For marketers, content is still king. It benefits your goals, helps make you an expert in your field, drives traffic, and tells search engines why your site should rank high.
But what type of content is best? You'll probably get 12 different answers if you ask a dozen marketers.
Some swear by blogs, while others argue that infographics are the best way to get attention. Ebooks can be a great way to build your credibility, and memes encourage natural sharing.
Each type of content has its strengths and weaknesses. By understanding the unique benefits of each offer, you can develop a holistic content marketing strategy unique to your needs.
In this section, we'll look at 17 types of content marketing, explain how you can use them to achieve your goals, and provide you with the information you need to improve your marketing effectiveness.
Why Content Marketing Matters
The world has gone digital. In July 2022, 5.03 billion people used the internet worldwide. This means that 63.1% of the world's population can visit your website.
Thanks to smartphones, the Internet has become a popular source of entertainment, shopping or discussions about Florida State Birds (northern thrasher), wherever you are.
With that in mind, it's no surprise that a Pew Research Center study found that 31% of American adults said they are "online almost all the time."
At the heart of any successful digital marketing campaign, content marketing offers a number of benefits, including:
- Build trust with your audience.
- Improve your SEO efforts.
- Show your skills.
- Help maintain your brand's reputation.
- Encourage sharing on social media.
- Improved success rate.
Plus, it's one of the most cost-effective ways to generate new leads because you can often repurpose your content for more visibility without much extra effort.
Of course, not all types of content will generate the same level of reward. Your mix will depend on the specifics of your business and your goals, but several types are necessary.
17 main types of content
1. Blogs
Since 1994, when Justin Hall created the first blog, or blog as it is also called, blogs have been the cornerstone of successful content marketing.
Blogging is a great way to regularly add new content to your website, and is a versatile, affordable and often timeless way to increase organic traffic.
The long format allows you to focus on targeted keywords and topics that are important to your audience.
Blogging can also play an important role in your SEO strategy.
Length (the average blog post is between 1,500 and 2,500 words) gives Google search robots a wealth of information about their content, which helps them determine how to respond to search queries.
To ensure that your blog posts get as much traffic as possible and get the results you want, make sure that:
- Written for people, not search engines.
- Use targeted keywords.
- Optimized for download speed.
- Link to authoritative websites.
- Use headers for efficient hovering.
And don't forget long-tail keywords. Remember, the more detailed your blog post is, the more likely it is to get the traffic you want.
Plus, it's a great way to showcase your brand's personality.
2. Case studies
Your target customer has a specific problem. Your goal as a marketer is to show them why your business is the best answer to this problem.
To do this, you need to demonstrate not only that you are an expert in the field, but also that your solution actually works. And one of the best ways to do this is to conduct a case study.
Case studies give your audience a real-life scenario of when someone like them used your suggestion to solve their problem. They see the purchase journey from start to finish, which helps them visualize how your product or service works.
They allow you to pose as an expert, which helps reduce perceived risk, especially with expensive products and services.
And just like blogs, they offer a longer format where you can effectively add keywords without feeling stuck.
To maximize impact, make sure your case study:
- Focus on issues that your target audience can relate to.
- It is a coherent story from start to finish.
- Include up-to-date statistics where possible.
- Describe in detail how your company solves the problem.
3. Checklist
Santa isn't the only one who makes lists and double-checks. Many people like step-by-step guidance on completing a task or solving a problem.
Breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable checklists can make even the most complex tasks less difficult. And from a marketing point of view, it is an excellent way to reach potential customers.
The public uses it as a simple, easy and free way to make sure all the right steps are taken. They build a sense of ownership, set expectations and set deadlines, all of which contribute to improved performance.
Besides being a useful tool for clients, checklists also make it clear to your target that you understand what they're going through. A good checklist will include:
- The name defines the purpose of the list and its usefulness.
- Detailed activities describe the entire process, including sub-activities.
- Calendar for each milestone: it can be a fixed date or an offset.
- Status indicating whether the step is complete, in progress, or not yet started.
4. Reviews and customer reviews
You know you have a great business, but let's face it, there isn't much to talk about. However, what matters is what your customers say.
Word of mouth in the digital age, testimonials and customer testimonials give you a level of trust that no paid marketer can match.
Research has shown that 93% of consumers say that online reviews influence their purchase decision, making them very valuable.
Their lesser-known but equally important reviews and testimonials help reduce the sense of risk and provide a useful way to deal with potential objections. Plus, because it's made by the customer, it costs nothing.
