If you are confused and ask what Content Marketing is, you are not alone. Read on and at the end of this short article, you will know everything you need to know.
And, this will also automatically tell you, that this content marketing strategy, is important in the digital age.
If you don’t, your competitors will, and therefore, most of your potential customers will be in their hands.
This content marketing article, continuing the previous article, at; What Is Internet Marketing?
Post Contents
Why Do Content Marketing?
Most people, do some sort of significant research, before making a product or service purchase.
Think about your last time, when considering buying; laptops/smartphones/cars / even new nail clippers, you tend to spend a lot of time on Google and YouTube. Look around from specifications, price estimates, advantages and disadvantages, to brands, which are of interest to you.
I know. I do that when I have to make an important acquisition! Included in matters of purchasing products and services. And most modern people, do the same thing.
Finding and reading reviews and opinions, asking friends, or even strangers on social media and referring to community/group opinions, is the best way to find the right product or service. In meeting your needs.
Plus, in the 21st century with a world of information that can be accessed from a device in your pocket, it’s easy to do.
Smart business people! They understand this. And, have done it. But what is content marketing? Sometimes this is called inbound marketing, and should you do it? Let’s look further.
Content Marketing Or Inbound Marketing
In simple terms, Content Marketing is about understanding the problems and challenges of your clients, in making the decisions they are trying to make.
Armed with this knowledge, you create content to help them. Still, confused? This is a simple example.
Read More: How To Start a Blog For Beginners
Examples Of Simple Content Marketing
Let’s say you sell guitars. And people who are in need, still confused, whether they should buy an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. Say you have set your target market, which is a big fan of Facebook and YouTube.
YouTube is a video hosting site – and it’s easy to embed videos on Facebook, so making help videos makes sense. You reviewed some of the videos. And you see, they have no tricks. Then, you can make something better.
You make videos, share them, tweet them, promote them, and usually put them on various internet channels, sowing seeds in people’s minds that, you know your stuff.
There are no hard sales, although you might push people in a certain direction, maybe make them sign up for your “guitar tips” bulletin. Or something else. In short, your content attracts people and shows them that you are a trusted expert.
Of course, this is a simple example. In isolation, one video, may only have a limited impact on your business, may not exist, but as part of the plan, the content will lead to sales.
Content Marketing Methodology
Content Marketing Methodology is a simple concept. There are several versions, but my favourite is; Mantra Attract – Engage – Convert :
- Attract – Attracts using great content (blogs, videos, infographics, case studies, tutorials, e-books, etc.).
- Engage – Engaged by presenting valuable value offers.
- Convert – Conversions, from time to time, show people you have been involved with them. That, you are the right person to solve their problems.
But This Is A Noisy World!
Although this concept is simple, execution is not that simple. We live in a noisy world where it is difficult to attract people’s attention.
Think about the number of videos that you start watching just to leave 5 seconds. Or, the number of promising blog posts that you quickly leave.
Yes, So Make It Relevant!
The only way you can guarantee, to make your content resonate with a busy and time-poor audience, is to make it interesting and relevant.
I know, I’m more than happy to watch the whole video, or read the full article, if it touches my mind and solves my problem.
Make Sure You Are Involved In Their Time-Provisions
To be effective in Content Marketing, there are a few basic ideas that you need to consider:
- Your Content Marketing activity must involve people with their requirements. You must be in their place and provide the content they want.
- As mentioned, make relevant content super-specific.
- Tell a story and show that you understand their needs.
- Consider all the different channels that you need to hug to get your content out there (search Google, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc.).
- Make sure your content has a clear purpose.
- Determine how you will measure the effectiveness of your plan.
- Remember the nature of content that is always fresh. This will be written separately. So just wait for the update.
Don’t Sell To People, Build Trust
I will not insult you with a random percentage, but it is widely accepted that buyers trust the content that is not sold to them. This is rather very clear. This does not mean you should not make an offer there, maybe download something useful in return for some information about that person, such as their email address. But avoid the “buy things from us” approach, now is not the time for that!
Excuse Me, May I Disturb You For A Moment?
Remember, Content Marketing is different from traditional marketing or conventional advertising. With marketing interruptions, you buy people’s attention, usually, making them uncomfortable.
With Content Marketing, you help them, as they actively seek help.
Don’t turn this opportunity into advertising, use it to build trust and awareness of your brand.
Content Marketing can be measured, is cost-effective, and works. Combined with marketing automation, which we will discuss in future posts, this is a powerful tool that will build your brand and increase your online sales.
Also, read about the importance of content management system
Content Marketing FAQs
What is content marketing?
Content Marketing is a way to sell new styles. Through a strategic marketing approach that focuses on; creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content. It aims to attract and retain a clear audience – and, ultimately, drive customer action for business profits. All this is usually done online.
What are the benefits of Content Marketing?
After knowing the definition of content marketing, then you will begin to get an idea of its benefits. Broadly speaking, the benefits of content marketing are:
- This is the best way to reach the target audience. By offering relevant and quality content to them.
- This is the perfect technique for improving the content, website, and positioning of your business web
- It allows you to transmit your brand values. This helps you attract and retain potential clients on Social Networks.
4 Making articles and content relevant to your audience allows you to benefit from SEO, which helps to get organic search results from search engines, like Google. Read; What is SEO?
Thus, hopefully, this brief article can answer the question of what content marketing is.
Also: Everything you Need to Know About Digital Marketing
