While the Internet gets more bloated, thanks in part to Google placing more value on content, it's getting increasingly challenging for businesses to stand out. The simple keyword tricks just won't work anymore. 

In this episode, Amy Balliet of Killer Infographics explains what it takes to create content people will pay attention to for more than 8 seconds, and Larry Sivitz of Seattle 24x7 and SearchWrite Search Marketing helps us make sense of the wider world of what is known today as content marketing.

By the way, the attention span of a goldfish is 9 seconds.

The Web is abuzz with the term "content marketing," but my guest Ian Lurie of Portent Inc., the Seattle agency he founded in 1995, says it's not about promoting content for its own sake. It's about creating marketable content that informs, amuses and entertains. He should know. He's the co-author of "Web Marketing All-In-One for Dummies."

Writers and marketers alike will enjoy this interview where Ian explains how marketing can save the world and why he still takes time to write well. Find out what question prompted him to "bang his head in a drawer" and other stories of marketing angst.

According to Katherine Cleland of Cleland Marketing, search has made it a lot more difficult to market a small, local business. Luckily, we had her in the studio to give us her rundown of what businesses can do to improve their chances -- especially those in the industrial-manufacturing sector.

She also shared with us how she divides SEO companies into scammers, shysters, bunglers, franchisers and professionals. You'll hear what they are, how to know the difference and what to do to avoid getting burned. There's a wealth of search engine marketing strategies in this information-rich podcast to help you get better search rankings.

Podcast:

Attorney Danny Bronski of VeriTrademark shares his thoughts about what you need to know when starting a business and intellectual property.

No form of intellectual property is a magic wand that's going to make money roll in.

The interview also covers copyrights and sites like Pinterest, and how everything is a bit gray, as well as what to do if you get bad reviews.

Tune in to hear about how to avoid trademark hucksters, a discussion about whether or not intellectual property rights get in the way of innovation and more.

Podcast:

Tony Lael of Corelytics, Jamison West of Arterian and Mark Sandeno talk about smart websites, keeping track of finances, security, mobile, social media and more.

And who's that peeking in through the window?

Podcast: