Content marketing is the best way to generate free traffic and spread shared links from search engines. In 2015, it was named the most commercially significant trend in digital marketing. As well as being a great way to engage with customers, content marketing provides them with the expert knowledge to guide them through the process of purchasing products or services.
Content marketing makes it easier to help and inform consumers, while demonstrating that your business is both knowledgeable and reliable. The more content consumers have access to, the more they understand why a product is important, and what its benefits are. It’s not a direct sale, but it allows customers to make a decision about whether a product or service is right for them.
Updating your site with new and high-quality content is guaranteed to have a positive impact on your search rankings. Google loves new content. In addition, a successful content marketing strategy can increase a website’s sharing and social profile.
Content Marketing: Strategies
The following strategies are designed to provide ideas and guidelines for creating great content capable of going viral and resonating with your audience. These strategies can act as inspiration for new channels, with the goal of spreading content.
Content marketing strategies:
- Video is a powerful content marketing strategy
- Provide great information in exchange for contact information
- Ask yourself: what information will attract my target audience?
- Can whitepapers be provided to ensure this information is conveyed to users?
- Webinars are becoming an increasingly powerful medium for gathering information and generating engagement
- Online surveys can be used to collect customer questions, feedback and statistics
- Google provides powerful and free online search tools, such as “Google Forms”
- Google Analytics can inspire many ideas for keyword-based content
- Building relationships with bloggers can be a great content marketing strategy
Content Marketing: Channels
Below is a comprehensive list of the various content marketing channels that can be deployed to spread your message:
- Content Marketing Channels
- Site content
- Social Media
- Blog post
- White Papers
- Email marketing
- Information charts
- Webinars
- Online Video
- Marketing Reviews
- News / PR
Writing tips
The following are useful tips for writing great content that will attract users and give you the greatest possible chance of being shared.
Write a powerful headline
– Over 83% of online users ONLY read the headlines
Provide all your photos with ALT tags.
– Web accessibility is a growing trend
– ALT tags will also help your photos appear higher up in Google Image results
Give your photos captions
– Captions are read 200% more than non-headline copy.
– Let people know how much this is going to cost, and list prices.
-Content which contains a sale price is 20% more likely to attract users’ attention.
Develop a house style. The same tone should be used by all writers.
-Implement a standard font and layout for all content.
– The source should be easy to use and compatible with all systems.
Use colour strategically
What emotions are expressed by the colours you have chosen? (See the image below for more details)
Choose attractive images
-Images should follow the work, not do the work
Courtesy of Visual.ly:
