve (http://wpcurve.com), A WordPress support company that he grew to 45 team members in 7 countries, thousands of customers and a million dollar AUD annual run rate in less than 2 years.
Dan relied solely on Content Marketing and word of mouth, and used the techniques documented in Content Machine.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
January 21, 2016
Great book for getting a foundational understanding of content marketing and a good springboard for generating content ideas.
September 29, 2016
Great blueprint for successful content marketing.
I read a lot about content marketing but this book was fantastic because Dan actually opens up his playbook to show you specific ways you can increase your content marketing value.
I read a lot about content marketing but this book was fantastic because Dan actually opens up his playbook to show you specific ways you can increase your content marketing value.
February 9, 2020
This book is a slog. Yes, it has SOME valuable information, but that's mostly in the last 20 pages or so. The majority of the 180 pages preceeding the actual useful info is dull, self-indulgent fluff.
It's especially painful seeing how often the author says, "In my previous book, The 7 Day Startup," because he repeats it so often. Every single time you see the words "in my previous book," you're guaranteed to see the title of the book immediately after. Honestly, we get it: You're previous book was titled The 7 Day Startup. No need to repeat it so often.
A lot of the time, it felt like Vincent Adultman from BoJack Horseman was the author as the writing was super basic and frequently referenced "business" without actually delving into business practices. That probably would've been more entertaining had it been written by Vincent Adultman, actually.
Also, there are some pretty bad typos. Poorly written, poorly edited, terribly misguided. Avoid this book.
It's especially painful seeing how often the author says, "In my previous book, The 7 Day Startup," because he repeats it so often. Every single time you see the words "in my previous book," you're guaranteed to see the title of the book immediately after. Honestly, we get it: You're previous book was titled The 7 Day Startup. No need to repeat it so often.
A lot of the time, it felt like Vincent Adultman from BoJack Horseman was the author as the writing was super basic and frequently referenced "business" without actually delving into business practices. That probably would've been more entertaining had it been written by Vincent Adultman, actually.
Also, there are some pretty bad typos. Poorly written, poorly edited, terribly misguided. Avoid this book.
May 3, 2018
Excellent book for content marketers. This book is full of ideas and guides for every marketing person.
November 10, 2018
I wish I read this book years ago
This is the book I’ve been needing. It teaches you everything you need to know about content marketing and makes you want to start writing!
This is the book I’ve been needing. It teaches you everything you need to know about content marketing and makes you want to start writing!
April 17, 2024
Mostly sensible advice with a plain writing style.
Dan name-drops his other book as much as he can, which grows tedious after a while.
I came away with some new ideas for content and brainstorming strategies. You'll get even more out of the book if you are new to content marketing and need to swot up on core principles.
The book was published in 2015, and it's showing its age. For example, the URLs containing http:// stood out now that https:// is standard, and talking about Google+ took me back to a different time.
Dan recommends a site called LikeExplorer, but I'm not sure the service exists any more. The current webpage features a Hotmail address prominently in the site header: myrtle.stark@hotmail.com.
There are a couple of cringe moments. Why do content and SEO folks keep using the inability to see as a metaphor for how web stuff works?
Dan recommends a sequence of social posts to promote each new piece of your content, starting with high frequency and stretching them out as the content ages. In the next breath, Dan admits that he unfollows most accounts that do this. I laughed.
The most unpalatable part of the book was Dan's recommendation to use underpaid workers to complete content tasks.
There's a throwaway remark about hiring a full-time Virtual Assistant for $400–500 a month (!). Let's add 24% for inflation. That's $500–$624 per month. Assuming the VA works 160 hours per month for Dan, that's $3-4 PER HOUR, assuming the money goes straight into the worker's pocket (unlikely).
Dan name-drops his other book as much as he can, which grows tedious after a while.
I came away with some new ideas for content and brainstorming strategies. You'll get even more out of the book if you are new to content marketing and need to swot up on core principles.
The book was published in 2015, and it's showing its age. For example, the URLs containing http:// stood out now that https:// is standard, and talking about Google+ took me back to a different time.
Dan recommends a site called LikeExplorer, but I'm not sure the service exists any more. The current webpage features a Hotmail address prominently in the site header: myrtle.stark@hotmail.com.
There are a couple of cringe moments. Why do content and SEO folks keep using the inability to see as a metaphor for how web stuff works?
Dan recommends a sequence of social posts to promote each new piece of your content, starting with high frequency and stretching them out as the content ages. In the next breath, Dan admits that he unfollows most accounts that do this. I laughed.
The most unpalatable part of the book was Dan's recommendation to use underpaid workers to complete content tasks.
There's a throwaway remark about hiring a full-time Virtual Assistant for $400–500 a month (!). Let's add 24% for inflation. That's $500–$624 per month. Assuming the VA works 160 hours per month for Dan, that's $3-4 PER HOUR, assuming the money goes straight into the worker's pocket (unlikely).
September 20, 2025
Roadshow đi bộ, còn gọi là human billboard, là hình thức quảng cáo lưu động độc đáo khi đội ngũ PG/PB mặc đồng phục thương hiệu diễu hành trên phố đi bộ hay khu vực công cộng sầm uất. Thay vì sử dụng xe cộ, hoạt động này khai thác sức người kết hợp banner, cờ phướn, sản phẩm mẫu để truyền tải thông điệp. Điểm mạnh lớn nhất là khả năng tương tác trực tiếp: nhân sự vừa diễu hành vừa tiếp cận, trò chuyện, phát tờ rơi, sampling hoặc tổ chức mini-game, giúp tạo trải nghiệm gần gũi và đáng nhớ cho khách hàng.
Hình thức này cũng chú trọng vào yếu tố thị giác với đồng phục bắt mắt, banner, biển cầm tay hay mascot vui nhộn, dễ dàng trở thành tâm điểm chú ý. Để tăng hiệu ứng đám đông, nhiều chiến dịch còn lồng ghép flashmob, ca hát, biểu diễn đường phố… khiến người đi đường dừng lại, quay phim, chụp ảnh và chia sẻ lên mạng xã hội, góp phần lan truyền mạnh mẽ. Thành công của roadshow đi bộ phụ thuộc vào lộ trình và thời điểm “vàng” như phố đi bộ, quảng trường, trung tâm thương mại, công viên hay khu vực đông sinh viên – đặc biệt vào cuối tuần và giờ cao điểm để tối đa hóa hiệu quả tiếp cận. Xem thêm thông tin tại đây: https://quangcaophoenix.com/hinh-thuc-roadshow-di-bo-la-gi/
Nếu bạn đang tìm kiếm một đối tác tin cậy để tổ chức roadshow xích lô hiệu quả và chuyên nghiệp, hãy liên hệ ngay với Phoenix Media Group qua hotline 0356229511. Chúng tôi cam kết mang đến những giải pháp tối ưu, giúp thương hiệu của bạn tỏa sáng!
#roadshow_di_bo
#quang_cao_phoenix
#phoenix_media_group
Hình thức này cũng chú trọng vào yếu tố thị giác với đồng phục bắt mắt, banner, biển cầm tay hay mascot vui nhộn, dễ dàng trở thành tâm điểm chú ý. Để tăng hiệu ứng đám đông, nhiều chiến dịch còn lồng ghép flashmob, ca hát, biểu diễn đường phố… khiến người đi đường dừng lại, quay phim, chụp ảnh và chia sẻ lên mạng xã hội, góp phần lan truyền mạnh mẽ. Thành công của roadshow đi bộ phụ thuộc vào lộ trình và thời điểm “vàng” như phố đi bộ, quảng trường, trung tâm thương mại, công viên hay khu vực đông sinh viên – đặc biệt vào cuối tuần và giờ cao điểm để tối đa hóa hiệu quả tiếp cận. Xem thêm thông tin tại đây: https://quangcaophoenix.com/hinh-thuc-roadshow-di-bo-la-gi/
Nếu bạn đang tìm kiếm một đối tác tin cậy để tổ chức roadshow xích lô hiệu quả và chuyên nghiệp, hãy liên hệ ngay với Phoenix Media Group qua hotline 0356229511. Chúng tôi cam kết mang đến những giải pháp tối ưu, giúp thương hiệu của bạn tỏa sáng!
#roadshow_di_bo
#quang_cao_phoenix
#phoenix_media_group
October 26, 2018
I don’t believe how much value this book has added to me. It is incredibly thoughtful, practical and actionable. If you really want to know about content marketing I would recommend you read this book as soon as possible.
It looks like the author really wanted to give you everything you need to start right away and he didn’t keep something to himself.
This book also teaches me that there are people in the world is so generous you wouldn’t believe it.
The author applies his own advise: give, give, give and when you think you’ve given enough, give more.
It looks like the author really wanted to give you everything you need to start right away and he didn’t keep something to himself.
This book also teaches me that there are people in the world is so generous you wouldn’t believe it.
The author applies his own advise: give, give, give and when you think you’ve given enough, give more.
October 9, 2019
Actionable book if you're new into content marketing. The best part about it are the free resources Dan Norris offers which can be super-helpful if planning to start a blog (specifically). If you're not into blog creation it can still be useful but some brain power must be applied in order to figure out how to translate the strategic ideas he offers for blog writing and actually use them into whatever you're creating.
September 17, 2024
Considering this was written in 2015, it’s a bit out dated and doesn’t take into consideration how the entire content creation process is changing with AI. However, the prioritization of generosity as a means of creating value, as well as the basics in what makes “quality” content actually quality, are both timeless pieces of advice useful to beginners in marketing. P63-67 contains a list of very practical ways to generate content topic ideas.
August 31, 2019
I'm not sure if it's because I just finished the comprehensive and profound "Epic Content Marketing" by Joe Pulizzi, but I thought this book absolutely sucked.There seemed to be few original insights, and it was written as if it were a blog—paragraphs prematurely broken up, and language so simple that it was painfully dull.
I wouldn't waste your time.
I wouldn't waste your time.
October 31, 2019
Too much focus on writing articles
In a book about content, I expect more about actually creating content for different formats. This book mentions video and podcasts but is mostly about writing blog posts. The advice on video and other formats are too thin.
If you are creating a blog it’s ok. But not the best book I’ve read on the subject.
In a book about content, I expect more about actually creating content for different formats. This book mentions video and podcasts but is mostly about writing blog posts. The advice on video and other formats are too thin.
If you are creating a blog it’s ok. But not the best book I’ve read on the subject.
February 10, 2020
I read this several years ago. From what I remember, nothing remarkable, basically just how to create a system to consistently produce content. The bigger issue is how to align your content to your business goals and how to prove a return. This would be a better topic to discuss. Wouldn't recommend.
June 7, 2020
Practical book
great practical book to understand and start creating content, I liked the amount of easy and useful tips to implement. I recommend the book for those who have a business and need to promote it. I would have given it 5 stars, if the additional resources mentioned in the book were available, however Dan told me that it would be soon.
great practical book to understand and start creating content, I liked the amount of easy and useful tips to implement. I recommend the book for those who have a business and need to promote it. I would have given it 5 stars, if the additional resources mentioned in the book were available, however Dan told me that it would be soon.
January 5, 2021
This is a great resource for those starting out with content marketing. Content can be of many forms(Videos, articles, blog posts, posters, etc.) Although the main focus of the content in this book was regarding written content, the major ideas were mostly adaptable for the rest of its variations. I was able to take some action in terms of my articles as well as some video production using the ideas provided in it.
September 7, 2017
Great resources
This is a very good book on the basics of content marketing. What makes this book stand out is the resources you get along with it to help grow your business. I would recommend this to anyone who discontent in their business, whether it's in a blog or social media.
This is a very good book on the basics of content marketing. What makes this book stand out is the resources you get along with it to help grow your business. I would recommend this to anyone who discontent in their business, whether it's in a blog or social media.
May 24, 2018
I think this has lots of good information. I'd recommend the printed copy, not the audiobook as it was incredibly hard to follow. Which is a shame. If you're new to content marketing, this has lots of ideas and things to get you started.
May 26, 2020
Poorly structured
I started the book earnestly but the content quality tailed away fairly quickly. Dan doesn't seem to follow his own advice. I found myself skipping over the pages.
I started the book earnestly but the content quality tailed away fairly quickly. Dan doesn't seem to follow his own advice. I found myself skipping over the pages.
July 12, 2020
Excellent and Useful
Well written book with plenty of instructions and resources. If you need just one book and a warmonger started then this is the book for you. Commit the time over the course of four months to get started and you'll be good to go.
Well written book with plenty of instructions and resources. If you need just one book and a warmonger started then this is the book for you. Commit the time over the course of four months to get started and you'll be good to go.
January 9, 2021
Actionable ideas to take your content marketing to the next level
Very approachable book for those of us seeking to take our content marketing up to professional class. The free resources included are of tremendous value. Well done.
Very approachable book for those of us seeking to take our content marketing up to professional class. The free resources included are of tremendous value. Well done.
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July 15, 2023خیلی کتاب مفید و آموزندهای بود. اگه قصد دارید تولید محتوا کنید، تو خوندن این کتاب شک نکنید!
اگه قراره برای سایت یا بلاگ محتوانویسی کنید خیلی بیشتر براتون کاربردی خواهد بود، اما اگه هدفتون سوشالمدیا هست هم میتونید بهره ببرید ازش.
اگه قراره برای سایت یا بلاگ محتوانویسی کنید خیلی بیشتر براتون کاربردی خواهد بود، اما اگه هدفتون سوشالمدیا هست هم میتونید بهره ببرید ازش.
