One basic fundamental of a marketing plan is Content Marketing. More and more, B2C marketers and B2B enterprise marketers use this as part of their marketing strategy. It’s normal for marketers to manage multiple campaigns while crunching data. They go beyond their creative limits while coming up with fresh ideas.
Towards A Strategic Approach
According to Upland, 78% of CMOs believe that custom content is the future of the marketing industry. Only 12% of companies ignore content in their efforts. Despite the fact that content is proven to be valuable, only 32% of marketers believe they’re executing an effective strategy.
Smart marketers see traditional marketing as becoming less and less effective, and that there has to be a better way.
Marketers impose a strategic approach that is focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience. And ultimately, to drive profitable customer action linked to achieving ROI.
Companies send information all the time – but mostly not highly relevant or valuable (or should I say spam?). This makes “Content” so intriguing in today’s landscape of thousands of marketing messages daily. Good content strategy makes a person stop, read, think and behave differently amidst a very noisy crowd.
Marketing Lives And Breathes Content
Quality content is part of all forms of marketing. Here’s why:
- SEO: Search engines reward businesses that publish quality content.
- Pay Per Click: You need a valuable content to achieve at least 0.02% Click Through Rate.
- Social Media: The subject matter focus comes before your social media strategy.
- PR: Successful PR strategies address issues readers care about, not about the business.
- Inbound Marketing: Content is key to driving inbound traffic and leads.
- Content Strategy: Content strategy is part of most content marketing strategies.
WHY CONTENT MARKETING MATTERS
Businesses should pay attention to content marketing for several compelling reasons:
Builds Brand Awareness: Content marketing allows businesses to create and distribute valuable, informative, or entertaining content that captures the attention of their target audience. This helps in building brand awareness and establishing a strong online presence.
Establishes Authority and Expertise: Creating high-quality and relevant content positions your business as an industry leader and expert. When you consistently provide valuable insights and information, customers are more likely to trust your brand and view you as a reliable source of knowledge.
Drives Organic Traffic: Quality content that is optimized for search engines (SEO) can attract organic traffic to your website. When users search for information related to your industry, your content can appear in search results, leading potential customers to your site.
Engages and Retains Customers: Content that resonates with your target audience can keep them engaged and interested in your brand. Engaged customers are more likely to return to your website, explore your offerings, and eventually make purchases.
Supports Customer Journey: Content marketing can guide customers through various stages of their buying journey. From awareness to consideration and decision-making, well-crafted content can provide the information and answers they need at each step
Generates Leads: Quality content, such as ebooks, webinars, and whitepapers, can be offered as gated resources in exchange for user contact information. This helps in building a list of leads for future marketing efforts.
Enhances Social Media Presence: Engaging content is highly shareable on social media platforms. Sharing valuable content not only increases your brand’s reach but also encourages social media users to engage with your business.
Promotes Brand Loyalty: Consistently delivering value through content marketing can foster a sense of loyalty among your customers. When they feel connected to your brand, they are more likely to remain loyal and recommend your products or services to others.
Differentiates Your Brand: In competitive markets, content marketing can help your brand stand out. Unique, insightful, and entertaining content sets you apart from competitors who might offer similar products or services.
Adaptable Across Channels: Content can be repurposed and adapted for various marketing channels, including social media, email marketing, blogs, videos, podcasts, and more. This versatility maximizes the reach of your content efforts.
Measurable Results: With tools like website analytics and social media insights, you can track the performance of your content marketing efforts. This allows you to understand what’s working, make data-driven decisions, and optimize your strategies.
In a digital age where consumers are actively seeking information online, content marketing is a powerful tool for businesses to connect with their audience, build relationships, and drive meaningful business outcomes. By investing in content marketing, businesses can create a sustainable and effective marketing strategy that benefits both their brand and their customers.
Understanding Performance
By understanding your performance in each of these areas, you can better allocate your budget and retarget your efforts for maximum return. As time flies by, recognize the shifts taking place, adapt accordingly, and be ready to evolve with change.
Remember, value-driven content makes a person stop, read, think and behave differently amidst a very noisy crowd. If at any time, you have questions about content marketing, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us.
About The Author
Freddie Lacorte
He's the Brand Architect "slash" Digital Trailblazer of the Team. Freddie brings forth his expertise in Marketing, getting the word out there about us. Whether it's establishing one's identity with branding solutions, or tapping onto the latest digital trends, he got those covered. On the side, he's a frustrated singer who plays acoustic guitar.
View Freddie’s LinkedIn Profile here.