Content Marketing 101

“Content is king.” This statement is as true now as when Bill Gates said it in 1996. 

Today, content marketing is one of the fastest, most affordable ways to capture, engage, and convert quality audiences. It has revolutionized the online scene, and it’s not showing signs of slowing down.  

So, we thought we’d get back to basics and cover everything you need to know about content marketing, including its definition, tools, and benefits. Take a look and see where this digital marketing strategy fits best for your brand.

What Is Content Marketing? 

Content marketing is the process of developing valuable materials for your target market. It has become a gold standard for digital marketing practices for businesses of all industries and sizes.  

Did you know that the average consumer sees an average of 4,000 to 10,000 digital ads daily? Because of all the digital noise, these potential customers are typically on automatic noise-canceling mode. Over the years, they have developed natural filters that weed out unimportant messages.  

Nonetheless, content marketing offers marketers a creative way to stand out in a sea of competition. Content Marketing can include blogs, papers, infographics, social posts, photos, ebooks, videos, text messages, podcasts, webinars, and much more. The one constant is that it is always evolving and growing. 

What Content Marketing Is Not 

Quality content marketing was never about bombarding your audience with daily so-so information. And it never will be. Instead, the practice champions the use of relevant materials that resonate with consumers no matter who they are and where they are in the buyer’s journey. It creates emotion and a connection. 

Check out Red Bull’s YouTube channel for inspiration. The brand sells energy drinks, but you won’t find posts about calorie content, Jägerbomb recipes, or ingredients. Instead, you will find an extensive range of exhilarating videos that excite viewers.  

Do I Have To Have a Blog? 

Well, you don’t need a blog to survive. However, we recommend having one, no matter your business type. After all, on-site blogging is one of the most cost-effective ways to create content, attract quality leads and differentiate your brand from competitors.  

Additionally, this technique offers many benefits. For instance, blogs boost your authority on particular topics, enhance your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, and provide repurposing opportunities for other platforms.  

In short, blogging can be the foundation you need to elevate your online presence.  

How Often Should I Post? How Long Should It Be? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for posting on various social platforms. This social media guide recommends the following post frequencies: 

• Facebook: Minimum 3x per week. 
• TikTok: One high-quality video per day. 
• Twitter: At least 3x daily. 
• Instagram: Minimum once a week. 
• YouTube: At least once a week. 

Generally, the ideal post length will depend on the platform, but it should be a minimum of 150 to 300 characters. Following this suggestion makes your post short enough to read but long enough to offer valuable information.  

How Do I Promote My Content? 

We recommend creating content types that sit well with your audience, whether they’re social media posts, blogs, or podcasts. There are as many ways to promote your materials to your desired audience, including the following: 

• Email campaigns 
• SMS blasts 
• Influencer marketing 
• Paid ads 
• Media pitches

You can mix and match different techniques to promote your content. There is, however, just one rule: Make sure your efforts reach your target market. Otherwise, you’ll waste so much time and money creating various content types for people who have no interest in your products or services. Yikes! 

How Do I Measure Content? 

Naturally, you want to measure content to gauge whether your investment is worth it or not. It doesn’t take an army to measure content, but this process can still be a bit tricky.  

Here are a few important reminders when performing this task: 

•  

  List your goals. You can’t measure your success without them.  
• Choose your key performance indicators (KPIs). Determine what you want to achieve with your content — impressions, views, backlinks, or something else.  
• Gather your data. We recommend using marketing software to simplify this process.  

What Are the Benefits of Content Marketing? 

Content marketing offers way too many benefits. Some of the most notable ones are: 

• Generate more and better leads.  
• Boost traffic and conversion rates. 
• Encourage brand awareness, trust, and loyalty.  
• Enjoy better social media traction.  
• Build your authority for particular topics.  

Best of all, it’s a cost-effective digital marketing strategy. While upfront costs may seem too expensive, content wins you brownie points with the finance department every time. It offers better ROI than traditional marketing, video marketing, and paid ads.  

Develop a Content Marketing Plan Now 

So, are you ready to take the digital world by storm? No matter your budget, content marketing can help you achieve that. 

However, marketing has a steep learning curve. If you don’t have an expert on your team, we highly recommend outsourcing your efforts.  

At ConnectionModel, we know what it takes to grow businesses through inbound marketing. In fact, we’ve helped hundreds of clients achieve their goals for the past 14 years.  

Contact us today to request a free consultation. We’d love to help you develop a standout content marketing plan.