Google rarely uses real estate on its front page for any type of promotional message. Of course, there are many people who never visit the front page of Google any more, as there are now so many other places on the web a user can initiate a Google search query.

Recently, however, we noticed a short sentence on Google’s home page that said, simply:

50 things you didn’t know you could do with Google.

Clicking onto the 50 things (www.google.com/get/googletips), you’ll discover a great example of what is being called “content marketing.” The “50 Things” is a gallery of how-to tips for tasks you can accomplish with various types of products, platforms and features Google offers users. Many of them are extremely practical, but few people use them.

Provide tips to your customers

While you may not be able to replicate the animated way Google produced their tips and  how-tos, the idea of providing your customers such tips is easy to replicate.

Keep a running list of things that you think customers or clients may not know that you provide or offer. Or, perhaps, a list of tips that can help them better use the products you sell them.

Create blog posts on each of your tips and suggestions and, from time-to-time, send out email or tweets reminding customers how to access your list of tips.

We like that idea. We may even try it ourselves very soon.