March 3, 2025
Highly recommend this book for anyone scaling their business
This book is extremely practical and comes with a bunch of resources to help you get started or make pivots in your current content strategy.
This book is extremely practical and comes with a bunch of resources to help you get started or make pivots in your current content strategy.
February 26, 2019
A must read for entrepreneurs
A fantastic book full of information and actionable content that will help anyone in a business. I highly recommend it.
A fantastic book full of information and actionable content that will help anyone in a business. I highly recommend it.
June 3, 2019
Very Informative!
Amazing how to content market book, actually read on a free kindle trial but I will have to buy my own copy, not sure how I will survive if I don’t!
Amazing how to content market book, actually read on a free kindle trial but I will have to buy my own copy, not sure how I will survive if I don’t!
April 9, 2020
Now I know exactly what content marketing is and how widespread it is.
This book gives much needed insight into the ups and downs of content marketing and all of which it entails.
This book gives much needed insight into the ups and downs of content marketing and all of which it entails.
May 11, 2023
A great book for new Entrepreneurs who are eager to learn how to market themselves and thier business through efficient content production.
March 27, 2025
great read for beginners
If don’t know anything about this content marketing, like me, you need to read this. It’s a great stepping stone what it is and how to create your own.
If don’t know anything about this content marketing, like me, you need to read this. It’s a great stepping stone what it is and how to create your own.
June 22, 2019
کتاب برای کسانی که هیچ آشنایی با تولید محتوا ندارند خوبه، وگرنه مسائل حرفه ای رو بهش نپرداخته
بخش های زیادیش متأسفانه با توجه به فیلترینگ و تحریم و ... در ایران کاربردی نیست
و البته بخش هایی هم به خاطر فرهنگ رایج در کاربران قابل استفاده در ایران نیست
بخش های زیادیش متأسفانه با توجه به فیلترینگ و تحریم و ... در ایران کاربردی نیست
و البته بخش هایی هم به خاطر فرهنگ رایج در کاربران قابل استفاده در ایران نیست
October 10, 2015
I think everyone should read this book, why? Because in this 'choose yourself' world we now live in, everyone should know something about creating good content and having a system to do that. Like Seth Godin says we're all artists our product is our art, or our business and without marketing it's not going to be seen or heard. Better yet, purchased!
Dan doesn't hold back sharing his own secret sauce for his success over the years and provides everything you need to start your own content machine. What I love about Dan's books is how practical it all is, the title might have you thinking you'll come out the other side a one woman writing machine (and maybe you will), but Dan shares how he also involves contractors, guest writers and even influencers in powering that perpetual content machine.
I found the section on different approaches interesting as well, some marketing techniques can you feeling less than proud to be considered a marketer but it doesn't have to be that way.
The greatest aspect of the book is often the examples of the techniques in action either within his own company WPCurve an innovative approach with flat rate monthly pricing on small WordPress jobs, or those of other businesses doing well in their respective markets.
I've often recommended Dan's first book 'The 7 Day Start Up' as a practical way to start thinking about starting your own business and now I'd quickly follow that up with Content Machine to build and grow an audience for your new products and services. The go hand in hand, from the day you know what your are going to launch you should probably start working on your content machine!
Don't forget to check out the downloadable resources, with recommended tools, templates, frameworks and step by step guides on useful things every business will eventually need.
Dan doesn't hold back sharing his own secret sauce for his success over the years and provides everything you need to start your own content machine. What I love about Dan's books is how practical it all is, the title might have you thinking you'll come out the other side a one woman writing machine (and maybe you will), but Dan shares how he also involves contractors, guest writers and even influencers in powering that perpetual content machine.
I found the section on different approaches interesting as well, some marketing techniques can you feeling less than proud to be considered a marketer but it doesn't have to be that way.
The greatest aspect of the book is often the examples of the techniques in action either within his own company WPCurve an innovative approach with flat rate monthly pricing on small WordPress jobs, or those of other businesses doing well in their respective markets.
I've often recommended Dan's first book 'The 7 Day Start Up' as a practical way to start thinking about starting your own business and now I'd quickly follow that up with Content Machine to build and grow an audience for your new products and services. The go hand in hand, from the day you know what your are going to launch you should probably start working on your content machine!
Don't forget to check out the downloadable resources, with recommended tools, templates, frameworks and step by step guides on useful things every business will eventually need.
June 2, 2023
Got my entrepreneurial blood pumping and excited. I enjoyed the peppering of short stories of successful individuals, explanation of the different approaches to content marketing (ie hustler, pioneer), and practical tips (ie quality of quantity and know your audience).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews