The modern world of marketing revolves around digital marketing and its many advertising opportunities. Although things like social media marketing and pay per click advertising work extremely well and can drive visitors directly to your website, content marketing is also something that you should seriously consider using.
What is content marketing?
Basically, content marketing involves creation and distribution of high quality content on the internet. The idea is to create valuable content which people will read and share on social media. This helps your name get out there, and is especially valuable if you own a website or online store which is based on a high traffic volume.
It is important to note that content used for content marketing must be things which people want to look at or read. This differs from most advertising methods in that people are engaging with your content voluntarily, rather than having ads forced on them. Think about what you are including in your content, how you are creating it, and how you are going to disperse it.
Why should you use content marketing?
Although you may feel that it is easier to use things like social media marketing or search engine ads, content marketing is almost unique in the fact that it doesn’t have to cost anything. As long as you are able to create your own content and figure out some way to disperse it, you will find that the results will come.
Content marketing may also help you reach a certain demographic who wouldn’t respond to other forms of advertising. Many people – in particular young people – are as good as immune to adverts. They simply scroll straight past them without even stopping to see what they are about, which means that you have nearly no chance of converting them.
However, if you are able to use some sort of viral content which doesn’t look like an advert, you may manage to reach these people and direct them to your website – increasing your site traffic and giving you an edge over your competitors.
How should you use content marketing?
There are many ways to use content marketing. Some of the most popular include:
- Creating infographics or graphics which have a chance of being shared on social media, and therefore becoming viral (increasing your reach dramatically).
- Creating high quality articles and other content which people will engage in and recommend to other people. Consider creating a blog if you don’t already have one.
- Using podcasts or videos which people can relate to. Again, if you are able to make something which has a chance of going viral, then your content marketing success will be marked and high.
If you don’t already, then you need to consider using some sort of content marketing strategy to promote your business. It costs nothing (or at least very little), and can have huge returns.