Top 5 most read Ember Television blog posts of 2016 (so far)

Writing a regular blog on top of a busy workload is tough and relentless. That's why it's important to occasionally stop and reflect on what is working well and what can be improved. Looking below at the list of top five most read Ember Television blog posts in 2016, two things stand out to me.

Firstly, most posts have a clearly defined audience. Whether it's Robin writing about how content marketing can work for financial planners and investors; marketers putting together a video content strategy; or people in Birmingham finding out about ways of helping the growing homeless population, each post has a target audience.

Second, if the audience isn't always clear-cut then the subjects tap into personal and group networks. That accounts for help the homeless being top spot, which was not only shared through our list of contacts, but also by the good folk at SIFA Fireside and iSE. It also explains why Will Marler was a popular subject for a post (just behind being an interesting creative guy, of course).

So the key takeaway is that before you start to write, design or create, have a clearly defined audience in mind who you know will find your work helpful, interesting, and thought-provoking - ideally all three.

Finally, I just want to say thanks to everyone who reads and share our blog posts. We will continue to publish new content every week. In the meantime, here are the top five most-read blog posts of 2016 (so far).

5. Differentiation is vital - and social media is how you do it

Robin makes the case for financial advisers to use video and social media by looking at the age-old question: "If you work in a sector in which there are thousands of firms doing pretty much the same, how are you going to make your business stand out from the crowd?"

4. "I'm always hungry for knowledge": Meet Will Marler, Ember's motion graphic designer

He's only been here a couple of weeks but Will Marler, our new motion graphic designer, is already making waves. We find out about his inspirations, what it was like designing work for the BRIT Awards, and his biggest lifetime achievement so far.

3. Want to be on page one of Google? You have two options

The second entry by Robin in the top five. This time, he looks at how financial advisers can use video content marketing - "the road less travelled" - to rise up the Google rankings.

2. Why use an Online Video Platform (OVP)? Finding alternatives to YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo, part 1

The oldest blog post on this list (it's from May 2015), but no less relevant. The first of a two-part series looking at online video platforms, trying to move away from the default action of uploading a video to YouTube and heading towards an effective video content strategy. The post was expanded into a full eGuide, Video Platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, both, or neither?

1. Helping the homeless in Birmingham

SIFA Fireside. To make a donation, visit the SIFA Fireside Just Giving page. 

At number one, the most read blog post this year is our write-up of iSE's initiative to help SIFA Fireside. Homelessness in Birmingham has increased at an alarming rate over the past few years. While there's so much that needs to be done and changed in order to prevent the situation getting worse, ideas and projects such as this are small yet important steps in the right direction. Read the post to see how you can help, and if you find it helpful, please share it.

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