Content marketing (along with content marketing techniques) often crops up in conversations among business owners and marketers, especially in recent times.
Although many people have a fair idea of what it is all about, there are several misconceptions swirling around it which, in turn, leads to marginal results.
But what exactly is content marketing?
Content marketing can be defined as the creation, publication and sharing of content with the intention of increasing both the visibility and reputability of a brand.
It’s not just about SEO
Make no mistake about it—done right, content marketing offers several benefits for businesses, including improved search rankings.
However, if you are only after SEO, you are not going to take full advantage of content marketing. Content marketing can offer a whole lot beyond SEO, including bringing in new customers, increasing engagement, and building visibility and trustworthiness.
Moving away from convention
Before the Internet, consumers took a passive role in terms of getting information from the products and services they wanted to purchase. At the helm were brands and their advertisements on print, radio and TV. Simply put, there was no way for brands and their target audience to interact before, during and after the purchase.
And then along came the Internet. It is no understatement to say that through the Internet, consumers have become empowered. Businesses which were savvy enough to see the changes brought about by the Internet took advantage of available platforms in order to engage prospective buyers and provide valuable content.
One key takeaway to remember about content marketing is that it is not about selling or promoting your products or services. Rather, it is about building a lasting relationship with your audience by providing them with helpful content and engaging them in conversations.
Finding a suitable platform
One of the key challenges in successfully launching a content marketing campaign is finding suitable platforms to publish content. These platforms can range from your own website to third party sites to social media sites. Each platform has its own sets of advantages and disadvantages that you ought to be aware of.
Although you can find success by publishing content in all available channels, the best approach would be to select those platforms where the bulk of your target customers are. This will allow you to get better results at a cost-effective rate.
Social media and beyond
Success in content marketing often requires building a strong social media presence which benefits your business in numerous ways. These benefits include an increase in website traffic and subscribers and sharing of your content.
However, social media and content marketing should also be seen as an opportunity for collaboration within your organization. For example, if you have a team that handles PR duties, they can help generate ideas as well as promote your new content.
It’s who you know
It is worthwhile to point out that content marketing is not just about reaching out to your target audience. You can widen your reach and build your reputation further by reaching out to bloggers and industry influencers.
As these people write about your content or publish and share your pieces, you can reach new groups of consumers which would not be otherwise possible for you using other available tools and platforms.
At MGR Consulting Group we specialize in developing effective content marketing strategies that match our clients’ specific industries and marketing plans. If you need help creating original content for your company, feel free to contact our Team anytime. You’re just one article away from gaining a new client.
Thank you for reading. Until next time, this is Manuel Gil del Real (MGR)
