Content Marketing
Content marketing is the creation and distribution of online material like blog posts, videos, and guides to boost interest in a company’s products and services. And it’s essential to search engine optimization (SEO) success. If you want to rank at the top of online search results, you need to create high-quality, in-depth content related to your industry and business.
It’s important to note — content marketing material isn’t always “salesy.” Instead, content marketing is designed to provide helpful information to your audience, so they can learn more about your products and services — and then ultimately contact you for more information. For example, one of the first results for the search term “kinds of Christmas trees” isn’t trying to sell anything. The goal of the company Pro Flowers is to inform users about the topic of Christmas trees so that they trust them for all of their plant needs.
Types of content
When most people think of content, they only thing of blogging. While blogging is an effective way to produce and share content, many other mediums fall under content marketing, too. Here are some common types of result-driving content you can use for your business:
Blogs: Blogs are a popular way to share information with your audience. When you create a blog, you write and post content on a regular basis. It’s a great way to drive traffic to your site.
Every industry, from dentists to florists, can use a blog as a marketing strategy.
Videos: As platforms like YouTube continue to rise in popularity, videos continually grow as a popular way for businesses to market online. Video marketing is an excellent medium for sharing an abundance of information quickly.
Ebooks: Ebooks provide your audience with everything they need to know about a topic. This content is in-depth, so you’ll cover all the bases of your topic to ensure your audience has a full understanding of the information. Many companies create ebooks and offer them to clients in exchange for contact information.
Infographics: Infographics are visual images that present data and information in an easily digestible format. Many companies use infographics to present statistics and help users better understand them.
Site pages/SEO copy: Site pages are crucial content pages you include on your site. This SEO website copy includes about us pages, pricing and product pages, and more.
Webinars: Webinars are a great opportunity for you to spread your knowledge and expertise with your audience. This content marketing strategy allows you to share information with your audience through live video.
Online guides: Guides are in-depth pieces of content that allow you to give your audience a deeper look into a subject.Many companies offer guides as downloadable content in exchange for information. This format provides your audience with a go-to source for information on a topic.
Long-form content: Long-form content provides your audience with more information on a topic. While it’s not as in-depth as online guides, it does provide your audience with more information than a standard blog post.