We live in a world of information consumption. The more and the faster the better. Everyone reads, views, likes, and comments on online content every day.
So content - or to be precise - good content really is king. Consumers and brands are more connected than ever. But if you don’t have a solid content marketing strategy in place, you are losing valuable leads. Which ultimately corresponds to missing out on sales.
In this comprehensive guide, we have summarised all the information you need to plan an effective content marketing strategy.
The way content is being consumed is changing. Images and especially videos are the most engaging type of content across social media. Search engines are becoming smarter and getting better at showing users the most relevant content to suit their needs. Sometimes Google searches don't even lead to a click on a webpage, as Google already provides the answer. All this shows: only uploading the odd blog post to your website now and then is not going to get the right eyes seeing your content.
You need to feed your content through different channels and make use of cross-channel promotion. Identify which channels work best for you and your targets (Blogs, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, Direct Mailing, etc.). Then tailor the content according to the channel you are sharing it on. Do research on consumer trends on the different platforms and within your industry. Keep your website up to date and continuously tweak it to get the best search engine optimization results. Planning and executing all this is what makes up your content marketing strategy.
Most important: create content that provides value. That's how you beat your competition, show up in front of your ideal client online, and reach them when they are ready to make a purchase decision.
Use the table of contents below to navigate through the guide and get insights on the different components, which make up an effective content marketing strategy: