Guest Post by Josh Wardini, Co-Founder of Serpwatch
In the age of technology and online marketing, it is truly an advantage to have an effective digital strategy in place. And while some marketing tactics like SEO, social media, and paid online advertising are integral for your marketing campaigns, there is one technique that remains a top priority for many marketers — content marketing.
While creating and publishing content across various digital channels is pretty common in many businesses with online presence, content marketing is not the usual blog article and social media post that you churn out on a regular basis. According to Content Marketing Institute, “Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience – and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”
The key here is in the words “valuable” and “relevant.” Not all content saturating the online space give value to users. Some are only contributing to the ever louder marketing noise that it makes it hard for many businesses to stand out from thousands, if not millions, of competition.
Consumers have become more discerning when it comes to the online content they consume. Thinly veiled advertisements can be easily sniffed out and businesses that cannot deliver what they are looking for can lose the chance to convert them into paying customers. Amidst the growing skepticism, content marketing becomes the answer.
Content marketing fulfills the need of today’s consumers for fresh, compelling, and informative content that actually answers their questions and addresses their concerns. In short, content marketing seeks to educate first and sell later. It tackles customers’ pain points and leads them to the best solution.
If you are not quite convinced yet, the following points will let you see the true value of content marketing and what it can do to enhance your digital marketing strategy.
Builds Brand Awareness
Every business aims to strengthen its online presence and expand its audience reach. If you are planning to get the attention of your potential customers, content marketing is the best tool to get your name out there.
Through content marketing, you will be able to optimize keywords related to your brand and offerings and position your website in front of thousands of users looking for valuable resources. It does not stop in getting their attention either.
Good content marketing does not only attract, but also engage readers. It ensures that your content is something they wanted to read, listen to, or watch.
Supports Your SEO Strategy
Everybody knows the importance of a search engine, but do you know that content marketing can actually enhance its impact? Most search engines aim to bring users the most relevant and valuable information, and content marketing can fulfill that demand. This type of content goes deeper into the audience’s perspectives and seek to impart valuable information that can resolve their dilemmas.
It is also worth noting that impressive and in-depth content will make your audience stay longer in your site, lowering your bounce rate and giving you bonus points from search engines. The longer they stay in your page, the higher the chances of improving your search engine ranking.
Helps Generate More Leads
The higher you rank in search engines and the more you attract and engage customers, the better your chances of converting them into customers. Content marketing helps a lot in lead generation. In fact, it can generate 3 times as many leads, but cost 62% less than traditional marketing.
Establishes Brand Authority
Content marketing allows you to showcase your strengths and position your brand as the authority in your niche. You are able to provide value to your readers and, in turn, they put their trust in you. Eventually, they will recognize your brand as credible and they may even turn into your most loyal customers. They go back to your site again and again because they get something out of your content.
Many marketers consider content marketing as the future. If you have not integrated this important marketing technique to your digital strategy yet, then now is the right time to do so. Start setting up an effective content marketing strategy and be prepared to reap its long-term rewards.
Josh Wardini, Editorial Contributor and Community Manager at SERPWatch. With a preliminary background in communication and expertise in community development, Josh works day-to-day to reshape the human resource management of digitally based companies. When his focus trails outside of community engagement, Josh enjoys the indulgences of writing amidst the nature conservations of Portland, Oregon.
Socials – https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-wardini-54604442