You already know that content marketing reigns supreme. That is unlikely to change, so it is your responsibility to generate and publish the type of content that will attract customers and help you enhance your bottom line.
The importance of content marketing is backed up by statistics. According to research, content marketing is used by 91 percent of B2B organizations and 86 percent of B2C companies. Only 63 percent of businesses, on the other hand, have a specific content strategy.
You can see what the problem is. Content marketing is necessary, but if done incorrectly – without a clear focus and goal – it can be a major waste of time and money.
With that in mind, here are eight different sorts of content marketing to assist you develop your plan and expand your brand.
Number One: Blog Posts
Despite the fact that blog postings aren’t exactly new in the realm of content marketing, many local businesses still don’t blog on a regular basis. Companies that blog receive 97 percent more links to their websites than companies that don’t, and companies with blogs have a 434 percent higher chance of receiving a top Google rank than companies that don’t.
Compounding blog postings generate more organic traffic over time, accounting for 10% of all blog entries.
Maintain a tight focus on your blog postings for the best outcomes. Make sure each post has a clear, easy-to-follow structure and is optimized for local and voice search.
Infographics are number two.
A lot of local companies ignore infographics, which is unfortunate. They’re becoming more popular, and they’re ideal for presenting a large amount of data in an easy-to-understand format.
While you may believe that creating infographics requires the services of a professional graphic designer, this is not the case. Online tools like Canva and Venngage make creating stunning, shareable infographics a breeze.
Infographics can aid in the development of authority and gravitas. They’re great for posting on social media sites like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Consider turning a data-heavy blog into an infographic to distribute on social media if you’ve recently published one.
#3: Testimonials from Customers
Customer reviews and testimonials are crucial types of social proof to employ in your internet marketing, as you surely know. They can, however, be used as part of your content marketing plan if handled appropriately.
Consider filming video testimonials that convey a captivating tale and persuade people to buy or utilize your business. Video testimonials can be shared on social media, emailed to your list, or placed on your website.
Case Studies (#4)
Although the word “case study” can be scary, think of it as in-depth client testimonies. In most cases, a testimonial will focus on the customer’s impressions of your company. A case study demonstrates how you or your product aided a client.
If you’re going to employ case studies in your content marketing, be sure to do the following: Tell a captivating narrative in an engaging manner. Suspense and passion should be incorporated into the plot to keep people interested and ensure that they stay until the finish.
Make your statement as specific as possible. Don’t just declare you helped your client build their business; back it up with facts and analytics whenever feasible.
Show your customer’s journey from beginning to end. Explain where they came from, why they came looking for you, and what happened once they found you.
Your website should include case studies. They can be shared on social media as well.
Memes (#5)
Memes are always popular and can be effective as a kind of content marketing, but there are a few dangers to avoid.
Sharing random memes that have nothing to do with your business is not a good idea. Instead, it’s up to you to figure out how to make a popular meme relevant to what you’re offering.
Check out Hulu’s social media pages if you’re not sure how to use memes. They use memes all the time, and they’re really good at it. You can also see what your rivals are doing.
#6: Films
The popularity of video marketing has not waned. Using your phone and a variety of free web tools, you can create videos on the cheap.
You don’t have to stop with traditional marketing videos, though. Here are some suggestions:
Create short movies (3 to 60 seconds) to share on Instagram; use the Boomerang app to link together a sequence of photographs into a short video; use free programs like Giphy or EZGif to create GIFs; try an animated or white board video;
There are a variety of video formats from which to choose, so experiment to see what makes the most sense for your target audience.
#7: Cheat Sheets and Checklists
Some of the most effective content marketing offers practical solutions to common issues. People don’t use social media to keep up with their favorite brands for enjoyment. They do it in the hopes of receiving anything in return.
Create checklists or cheat sheets for your followers to utilize as an easy way to offer it. If you own a coffee business, for example, you could make a checklist for brewing the perfect French Press coffee.
You can keep your checklists simple or make them so that they can be downloaded and printed. In any case, you’ll be providing something useful to your fans.
#8: Electronic books
Writing an eBook can appear to be a demanding process, which is why many local businesses avoid it. A well-written short eBook, on the other hand, can help you attract new subscribers to your list while also establishing authority.
Keep in mind that many of the eBooks available on Amazon are under 10,000 words. At 250 words per page, that equates to around 40 pages of content. You can either write the book yourself or hire a professional author to do it for you.
Keep in mind that your eBook should be relevant to your company and useful to the people you’re trying to reach. Lead magnets are the greatest way to use eBooks. You can promote them on social media to persuade people to download them and join your mailing list.
Content marketing is here to stay, and the eight sorts of content marketing we’ve identified will help you grow your audience while also increasing your profitability.
