Republicans Must Take a Stand for Kids and Minorities

The great Jack Kemp used to say about politicians that "voters don't care what you know until they know that you care." Republicans say they care about the poor and minorities, but do they really?

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Don’t Buy Powerball Tickets. Instead, Here’s How to Use That Cash to Make More Money

You know the odds are slimmer than being struck by lightning. Twice.

But you just can’t resist buying a ticket or two. Or five. Because after all, you can’t win if you don’t play.

Listen: I get it.

Even though I knew it was a waste of money, I spent $20 — $22.25, to be exact, after the cash-only gas station ATM fees — on Powerball tickets. Once the jackpot crossed the $1 billion threshold, I knew I would kick myself if I didn’t at least try.

A Guaranteed Way to Win the Lottery: Don’t Play

With mind-bogglingly slim odds, whatever money you throw at the lottery — be it $2 or $2,000 — is almost definitely a waste.

Instead, what if you invested that cash in a guaranteed way to make money?

Hey, it probably won’t pay out $1.4 billion — but I’d rather have a real $100 than an imaginary $1 billion any day.

Here are some better ways to make money with the cash you’re tempted to blow on Powerball tickets.

$2 — One Entry

Take that $2 and spend it on some chocolate mints to lay on the pillows in your spare room. Then, open your house to guests using platforms like AirBnB or Homestay.

Don’t have a spare bed? If you’ve got a way with words, buy yourself a cup of coffee and sit down to do some freelance writing for blogs that pay for guest posts.

If you’re not much of a writer, you could sip while you get rewarded for searching the internet, watching videos on Swagbucks, filling out online surveys, or cleaning up Google’s mess.

$10 — Five Entries

With $10, you could buy three cases of water to sell for $1 per bottle at a busy event.

Heck, on Jan. 13, there might be a hot, thirsty line of last-minute lottery ticket purchasers at the convenience store — though the shop owner might not be thrilled with your business if he’s selling bottled water, too.

$20 — 10 Entries

Got $20 in your pocket?

Hit your local thrift shop or flea market and find some awesome things to dust off, clean up and resell for a higher price.

$50 — 25 Entries

$50 is a pretty penny to spend on an idle daydream.

Instead, invest the money in learning a skill to jump-start your new career on a platform like Udemy.

Or make like this woman and start a whole business!

$100 — 50 Entries

If you’ve got a Benjamin in your hand, the possibilities are endless.

If you like the idea of not knowing exactly what it’ll become, why not go ahead and invest it? Apps like Betterment make it super simple.

While it’s not guaranteed cash, your odds are way better than your chance of winning the Powerball jackpot.

You could also take any of the ideas listed here to bigger, more lucrative heights. Check out how many businesses you can start with less than $100!

Your Turn: Are you going to buy Powerball tickets anyway? Don’t worry. We won’t tell.

Disclosure: Our friends stopped inviting us over because we were always digging for loose change between their couch cushions. We use affiliate links instead so we still get invited to a few parties.

Jamie Cattanach (@jamiecattanach) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She also writes other stuff, like wine reviews and poems.

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Get These Right, and America Could See a Dramatic Turnaround

The last decade of financial upheaval has been one of the worst in our nation's history. Is there any way out of the mess we're in? Steve Forbes says there is -- and he has a plan.

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Cars We Remember: The Mustang that didn’t get away

Q: During the spring of 1964 I was an Army National Guard enlistee doing my active duty at Fort Ord, California. In April of 1964 Ford introduced the Mustang, and one of my buddies and I were on a three-day pass and drove to Los Angeles in my old 1953 VW to see the new Mustang. We went to a Ford dealer in San Fernando and while my friend John checked out the Mustangs I was more interested in the 1930 Ford Model A coupe they had on display as I don’t recall being particularly [...]

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Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC90 ushers in the future

This is what we’ve been waiting for, the first truly new Volvo since they went to China. Well, since Ford sold Volvo to China’s Geely Group in 2010; Volvo is still in Sweden, and clearly its traditional culture of safety and technology expressed in Scandinavian Moderne design remains unchanged. So how new is the new XC90? It’s so new I wonder why they didn’t call it the XC100. It’s so new I had to consult the owner’s manual to open the glove [...]

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Want to Earn Up to 120% More From Your Job? Here’s Where You Should Move

Wondering how to make more money? You might want to consider relocating.

Sure, moving is expensive and a hassle — but what if it meant a significantly higher paycheck? It might be worth it then, right?

The folks at Business Insider looked into it and discovered the most disproportionately high-paying job in each state.

In other words, they created a map outlining “the occupation in each state with the biggest percent difference between the state average salary and the national average salary.”

Their findings surprised me, so I wanted to share them with you.

Here’s Where to Move If You’re a…

Welder: Alaska, where you could earn 80% more than the national average: $71,910 vs. $40,040.

I’d bet this figure includes a lot of underwater welders, which means you’ll need to be certified in SCUBA.

Printing Press Operator: Washington, D.C., where you’ll be in the heart of national politics, and potentially earn 120% more than the national average: $80,690 vs. $36,700.

Lifeguard: Hawaii, where average salaries are 73% greater than the national average: $36,280 vs. $21,030. Plus, you get to live in Hawaii!

Tile or Marble Setter: Massachusetts, where the average tile or marble setter earns a whopping $75,050 — 70% more than the rest of the country’s $44,160.

EMT or Paramedic: Washington, where you’ll save lives while earning 65% more than the national average: $57,850 vs. $35,110.

Of course, you might need to account for a higher cost of living in many of these states, but if you’re itching for a change, this research might be just the excuse you need!

For the full list and map, head over to Business Insider.

Your Turn: Is your job on the list?

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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Pet Cost Calculator

Pet ownership represents a large emotional – and financial – commitment. Whether you buy from a pet store or a breeder, adopt an animal from a shelter, or take in a stray, initial costs are just the beginning of the story.

What Does Owning a Pet Really Cost?

If you want to get a more concrete idea of what a dog or cat may cost you during the first year, our pet calculator can help give you an estimate. For instance, a dog that needs standard first-year medical care, grooming every two months, regular food, and other supplies could run roughly $835. Throw in premium food, a fenced backyard, and group training sessions, and you could be looking at a $2,550 investment.

One important thing to note about these numbers: They include typical preventative health care (yearly checkup, shots, flea/tick prevention), but not the cost of spaying or neutering your cat or dog. If that’s not something that’s already done for you when you get your cat or dog, you could be looking at an added $200 for a medium-size dog or $145 for a cat, according to the ASPCA.

