Why Content Marketing Matters

Sure you hear it all the time, “you really should be doing this.” But are you doing it?

On any given day, consumers are bombarded with advertising, images, and messages telling them to buy certain products or services. It has become normal practice for them to skip by advertisements that they don’t want to hear or see.

In a world where we can access any information in a matter of seconds, information based marketing has become key and has become known as content marketing. Consumers trust a brand that provides good, reliable information. Content marketing is a great way for you to share your message, engage with your fans, customers and potential clients, but many business owners don’t do it because they are not sure what to do, how to do it or why to do it.

Why you should be using content marketing

Content marketing is an effective way for businesses to increase their online presence, showcase their expertise and even save time on educating their audiences. Content marketing is not only about getting customers to buy your products, it is about changing their views and behaviors regarding your company. It communicates who you are as a brand.

Content marketing provides your company with the tools to keep an eye on customer satisfaction and reviews. Even further, content marketing builds trust and loyalty between customers and your business, drives traffic, captures leads and increases the likelihood of customers buying your products or services.

Types of content marketing

As you now know, it is important to regularly publish fresh content. Even more important than just creating this content,  is to share it across multiple platforms and channels to increase traffic and grow your business.

The following are just a small number of proven types of content marketing:

• Blog posts and guest blog posts
• Newsletters
• Newsjacking
• E-books
• Reviews
• How-to reports
• Images, memes or infographics
• Video
• Email marketing
• New releases
• Podcasts

Content Marketing Distribution

Once you have your content, it is time to place it on many different channels. The same content can be repurposed and redistributed many times and in many places to help you capture a new audience or to engage with your current audience.

Focus your distribution efforts on social media channels for successful content marketing. A few examples are listed below:

• Facebook
• Google+
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Blogs
• Email
• Slideshare

Consumers want to trust the businesses they are buying their products from. Content marketing is a way of building that trust between your business and its target market. Content marketing provides the means to measure the success of your marketing efforts, reach targeted audiences, and regularly publish and provide new information.

Are you using content marketing? If you are not, you are probably missing out on valuable customers.
Sources
MWEB. (2014, August 12). Why Content Marketing is so important for your business. Retrieved from MWEB: http://www.mweb.co.za/Entrepreneur/ViewArticle/tabid/3162/Article/6030/Why-Content-Marketing-is-so-important-for-your-business.aspx

Social Marketing 101. (2013, June 16). Content Marketing Quick Guide for Businesses: Reach More People More Effectively. Retrieved from Digital Information World: http://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2013/06/content-marketing-quick-guide-for.html

SPRKD. (2014, August 12). Content Marketing 101: Why is Content Marketing Important? Retrieved from SPRKD: http://sprk-d.com/content-marketing-101-content-marketing-important/