Are you tired of trudging through the internet, clicking on every article that might help your business, but then seeing nothing that’s exactly what you need? When creating a content marketing strategy, it’s important to remember that not all content is created equal. You’ll need different types of content depending on what you’re trying to accomplish. You’ll also need to know how to measure content and determine what your ROI is.
To help you create a successful content marketing strategy, we’ve put together this guide that will help you identify the types of content that are best suited for the goals you’re trying to accomplish. Let’s get started!
Content Marketing tips
Step #1: Understand What You Want To Accomplish
Before you even begin thinking about what kind of content marketing strategy might work best for your business, it’s important to understand what it is you want to accomplish with your content. Everyone has goals when it comes to their online presence, whether they’re growing their customer base or increasing brand awareness. Figure out what yours are first so you can make sure that each piece of content you put out helps you move toward those goals.
Step #2: Identify The Platforms You’re Going To Use
This step may seem like a no-brainer, but there are plenty of businesses that limit themselves by only using one platform or another to distribute content. For instance, if your company has a blog, it’s important to make sure that content is also shared on other platforms where people who might be interested in what you have to say can find it (for example, sharing a link on Twitter or Facebook).
Similarly, if you’re trying to increase brand awareness through visual marketing, consider which platforms will work best for your audience and post about your brand across multiple channels. This is one of the best tips to follow for content marketing strategy.
How to create a content marketing strategy
To help you get started, here are four ways to develop and implement a successful content marketing plan using various types of web-based media. This advice comes from veteran entrepreneurs who’ve seen hundreds of companies start from scratch and grow into thriving businesses (including my own company). They know firsthand how hard it can be to figure out what works best for your business, so they’re sharing real-world examples of how to get the most out of your website and blog.
1. Creating Persuasive, Entertaining Videos
You’ll need to create videos that are informative as well as fun to watch. A great place to start is by interviewing experts in your field or even people who have built their own successful businesses from the ground up — like the founders of Threadless. These kinds of interviews will attract a wide range of viewers interested in different aspects of your business and they’re likely to share their favorite moments with others on social media sites, which gives you free advertising.
2. Writing a Thoughtful, Engaging Podcast
A podcast is an audio recording of your voice that can be downloaded and shared with others online. When writing your script for the podcast, think about how you can provide useful information in a number of formats — like checklists, steps to take, or “quick wins.” Here’s an example: A quick win is exactly what it sounds like — something that will help you generate more sales quickly. For instance, if you run an e-commerce store, share five tips on how to make a great product image.
3. Creating Compelling Visual Content
This could mean anything from creating infographics that show statistics about your industry or simple images with quotes that resonate with your target audience. No matter what form your visual content takes, be sure to have an actual graphic designer create high-quality pieces — not just anyone with a computer and photo editing software. If you’re on a limited budget, check out Startup Stock Photos and iStockPhoto for affordable options.
4. Creating Interesting Articles
When writing articles, make sure they aren’t too long or complex; think short paragraphs that are easy to skim through as opposed to lengthy dissertations on one specific topic. Also, try using bullet points so readers can get the most important information quickly rather than having to read a long paragraph about writing effective headlines. Here’s an example: A great article by Buffer (@buffer) about how they came up with their name, which is both informative and easy to read.
5. Doing it All on a Budget
If you’re operating on a tight budget, fear not! There are affordable online tools that will help you accomplish all of the above and more — like Hootsuite and Google Drive. If resources are limited, focus first on producing videos for your website because they can be embedded anywhere (like a blog). Once your following grows, then you’ll have the resources to put more time into other types of content creation that will ultimately grow your business even further.
Good luck with creating your content marketing strategy and don’t forget to let me know in the comments below what works best for you!