Pet Cost Calculator

To get a better idea of total estimated costs for your pet, use the calculator below.

The cost of dog ownership

Dogs can be fantastic, faithful companions — but they can also be an unexpectedly large drain on a household’s budget if you fail to think ahead.

Remember to factor in your dog’s lifespan when you’re thinking about costs. If you get a puppy or young dog, you may have a faithful friend for roughly a dozen years, according to PetMD. So if you’re paying $695 annually on pet-related expenses for your medium-size dog, that’s $8,340 over Fido’s lifetime — and that doesn’t include the one-time costs incurred when you first buy the dog that you can estimate with our calculator.

If you want a dog, one of the first decisions you’ll face is whether to buy a puppy from a pet store or breeder, or adopt a dog from a shelter. Choose wisely, because it will have a big impact on your bottom line.

Buying a puppy: Pet store or breeder?

If you have your eye on a specific breed, you’ll probably be buying a puppy. There are two major routes to do so: Pet stores and breeders.

Pet stores may be a less expensive option. You’ll shell out an average of $800 for a pet-store puppy, according to Bankrate. But as many animal lovers will caution, buying a puppy from a pet store might not be worth the initial savings. The pet store probably bought that pup, cute as it may be, from a high-volume breeder that is primarily concerned with pumping out animals — not whether those animals are healthy. Accordingly, pet-store puppies are at greater risk for a range of problems, from severe aggression to heart conditions.

If you go with a professional breeder, you could pay nearly $2,000 (or even more), depending on a host of factors, including breed and litter size. But reputable breeders make sure pups’ parents are in tip-top shape — both from a medical and behavioral standpoint — reducing the likelihood that you’ll have to shell out a huge amount for unexpected issues later in your dog’s life. Often, a breeder will even take the puppy back if you decide it’s not a good fit for your home.

One way to save a buck is to go with a nonprofessional “backyard breeder” that may match or even undercut the price of a pet store. However, many of the concerns here are similar to those when buying from a pet store: The puppies may have been bred from parents that weren’t screened for medical or behavioral issues, and they may not get proper veterinary care after birth. Living conditions may also be questionable, and you probably won’t be able to return the puppy if you encounter problems.

Adopting a puppy from a shelter

Getting your dog from a shelter is a much cheaper (and, some would argue, more humane) way to go. Adoption fees vary greatly by area, shelter, and the age of the pet you’re adopting (puppies and younger dogs are typically more expensive than older dogs).

One of the biggest shelters in my hometown of Knoxville, Tenn., charges as little as $50 for older dogs, and up to $150 for younger ones. Our local Humane Society charges a flat $150 for most dogs, or $200 for puppies. Breed-specific shelters and rescues were a bit more expensive, charging up to $400 for dogs.

Why pay at all to adopt that dog? You’re helping the shelter cover the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, shots, a microchip, an initial exam, and other medical costs such as heartworm or flea medications. In most cases, even if you got a dog for free, you would pay more to do all that on your own.

The cost of cat ownership

If you’re more of a cat person, there’s some good news for your budget: Cats are almost always initially cheaper than dogs. According to our calculator, a cat that needs standard first-year medical care, grooming every few months, regular food, and supplies will cost about $665 the first year. The ongoing annual cost of ownership may also be a bit lower: According to the ASPCA, you’ll pay about $670 a year for food, litter, medical care, and other costs, while a dog may cost as much as $875.

Remember to factor in lifespan, though. According to PetMD, you may have your cat a bit longer than your dog. The average lifespan of a cat is 10 to 15 years, but the lifespan for an indoor-only cat is likely to fall at the far end of that range. So paying $670 a year for 15 years means your cat could cost you more than $10,000 over its lifetime — no small drop in the bucket.

Getting a kitten: Buy or adopt?

Again, one of the first decisions you’ll encounter is how to get your new cat: From a pet store or breeder, or from a shelter. The pet store will be cheaper than the breeder, but you have the same risks that apply to dogs: The pet-store kitten is almost certainly at greater risk for medical or behavioral problems that will cost you more over the long run.

Certainly, it’s pricey to buy from a breeder. Like dogs, you’ll pay more depending on breed, demand, and where you live, but for the most in-demand breeds, you could pay more than $1,000. Again, you’re better off avoiding “backyard breeders” who undercut professionals’ prices, as they probably don’t screen the parent cats for problems.

If you go with a shelter, cat adoption fees are often going to be lower than they are for dogs. Our Humane Society charges a flat $75 for most cats (dogs are double) or $125 for kittens (puppies are $200). The fee covers the cost of spaying or neutering, microchips, shots, and a follow-up visit to a vet after adoption.

How to Save on Pet Care Costs

You’ve probably heard this old saying: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That’s particularly true when it comes to pets. Spending a little where it counts can save you a lot of money in the long run. Here are some dos and don’ts for saving on pet care:

• Look at places other than your veterinarian for routine medications. It’s easy to go through your vet for all pet medications. It’s also expensive. Many common meds, such as flea or tick prevention and heartworm pills, are available online or at big-box stores for less.
• Don’t skip your pet’s annual checkup with the vet. If your vet can catch and treat a problem early on, you will invariably pay much less than you would by shelling out for care if an illness gets to an advanced stage.
• Consider grooming your pet yourself. Grooming may seem like a luxury, but it can also help you spot potential medical problems such as eye or ear infections. Each session with a dog groomer can cost between $30 and $90, with smaller, shorter-hair breeds costing less, according to Angie’s List. If you take your pet once a month or even every other month, that can add up fast. The ASPCA provides DIY grooming tips for both dogs and cats. Just be sure to start early and be consistent to keep your pet used to the process.
• Don’t overspend on pet food. While you may not want to buy the absolute cheapest pet food on the market, the vast majority of pets do just fine on non-premium chow. Brands that tout special health benefits probably aren’t worth spending extra unless your pet has a proven need, experts say. Other ways to save include shopping at big-box stores instead of pet stores, as well as buying in bulk, Consumer Reports advises.
• Be wary of overfeeding your pet. About 25% of dogs and a third of cats are overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of costly medical problems. Be sure to consult your vet on proper portion sizes — chances are, you can save a nice chunk of change by sticking to what’s best for your pet. Be especially careful of providing high-calorie treats and human food.
• Get creative when it comes to toys. You probably don’t need to buy expensive – or maybe even any – toys for your pet. Your cat may be happy to bat around a plastic ring from a gallon of milk or a foil ball; your dog is probably content to tug on an old braided dish towel or chase a tennis ball.

