Content Marketing has become one of the most valuable digital strategies for all businesses regardless of their size or sector. However, picking the right content methods for your business can be quite a challenge considering how many different categories are out there.
Below, we’ll present you 5 of the most popular content marketing types and why you should implement them in your business strategy.
Blogging has become an essential part of businesses’ content strategy. A well organised blog can elevate your site and attract more potential clients. Engaging and visually attractive blog posts will not only provide users with a more satisfactory experience but will also help your website perform better organically.
A good blog post should:
• Present content that is relevant to your business
• Be organised with headings, sub-headings, paragraphs and spacing
• Contain various forms of visual content such as images, statistics and videos
It’s important to know your audience before you choose the topic you want to write about. You’ll need to identify their needs and challenges so you can provide a solution to their problems. Be specific with your headings and write a compelling introduction. This will grab the attention of your visitors and make them want to continue reading your post.
Lastly, don’t forget to include a relevant call-to-action (CTA). It’s not recommended to include a CTA that leads straight to your services. This will only scare your customers away as they will most likely not be ready to commit yet. Instead, try gradually introducing your services to potential clients by offering them a newsletter subscription, guide, or a free trial.
Video and marketing go together like bacon and eggs.
Video marketing is an effective way to engage with your customer base and deliver a more personalised message to your audience. Statistics show that online users respond better to videos rather than long posts that are too informative and time-consuming. A great video content tells a story, includes tutorials, shows personality, and is not excessively lengthy.
Examples of successful video marketing can be seen at the promotional campaigns of Dollar Shave Club, Old Spice, Coca Cola, and Always’. #LikeAGirl. These commercial videos have gone viral because of the emotional appeal, humour and creativity that they have used.
Some free online video making platforms are Magisto and Vimeo.
Infographics are visual presentations that display educational content and statistics in a fun and captivating way. The inclusion of infographics in your present marketing strategy can guarantee you the right clients so make sure that they are relevant, credible, well-organised, and visually appealing. Avoid using complicated language, acronyms, and technical terms. This will only confuse your visitor and push back a potential client.
Some platforms you can create infographics on are Canva, Visme and Piktochart. Not only they’re easy to navigate but they’re also free to use.
Including testimonials as part of your content strategy is a good way of presenting to your audience your past successes. This is often done by applying recommendations and customer stories. Testimonials can turn a visitor into a customer by helping your target audience better understand your brand’s values.
Don’t hesitate to ask your clients for feedback! It’s important to build a positive relationship with your customers so that you’re more confident to request a testimonial. A great way to collect customer feedback is through Google Reviews. Google Reviews enables your clients to leave their thoughts on your services. They can rate your business out of a maximum five stars as well as leave a text review.
An electronic guide is a communication document that aims to give assistance and educate. Guides are often used as a form of content marketing because they address the needs of your target audience. In most cases users need to provide their contact information to download the guide. This is a valuable lead and will most likely result in the request of your goods or services. If you want your guide to succeed and drive more leads, you will need great design and content clarity. If you’re struggling to find a topic to write for, take a look at some of your current blog posts and repurpose them as e-guides.
Content marketing takes many forms so be sure to do your research and find out the types that are most suitable for your business. For example, an IT corporation might require a well-developed guide alongside white papers whereas a cosmetic company will focus on testimonials and video marketing.
Other types of content marketing can be podcasts, checklists, lead magnets, quizzes, courses, and webinars.