How to Pay for Pet Emergencies

It’s easy enough to budget for routine vet visits, but unexpected medical costs can be one of the biggest budget-busters of pet ownership. Treatments for a pet’s sudden illness or injury can easily cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars — particularly shocking to those of us who have medical insurance that insulates us from the true cost of our own healthcare.

Pet insurer VPI provides a list of 10 common medical conditions for dogs and cats, and the average amount it costs to treat them. The most common canine condition, treating a benign skin mass, averaged $552 — but an ACL rupture, also common, could run more than $3,000. More exotic health problems can cost much more to treat, such as this dog’s $6,000 gallbladder removal.

Unfortunately, prices like these mean pet owners may find themselves in a terrible bind: Cough up thousands in an effort to save the animal’s life, or put them to sleep. If that doesn’t sound like a pleasant choice, make sure you plan ahead by either buying pet insurance, saving up for unexpected pet costs on your own, or both.

Pet insurance: Is it worth it?

The pet insurance industry raked in an estimated $870 million in 2014. What you’ll shell out to insure Fido or Fifi each month varies widely depending on factors such as your pet’s age and how comprehensive you want the policy to be, but plans begin anywhere from $17 to $64 a month with Nationwide, parent company of VPI.

But is buying pet insurance worth it? That’s a good question — and there’s no right answer. Even if you’re willing to pay the monthly premium, there are several potential “gotchas” you’ll need to consider:

• You still have to pay up, at least at first. You usually still need to pay upfront for your pet’s treatment. If you have pet insurance, you’ll then be reimbursed for covered costs after submitting a claim.
• Your premium isn’t all you’ll pay. Just like regular health insurance, you’ll still have a copay or deductible — possibly both. And while your own major medical insurance can no longer put a cap on the amount of care you receive in a given year, Fido can only receive so much before you’re on the hook again.
• Pre-existing conditions aren’t covered. A pet insurer won’t shell out for treatment of any condition that your pet had before the policy was in effect. Seems standard enough, but be sure you know exactly how the policy defines pre-existing conditions.
• There will be other exclusions. Even if your pet doesn’t have a pre-existing condition, many pet insurers specifically exclude problems that your pet may be particularly prone to, such as hip dysplasia or hereditary and congenital problems.

Save up on your own

Yes, pet insurance can help cover your pet’s unexpected bills — but it’s costly, and it comes with plenty of potential pitfalls that may leave you high and dry. If you can afford $35 a month for pet insurance, you might consider saving that money in your own pet emergency fund instead. Do that from the time your pet is a puppy or a kitten, and after five years you’ll already have $2,100 to put toward medical bills. Be sure to keep saving, though, since your pet is more likely to have problems as it ages.

A word of warning: If you already have your own emergency fund — as you absolutely should — avoid dipping into it for pet expenses. That money should be firmly earmarked for your own financial emergencies, such as keeping a roof over your head if you lose your job. If it’s so amply padded that you feel comfortable using some on your pet, you may still want to make a separate pet account. That way, “some” won’t become “almost all,” and Fido won’t be responsible for your own potential financial crisis.

Related Articles:

• How Much Should You Spend on Your Pet?
• Health Care for Buster: All About Pet Insurance

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Savings update: top-paying accounts begin to close

Sylvia Morris

Flying piggies.jpg

Fixed-rate deals are falling with several banks closing their top-paying accounts to new savers.

Fixed-rate deals are falling with several banks closing their top-paying accounts to new savers.

The best one-year deal comes from RCI Bank at 2.06 per cent before tax (1.65 per cent after).

With this French-owned bank your money is covered by the European compensation scheme, which gives €100,000 (around £74,500), rather than the UK scheme.

Savings update: top-paying accounts closing

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Fixed-rate deals are falling with several banks closing their top-paying accounts to new savers. The best one-year deal comes from RCI Bank at 2.06 per cent before tax (1.65 per cent after). With this French-owned bank your money is covered by the European compensation scheme, which gives €100,000 (around £74,500), rather than the UK scheme. Paragon Bank pays 2.01 per cent (1.61 per cent) and Aldermore Bank 2 per cent (1.6 per cent). For two years the best deal is 2.35 per cent (1.88 per cent) with RCI Bank, or 2.25 per cent (1.8 per cent) with Close Brothers. Easy access accounts On easy-access accounts you can earn 1.65 per cent (1.32 per cent) at best from internet accounts run by both RCI and ICICI banks. Virgin Money pays 1.41 per cent (1.3 per cent) both online and in the high street, but you are restricted to making three withdrawals a year from your account. On easy access cash Isas Coventry Building Society pays a top 1.5 per cent, while Virgin Money has relaunched its Defined Access Isa at 1.41 per cent. It limits you to three withdrawals a year. The best one-year fixed rate cash Isa comes from Tesco Bank with a tax-free 1.75 per cent, followed by Virgin Money, Shawbrook Bank and Leeds Building Society all at 1.65 per cent. For two years the top rates is 2 per cent from State Bank of India (UK), while Leeds Building Society pays 1.9 per cent.

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Here’s How to Get a Brand-New Nursing Pillow for Half the Price of a Boppy

I’m not a mom, so I don’t know too much about babies.

One thing I do know from being around my friends’ babies? They eat.

All the time.

And when they’re hungry, my friends always reach for their nursing pillows.

If you have a newborn — or are expecting a new addition — you might want one, too.

Well, I just found out about a way to get a free nursing pillow. All you have to do is pay shipping and handling.

Keep reading to learn more…

How to Get Your “Free” Nursing Pillow

The nursing pillow is available from NursingPillow.com.

Just add one of its basic nursing pillows to your cart (value: $39.95). Then enter coupon code FREE4MOM.

This takes $40 off your total, but you still need to pay shipping and handling.

The site quotes $14.99 for “economy shipping,” which takes 15-25 days, plus a $2.95 fee for “Exchange and Return Insurance,” which basically allows you to return the pillow if you don’t like it.

Your total should come to $17.89 — about half the price of the ultra-popular Boppy.

Though it’s a great price for a nursing pillow, this product has received some negative feedback online.

Complaints include: It’s not firm enough, doesn’t have a removable cover and it’s too small and tears easily.

If you’d rather purchase a Boppy or other brand-name pillow, check on baby forums, local mom groups and in thrift stores. You can often find used Boppys for $15 to $20. Since they have washable covers, you don’t even need to worry about germs.

But if you’re in need of a nursing pillow and want to get a new one at a greatly discounted rate, this one might be worth checking out.

Your Turn: Do you want to try this nursing pillow?

Disclosure: You wouldn’t believe how much coffee The Penny Hoarder team goes through. This post contains affiliate links so we can keep the grinds stocked!

Susan Shain, senior writer for The Penny Hoarder, is always seeking adventure on a budget. Visit her blog at susanshain.com, or say hi on Twitter @susan_shain.

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The Downsides of Winning Big: 21 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything

When I was a repo man, one of my more unusual assignments was repossessing a Cadillac from a recent $1 million lottery winner.

While investigating to determine where the vehicle was hidden, I learned that when the annual lottery checks arrived she quickly spent them partying, leaving her without enough to make her car payments. One night, I drove her car away while she slept.

It’s tough to say how often lottery wins have happier endings. Given the many national lotteries around the world and the 44 state lotteries in the U.S., there have probably been thousands of $1 million-plus winners, and some of them must responsibly manage their winnings.

But sadly, some lottery winners lose it all very quickly. It’s too easy to find one tragic real-life case after another. Here are 21 of the worst.

And what if you win big in the lottery someday? What mistakes should you avoid? The lessons are pretty clear, and they’re right there in the stories if you pay attention.

1. A Typical Story?

Lisa Arcand won $1 million in the Massachusetts lottery in 2004. She bought a house and went on vacations like many winners.

Of course, a million dollars isn’t much after taxes, so she also opened a restaurant to make some additional income. Sadly, within a few years she ran out of money and closed the failing restaurant. In 2007, she said of her lottery experience, “Actually, it’s been very depressing.”

2. From Millionaire to Factory Worker

Michael Carroll was a garbage man in England when, at age 19, he won £9.7 million (about $14.4 million at the time) in the lottery in 2002. A mansion, drugs and gold jewelry ate up the money quickly.

By 2012, Carroll was broke and living off unemployment checks. Now he works on an assembly line in a cookie factory, making £204 (about $300) per week.

3. Party Down… and Down, and Down

Gerald Muswagon, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, won $10 million in 1998. He bought cars for friends and family, and made his new house into a “party pad.”

Eventually, he’d spent all his money and he took a minimum-wage job to support his six children and his girlfriend. In 2005, just seven years after his big win, he took his own life.

4. Generous to a Fault

Janite Lee won $18 million in 1993.

Although her gambling habit reportedly cost her more than $300,000 per year, she may have spent more on charitable and political donations. Her generosity included $1 million for Washington University to build a new library. In 2001, she filed for bankruptcy.

5. Millionaire or Murderer?

Willie Hurt won $3.1 million in the Michigan lottery in 1989.

The money didn’t last long. Within two years Hurt wrecked his marriage, lost custody of his kids and was charged with attempted murder. He spent his winnings on his divorce and drugs, according to his attorney.

6. Big Winner Goes Deep in Debt

Suzanne Mullins won $4.2 million in 1993 in the Virginia lottery. She split the prize with her husband and was supposed to receive 20 annual after-tax payments of $47,778.

But when money got tight, she borrowed from a company that lends cash to lottery winners. In 2000, the lottery rules changed, allowing Mullins to collect the rest of her money all at once. She apparently spent the money rather than pay back what she owed to the lottery lender, and in 2004 a court ruled she still owed the company $154,147.

7. $31 Million Gone in Two Years

Billie Bob Harrell Jr. won $31 million in the Lotto Texas game in 1997, and he no longer had to stock shelves at Home Depot.

He bought a ranch and a few homes, gave money to his church and made loans to friends. Everyone wanted a piece of his money, and soon his marriage was in trouble as he lent and spent all of his winnings. In 1999, less than two years after his big win, Harrell took his own life.

8. Big Spending

Sharon Tirabassi, of Hamilton, Ontario, won $10.5 million in 2004. She treated friends to vacations in Cancun, Las Vegas, California, Florida and the Caribbean.

She got married and bought a house for $515,000 — and got a $360,000 mortgage loan rather than paying all cash. She bought numerous cars, including one that cost more than $200,000, and gave millions of dollars to family and friends.

By 2007, half of her money was gone. By 2008, with her husband in jail for a DUI, Tiribassi lost their home. Now, to pay the rent and support her kids, she takes the bus to her part-time job.

9. Living for the Moment

Lou Eisenberg won $5 million in 1981, which at the time was the largest lottery win ever. After taxes, he received payments of $120,000 annually for 20 years.

He bought a condo in Florida, took trips to Europe and Hawaii, and gambled. He also gave cash to whoever he figured needed it. Of his spending, he says, “I lived for the day.”

Shortly after cashing his last check in 2001, Eisenberg was broke. Now 81 years old, he lives in a mobile home on social security and pension income that amounts to about $1,000 a month.

10. Elderly Lottery Winner Looking for a Job

Vivian Nicholson, of Castleford, England, won £152,300 in 1961, the equivalent of about £3 million today ($4.5 million). She famously vowed to “spend, spend, spend!” She bought expensive designer dresses, vacations, and a new car every six months.

By the 1970s, Nicholson was broke. In 1998, she received money from “Spend, Spend, Spend,” a musical about her life, and spent it all quickly.

By 2007, at age 71, she was living on a pension of £87 weekly ($131), and was looking for a job. After sending out 25 resumes, she still hadn’t found one.

11. Karmic Lottery Loss

Denise Rossi won $1.3 million in the California Lottery in 1996. But instead of telling her husband of 25 years — who thought they were happily married — she asked for a divorce, and said she wanted it done quickly.

Soon after the divorce, Rossi’s ex-husband discovered her deception. In 1999, a judge determined that she had broken asset disclosure laws, and he awarded her husband every penny of her winnings.

12. “Nightmares”

William “Bud” Post won $16.2 million in 1993, and five years later said, “Everybody dreams of winning money, but nobody realizes the nightmares that come out of the woodwork, or the problems.”

Post’s brother tried to hire someone to kill him and his wife. A landlady forced him to give her a third of his winnings. He was convicted of assault for firing a shotgun at a bill collector, and for passing bad checks. He declared bankruptcy.

When Post died in 2006, he left behind little or nothing for his seventh wife and the nine children he had with his sixth wife.

13. Killed for His Money?

Urooj Khan won $1 million in the Illinois lottery in 2012, and opted for the lump-sum payout of $424,500 instead of annual payments. He planned to use the money to expand his dry-cleaning business.

Sadly, Khan died less than a month after winning, the day after his check was mailed. While his death was ruled natural at first, a test later revealed that he had been poisoned with cyanide. The police have not named a suspect, and a subsequent autopsy revealed nothing more.

14. Another Lottery Winner Poisoned

Ibi Roncailoli won a $5 million Lotto prize in 1991, in Ontario, Canada. Soon afterward, she gave $2 million of her winnings to a child she had secretly had with man who was not her husband.

When her husband, gynecologist Joseph Roncailoli, discovered the truth, he poisoned his wife. He went to jail for manslaughter, but not before reportedly asking Ibi’s family for help in paying for her funeral.

15. Two Lottery Wins, Very Little Money

Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice, in 2005 and 2006, collecting $5.4 million in total. Spending sprees, bad investments, gifts to family and a gambling habit all helped her get rid of the money quickly.

16. Defrauded by a Friend

Marva Wilson won $2 million in the Missouri lottery in 2012. Freya Pearson, whom Marva considered a friend, tricked her into giving Pearson unrestricted access to her bank account.

Pearson used the money to travel, gamble and buy cars and an apartment, spending more than $640,000 of Wilson’s winnings. Just two years after cashing in her winning ticket, Wilson was broke.

17. Tax Fraud and Other Problems

Alex Toth won $13 million in the Florida lottery in 1990. He lived well for a few years, then went broke, split up with his wife, got in trouble for filing false tax returns and spent some time in a mental institution. He avoided going to trial for the tax fraud charges by dying, penniless, at age 60 in 2008.

18. Yet Another Lottery Divorce

Lara and Robert Griffith won £1.8 million ($2.7 million) in the Lotto in 2005. They bought a home for £670,000 ($1 million), along with a Lexus 4×4 and a Porsche convertible. Robert paid for his band to have a record made, and Lara splurged on designer handbags. They set up a beauty salon business.

Then, six years later, Roger disappeared with the Porsche and Lara discovered suspicious emails on his computer. He denied having an affair, but the marriage ended, the money was gone and now Lara is an employee at the salon they used to own.

19. Too Young to Win?

Callie Rogers is perhaps the youngest big lottery winner. At age 16, she won £1.9million ($2.9 million) in 2003. Her winnings went toward cosmetic surgery, drugs and partying. She says she attempted suicide three times.

Now married and a mother of three, she has only £2,000 ($3,000) left in the bank, but says she is finally happy. She says of the experience, “I was too young to win the lottery — I don’t think 16-year-olds should be eligible.”

20. A $27 Million Spending Spree

David Lee Edwards split a $280 million Powerball jackpot with three others, a win that came while he was unemployed and living in his parents’ basement. After taxes, he received a lump sum of $27 million.

He bought a $600,000 house, a $1 million fleet of cars, a $78,000 watch, a $1.9 million jet, 200 swords and other medieval weapons, and a $4.5 million fiber-optics installation company. He also married a woman 19 years younger than he was.

Within a year, he had spent $12 million. The house was soon lost to foreclosure, his wife was arrested for stabbing a boyfriend, and David died at age 58 in 2013.

21. A Millionaire Wins the Lottery

Jack Whittaker was already a millionaire when, on Christmas of 2002, he won $314.9 million, the biggest single-person lottery win in history. He opted for a lump-sum payment, which after taxes, left him with $93 million.

His contracting business, which employed over 100 people, provided a great living, but his humble lifestyle meant few people knew how much he made. The lottery winnings were apparently a different kind of income.

Whittaker spent money at strip clubs and casinos. He gave millions to charities. His habit of leaving cash in his car resulted in thefts of $545,000 one time and $100,000 another, and his house was robbed. He showered gifts and cash on his beloved 16-year-old granddaughter, who spent much of the money on drugs. A year later, she was found, apparently murdered.

Whittaker rarely speaks to the press now, and some reports say he is broke. When asked if life was easier before his big win, he said, “Yeah, it was a lot easier then.”

Your Turn: What would you do if you won a big lottery prize? Do you think you would be better off than these winners after ten or fifteen years?

Steve Gillman is the author of, “101 Weird Ways to Make Money” and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com. Of the more than 100 ways he has personally made money, writing is his favorite (so far).

The post The Downsides of Winning Big: 21 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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You Didn’t Win the Jackpot, But Your Losing Lottery Ticket Might Still Be Worth Thousands

If you’re like me, you ignore the lottery most of the time. The chances of winning are way too slim, and I’d rather spend my $1 elsewhere.

However, I admit that — every so often — I get caught up in the hype and flirt with temptation.

And when I do, I don’t worry about playing lucky numbers because I go straight for the scratch-off tickets. I like knowing instantly whether giving up my $1 was a good idea or not.

But recently, my cousin was bragging about the free blender and other things she had won by entering non-winning scratch-off tickets online.

That got my attention, so I did some investigating and discovered second chance lotteries.

What are Second Chance Lotteries?

As the name suggests, they’re a second chance to win cash and prizes. Second chance drawings are available in 43 of the 44 states that hold lotteries.

Rules vary by state, but the general concept is this: If you buy lottery tickets — drawing-style or scratch-offs — for certain games, your non-winning tickets can win you prizes in random drawings.

Tickets are only eligible during certain dates and some drawings occur more frequently than others.

Cash rewards range from $500 to over $1 million. And prizes vary from NFL tickets to brand-new cars!

A Kansas woman won $25,000 in Home Depot gift cards, a Georgia man won a Kia sedan and a California woman won $500,000 — all within two weeks.

Some state lotteries provide additional ways to win.

For example, Tennessee’s lottery allows players to enter any non-winning, drawing-style ticket — including the Powerball — online to gain points.

Then, players can use those points to purchase items like watches and espresso machines.

Ohio has a similar system called MyLotto Rewards.

Why States Offer Another Chance to Win

Different lottery tickets have different top prizes for each game.

However, once the last top prize for the ticket has been claimed, a lottery ticket can no longer be sold.

With second chance drawings, states choose to set aside one of these top prizes for one final drawing after the lottery game closes.

This allows them to sell tickets for a longer period of time, bringing in more revenue to help fund games’ prize structures.

Also, winners have to pay taxes on each claimed prize, bringing states even more money.

How to Get Started With Second Chance Lotteries

First, visit your state’s lottery website to find out if it participates in second chance drawings — and what the rules are.

What you’ll want to know:

• Which games are eligible

• How often drawings occur

• Entry deadlines

Of course, you’ll also need to know how to play.

Not all states have an online entry system. Wisconsin’s Super Second Chance drawing actually requires players to mail in their tickets. That’s too big a hassle for me, but maybe not for you.

If you can, also look at the odds.

Colorado’s second chance lottery provides an online list of prizes still available. It also shows the odds of winning those prizes, based on how many entries have been received.

Knowing the odds can help you better determine which games are worth your dime — and your time.

For online systems, joining is free and only takes a few minutes. To create an account, just enter your first and last name, date of birth, an email address and an account password.

Then, follow the ticket entry instructions. Be sure to use the correct information for your account — you don’t want another Jane Smith falsely claiming your earnings!

What to Do When You Win

One of the downsides to winning the lottery — even a second chance lottery — is you may not be able to do so anonymously.

Each individual state decides whether to make lottery winners’ names public. Unfortunately, only five states grant winners anonymity, The Washington Post reports. And sometimes, that fame and fortune has its downsides.

Instead, protect yourself, and join the list of past lottery winners who’ve invested their money wisely for a shot at a happy ending.

Sign your winning ticket before you go to cash it in. Some experts even suggest you consult with a tax professional right after you discover you’ve won, especially if it’s a large sum. They can help you protect your assets and decide whether to take a lump-sum payout or receive payments over time.

Finally, enjoy it. How often do you win the lottery and what’s the likelihood it’ll happen again?

Remember: Any loss could be your gain.

Your Turn: Have you ever played a second chance lottery? If so, did you win anything?

April Bailey is a freelance journalist, writer and rookie filmmaker based in Atlanta. She is a Nashville native who prides herself on being frugal.

The post You Didn’t Win the Jackpot, But Your Losing Lottery Ticket Might Still Be Worth Thousands appeared first on The Penny Hoarder.

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Mastering Content Marketing: 7 Required Principles for Success

If you’re not thrilled with the results you’re getting from content marketing, you might be missing a piece of the puzzle.

As long as you’re doing some of the key aspects of content marketing right, you’ll get some good results.

However, you’ll also get some bad ones, and overall that will lead to slow growth and minimal success.

This is very common.

And that’s because marketers rely too much on tactics.

You probably know a few good tactics to create content for your readers and promote it.

But you’ve also probably noticed that when you use the same tactics over and over again, many stop working or work only some of the time.

In fact, that’s the whole point of tactics in the first place: a specific approach to a specific situation.

And you won’t be in the same situation all that often.

Despite the fact that most marketers read the same blog posts about tactics and strategies, only 30% of them find content marketing effective. 

Many marketers understand what to do—but not why they should do it.

And this seems like a small thing, but in reality, it’s crucial.

If you don’t understand why you should use a particular tactic, you won’t know when to use it. This means you’re playing a guessing game, and the results will be all over the place.

I want to clear up as much of this as possible in this post.

We’re going to look at the 7 most important principles of content marketing and how you should apply them.

Once you understand how these principles affect your overall content strategy, you should be able to get a better grip on when you need to use specific tactics.

Principle #1: All effective content provides this…

This is something that every single marketer needs to understand.

Content marketing is based on providing value to your target audience.

No matter which type of content you create, every decision you make about it should be to maximize the value for the reader.

Notice that I said “value for the reader.”

One of the most common mistakes is defining value based on your own preferences and opinions.

But your readers don’t necessarily find the same things valuable or interesting as you do.

It’s important that you remember that value is always defined by your audience.

If you’re not seeing any traction with your content, there’s a disconnect. Traffic growth, shares, positive comments, emails, etc. are all signs that you are delivering value to your readers.

In general, the more value you give, the more you get in return.

Signs of high value content: I can’t tell you exactly what your specific audience values. You’ll have to determine that yourself, if you haven’t already.

However, I can point you towards four characteristics of high value content. These aspects remain true in almost any niche:

1. It’s actionable – Your audience comes away from the content knowing how to implement something you covered. This is why you often see me break things down into step-by-step procedures.

2. New stuff - There is some value in repeating your message on certain topics because not all readers understand it or implement it the first time. However, every piece of content should have at least one or two new key facts, findings, tactics, etc. Most audiences put a high value on learning new things.

3. Impressive design/Highly readable - You should make all blog content highly readable. Pick a large font, minimize distractions, format it clearly, and include lots of images. When you’re creating content for other websites, do the best you can (even if their layout isn’t great).

4. Backed up with data and sources - Most audiences need to be convinced that your way is the best way. In order to do that, you need to cite research and experts.

Examples of high value content: One of the toughest parts of becoming a great content creator is distinguishing what is and isn’t high value content.

After all, content comes in many forms.

The best way to learn about it is to see it.

You’ll be able to tell whether you are looking at good content by the high number of social shares and comments it has.

Some high value content, like Seth Godin’s, is very short:

His readers value being challenged into growing as people and marketers.

My content, on the other hand, is extremely long, yet it gets about the same number of shares as Seth’s.

You should also look at other forms of content.

For example, “MinutePhysics” is an extremely popular YouTube channel. Their audience loves the short videos that break down complex topics in simple ways (with attractive drawings):

That audience doesn’t want to know every single detail (which would take days or weeks to learn); they just want to learn something neat in a minute or two.

Or maybe you’re considering repurposing content as slideshows. You should take a look at the top slideshows on Slideshare in order to see what those audiences appreciate:

For the most part, they want high quality images with easy to read text that breaks down large topics into digestible bites.

You’ll also notice that high value content in your niche may not seem that impressive compared to other niches. If you find a situation like this, it will be easy to get traction if you just implement this one principle.

The easiest ways to improve the value of your content: Chances are you’re already creating content but might not be getting the results you crave.

There are three simple changes you can make to improve the quality of your content.

The first, and most important, is to cut down on quantity.

There’s no point in posting a ton until you’re sure that you can produce content that your audience considers high value.

It’s better to create less content of high quality than more content of lesser quality, so spend more time and resources making your content as good as possible.

You can always scale up later.

The second thing you can do is bring in other experts to help you create better content.

You’ll notice that most of the advanced guides on Quick Sprout were written with the help of an expert in that topic:

This helped me create more complete content in areas where I’m not as experienced as I would like to be, which made the content more valuable.

Yes, this will cost you money, but it’s often a good investment.

Finally, if you’re not very good at a particular part of content creation, like design, editing, formatting, etc., bring in an expert freelancer.

In the past, I’ve published a lot of infographics. I could create an okay one, but instead, I found an amazing designer who created infographics my audience loved.

Principle #2: It has personality

Content marketing is all about providing value in order to establish a relationship and trust with the audience.

But value alone isn’t enough in most cases.

If you’re going to create the next Wikipedia, then it’s fine to have purely objective content.

But if you’re blogging, it just doesn’t work.

That doesn’t mean you have to be incredibly biased when you create content, but you should always take a stance on a topic.

And then you explain why you think that something is either good or bad for the reader.

You’ll be wrong sometimes, and that’s okay. But the majority of your readers want to know that behind the content they’re consuming, there’s an actual person who cares about them and the topic, and not just someone who is simply copying and pasting from Wikipedia.

How personality shines through in content: Your personality and opinions show up in your content based on the language you use and the way you write.

Ideally, you should sound the same as you would if you were having a conversation in real life.

For example, Brian Dean is one of the bloggers I know who often says “I’m PUMPED” in his content in various situations:

I think it works really well because anyone who’s ever heard Brian speak could easily picture him saying this in real life.

Compare these two tweets:

• “I’m PUMPED to be speaking at #LAC2014.”
• “I’ll be speaking at #LAC2014; I’m excited.”

Real people typically focus on their feelings first, which is why the second tweet would sound pretty robotic.

In real life, most people would at least say, “I’m so excited for this opportunity!”

While being concise is important in content creation, don’t shorten content at the expense of emotion. Emotional connections build relationships.

Be authentic: The crucial takeaway is to create content that reflects who you are. If another blogger started using the “I’m PUMPED” expression, it might not work for them.

It’s very difficult to create a likable persona from scratch.

It’s much easier to create content based on the likable traits that you already have.

What if you’re not that likable? It’s a common and perfectly reasonable concern.

Very few people are liked by everyone. But here’s the good news: very few people are not liked by everyone.

There are extremely popular writers who use offensive language, i.e., swear words, in their content on a regular basis:

It’s just who they are.

And guess what? It does turn some readers off their content.

However, this is more than made up for by those readers who love them. That’s because they also don’t believe in censoring themselves in real life or online.

Don’t worry about pleasing everyone. Be authentic, and you will build strong relationships with a small group of readers who will be crucial in your long-term success.

How to be more genuine in your content: At first, being authentic is very difficult.

One technique that I recommend to help you with this is to create your content and then record yourself reading it out loud.

Most phones have a built-in recorder. Otherwise, find an app, or use a free online recorder if you have a microphone.

When you listen to the recording, you’ll notice that you speak in a certain way and even insert words to make your speech more natural.

Add these other words (when they make sense), and add punctuation and formatting such as commas, bold type, italics, and capital letters to add emphasis or change the way the audience reads your content.

Principle #3: It convinces the reader that your viewpoint is correct

I touched on it quickly when I explained the first principle. Being persuasive not only adds value to your content but also serves as an important part of effective content marketing.

If you’re not persuasive, how are you going to get readers to come back to you over and over again and trust you?

By the way, being persuasive means that you back up your opinions and claims with credible sources—and not try to manipulate your readers in some way.

If you write an article saying that bicycling is the best form of exercise, all readers will leave if your whole argument is “I rode a bicycle once and got really tired.”

That’s an extremely bad example, but it illustrates the point.

To make your content convincing, you need:

• a clear stance on a topic
• research that backs it up or
• experts who back it up

Examples of convincing content: Backing up your content with credible resources and research isn’t particularly difficult, but it can take a lot of time.

It’s a matter of how much effort you’re willing to put into your content.

But it makes a huge difference even if it’s difficult to see the results right away.

I try to back up all my claims with data when possible. You will often see me link to studies and analysis reports in Quick Sprout posts:

Another completely valid and convincing way to support your viewpoint is by quoting experts or even getting them to contribute unique content:

When possible, I’d rather cite a study.

However, some topics are purely opinion based. How are you going to statistically identify the best SEO tool? It can’t be done.

To take your content even further, provide examples of reputable people and brands using the techniques and strategies you mention in your content.

Readers see that successful people and brands practice what you’re saying, and that adds a lot of credibility to your points.

How to persuade readers with your content: This is simple but very easy to mess up if you do things in the wrong order.

You want to research your topic first, find supporting data, and then create content.

The worst thing you can do is to simply write a huge post about a new topic and then find out that there’s no credible data to support your viewpoint.

This is less of a risk if you have a lot of content creation experience in your niche, but it’s still good to plan ahead.

First of all, find your statistics, and add them to your content outline.

For most topics, you can Google “(topic)+statistics”:

Then, spend 5-10 minutes looking through the results, and pick out any that help strengthen your main view on the topic.

Next, read what thought leaders in the niche have written about similar topics.

You can either read the first page of Google results when you search for your exact topic, or you could search for something like:

(keyword)+thought leader

Alternatively, you can email a particular expert and ask them to answer a specific question. Then, feature the answer in your content.

This alternative takes more time but can get you unique content, and the influencer will likely help you promote the content.

Finally, whenever you’re finished explaining a concept, get in the habit of writing the phrase “For example…”

Add examples whenever possible to clarify things for your audience. I’ve already used that exact phrase three times in this post (you can use others, of course).

Principle #4: Content needs to deliver on its promises

Trust.

It’s why people will continue to return to you instead of any other blogger in your niche.

It’s also why when you sell a product, your audience will know that it’s a legitimate offer that will add even more value to their lives.

Just like in real life, you have to earn trust.

You need to deliver great content over and over again.

However, trust is also really easy to lose.

If you don’t deliver on a promise, you lose that trust. If your audience ever feels tricked, you lose that trust.

And it’s very difficult to win it back.

Making promises in your content: All content creators make promises to their readers in multiple ways.

The most obvious and common one is in a headline.

Your headline often claims a benefit. For example:

Do (this) and you’ll earn $1,000 per month

That’s a promise. You’re saying that the reader can find a high quality answer in your content that will allow them to get that result.

But if within your post, you offer the “get a job and work an extra 50 hours a month” solution to your headline promise, most readers will feel tricked.

Lofty headline claims help you get more clicks and traffic—that’s why we make them.

Just be aware that you need to deliver on your headline.

I’ve created content such as “The Complete Guide to Building Your Blog Audience”:

That’s a big claim.

A complete guide needs to cover everything and do it in a way that’s useful:

If you check out that guide, you’ll notice that not only is it custom designed but it’s also in-depth.

I feel like I’ve delivered on my initial promise in the headline, and judging by the number of links to its main page, I think my audience agrees:

If you ever want to see a site that doesn’t really care about building trust with its audience, check out BuzzFeed.

It routinely uses “clickbait headlines” to attract extra clicks and shares:

Often, it’s about something small that will change your life.

Spoiler: it probably won’t change your life.

And it’s for this reason that BuzzFeed can’t sell products to its audience effectively. The vast majority of the audience doesn’t trust it.

Instead, it generates revenue through advertising, which is one of the least effective types of monetization.

You need to remember this principle for all your content. If you’re telling your subscribers about a product you’re selling, you need to make sure that the product is every bit as amazing as you say it is.

Trust is the most valuable resource you have. Don’t throw it away.

Principle #5: Content is not a one-off occurrence

All great content marketers know one thing:

To be successful with content marketing, you need to be consistent.

It is extremely rare for one piece of content to be enough to generate leads on a regular basis.

The only types of content that can do that are mammoth pieces of content such as full-blown novels and films.

And those are risky.

It pays off for some, but most never see a significant return on their investment.

Online content is a bit different. We don’t typically release huge pieces of content like novels.

Instead, we focus on smaller, focused pieces of content.

The most important thing to realize is that what’s a “big” piece of content to you might not actually be that big.

My posts are typically over 4,000 words long, and they really aren’t “big.”

That’s why it’s a bit silly when bloggers complain that they’re not growing fast when all they’re doing is posting one or two 500-word articles a week.

It seems like a lot because they might not be used to it, but it’s really not.

At least not immediately…

But if they stayed consistent for a few years, they’d amass 200-300 posts that would probably drive a fair amount of reliable traffic.

It’s too bad most bloggers give up before then.

Examples of consistency: Consistently giving value to your audience is how you build a relationship and trust.

There are no shortcuts; it takes time.

I’ve been blogging on Quick Sprout since 2007. I didn’t get hundreds of shares on each piece of content overnight.

If you look in the archives, you’ll see I’ve been posting three times a week for a long time.

I publish a new post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday:

Another great example of consistency is James Clear. He’s a writer who has grown an audience from zero to 200,000 subscribers in just three years.

He did it by posting an article on his site every Monday and Thursday during those three years:

Are you willing to make that sort of commitment? That’s what effective content marketing requires.

How to stay consistent and avoid burnout: On top of correctly setting your expectations, there are four things you can do to increase your chances of being able to maintain consistency.

The first, and most important, thing you need to do is create a content schedule.

Plan your content ahead of time so there’s no chance of something coming up and preventing you from posting. As soon as you skip posting once or twice, it becomes easier to forget about it.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. You can even set up a simple schedule using a spreadsheet:

Any type of calendar schedule will work. If you’ve never used any before, consider Google Calendar, which is simple to get started with:

The second thing you need to do is produce a reasonable amount of content.

You may not have the time or experience to post three times a week like I do.

That’s okay.

You might grow a bit slower, but you’ll still grow as long as you’re consistent.

Start on the low side, and then up your frequency when you feel you can. It’s always better to scale up than down.

Thirdly, you need to make content a priority.

Have enough time carved out specifically for content creation so that even if there’s an emergency somewhere else in the business, you still create the content you need.

Every single piece of content is important even if you can’t see the growth on a post-by-post basis.

Finally, write about topics you care about. That’s the easiest way to stay motivated.

There’s no way I could have written about marketing for over eight years if I didn’t love it.

Principle #6: It outshines everything else out there

The specific content needed for effectiveness will always be changing.

Years ago, you could post basic 500-word articles and still get decent results.

Now, you won’t even get a second look.

For content marketing to work, your content needs to be much better than the competition’s. That’s the only way you stand out, and it’s one of the main reasons why a reader would follow you over someone else.

Examples of next level content: People have written on just about every topic.

When you search for a main keyword, you can see most of the best content around it (Google doesn’t always rank newer content right away).

For example, I could look at the competition for this post by searching for:

Principles of Effective Content Marketing

My next step would be to take a look at the top results.

Here’s what the #1 result looks like:

The information is pretty good, but it’s a very plain and shallow article.

The next few search results are similar, with short, brief lists:

Just by making my post more in-depth and including a lot of examples, I am making it to stand out.

Hopefully, I will outrank these other posts in the future.

Let’s look at another piece of content that stands out…

Tons of SEO bloggers make lists of great tools to use (including me).

However, most only have a few dozen tools at the most.

Brian Dean took a different angle. He personally tested and put together a list of over 150 SEO tools.

He even created custom filtering buttons.

In my posts, I tend to cover the main features of tools in detail, whereas Brian went for quantity.

They’re both examples of next level content, and each will attract different types of readers.

How to ensure that your content is the best: You need to do your best to make each piece of content as strong as possible.

To do this, follow this simple 4-step process:

1. Find your competition – Use Google and tools like BuzzSumo to find the most popular content for a topic.
2. Research your competition – Write down the strengths and weaknesses of all your competition.
3. Match the strengths – If they did something really well, try to match or exceed them in those areas.
4. Fix the weaknesses – Your biggest opportunity to stand out is to improve on weaknesses your competition has.

Principle #7: Your content marketing strategy should always evolve

The final principle is one of the most important:

Your content marketing strategy should never stay static.

If you ever feel like you have it “all figured out,” think again.

Tactics become less effective over time, and adopting (or inventing) new ones is what will keep you successful.

If you go back a few years, you’ll see that many Quick Sprout posts were very short.

As I noticed that longer content performed better in many aspects, I shifted my focus to producing more in-depth content on a regular basis.

Another example is creating infographics.

They were the main way that we were able to get the KISSmetrics blog an impressive 2,512,596 visitors and 41,142 backlinks.

I started using them on Quick Sprout a few years later but saw much tamer results.

Content marketing will always be evolving, so make sure you and your tactics are evolving as well.

Conclusion

Tactics are important for successful content marketing.

But even more important are the 7 underlying principles I’ve shown you in this post.

If you understand these principles, not only will you be able to apply tactics more effectively but you’ll also be able to stay on top of content marketing for years to come.

My challenge for you now is to evaluate if you understand these principles and to apply them on a regular basis.

If you already use these principles, let me know how you do it in a comment below. If not, let me know which ones you need to work on and how you plan to attack them.

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