There are several ways to encourage them, including:
- Ask for reviews and live reviews.
- Encourage customers to do so.
- Generate automatic responses that make it easier to create reviews.
Google takes positive reviews into account when determining search quality reviewer recommendations.
This does not directly affect search engine rankings, but it does help ensure that your pages meet the minimum quality thresholds required by search engines.
You should display testimonials and reviews in logically appropriate places, including on web pages and in emails.
5. E-books
One of the best ways to establish yourself as an authority is to demonstrate thought leadership. And one of the best ways to do that is to create an eBook.
These long texts are not advertisements, at least not in the traditional sense, but they are valuable to potential customers.
By studying a specific topic in your field, you demonstrate your expertise and add value to your business at the same time.
If your e-book covers very little of a topic that has been discussed or presents information in a new way, it can generate significant interest for your business. And even better, because these long texts are usually hidden behind emails or contact forms, they provide a great way to generate new leads.
6. Email Marketing
The bread and butter of marketing in the 21st century, email marketing is a fast and flexible way to reach your target audience.
Whether you want to stay in the spotlight with existing customers, acquire new customers or build brand awareness, email marketing gives you a measurable way to achieve your goals.
You should use email to keep in touch with people at every stage of the sales funnel.
Limited time offers can help convince these smart guides to finally give you a chance. Birthday messages for existing customers help keep your brand in the spotlight, while abandoned cart emails can encourage people to make a purchase.
Whatever your business goals are, there's an email strategy to help you achieve them.
Make sure your strategy is still focused on that goal, segment your audience to speak to a specific audience and measure your results. So take what you learned from this campaign and apply it to your next campaign.
7. Manual and instructions
Detailed advice and guidance is essential for any business offering complex products or services.
Another way to show how smart you are is a great way to expand your online presence.
For example, if you are a software publisher, providing instructional materials in the form of printed manuals or online training courses will help customers get the most out of your product.
They can also help eliminate frustration and reduce learning time, two things customers love.
8. Infographics
We all know that a picture is worth a thousand words. Infographics is a principle applied in marketing.
By allowing large amounts of information to be presented in a quick and easy-to-understand format, they provide viewers with an easy way to understand the information.
Ideal for capturing the attention of people who have just viewed the text of your web page (almost everyone), infographics give marketers control over what information is highlighted.
Create infographics with statistics, events or graphs to help showcase your business. Quick and cheap, it often serves as standalone content to share on social media.
To make sure you get all the credit (and backlinks) you deserve from your content, include a snippet of HTML that allows other webmasters to embed it on their sites.
9. Interactive Content
In the past (that is, before the Internet), marketing was usually directed "at" the audience. Today, however, the power of technology has given marketers the ability to connect with people.
Interactive content is a great way to use this feature to gather information, increase engagement, or find new customers. Plus, it's a great way to add value and/or showcase your creativity.
Create a quiz to help people decide which product is perfect for their needs, create a game to entertain them and increase your brand awareness, or create an app to make their lives more valuable.
While this type of content may require a bit more technological expertise (or outsourcing) than some of the items on this list, it can also be one of the most successful.
10. Interview/Q&A
Want to significantly expand your audience with just one piece of content? All you have to do is be interviewed on the Joe Rogan podcast. Simple, right? Well, maybe not, but don't let that stop you from taking advantage of the interview opportunities and Q&A segments.
A great way to build relationships (and connections) with other sites, it's a great way for your internal thought leaders to showcase their knowledge to an external audience.
By taking notes, you show the world that you support your proposal. This includes quality customer service, helps with reputation management and can increase overall engagement.
11. Register
Not familiar with the word "registry?" You are not alone. But they refer to something you've probably seen before. In fact, what you are reading now is an article organized as a list, hence the title.
While the most popular are often Buzzfeed-esque works like "15 Hedgehogs With Things That Look Like Hedgehogs," they don't have to be mindless entertainment, but can instead be used as powerful marketing content.
People like lists because they're easy to navigate, they know what to expect, and they break information down into easily digestible chunks.
Marketers love it because it's easy to plan and write.
Build your marketing list by following these steps:
- Choose a topic and point of view.
- Choose keywords.
- Pay attention to the markers in the list.
- End with a strong conclusion.
12. Podcasts
Podcasts are no longer the preserve of true crime addicts. It's a great way to grow your brand with effective content marketing that people can use on the go, on the go, or whenever they want.
Podcasts allow you to share your stories and experiences directly with your audience and build relationships by talking about your goals in person.
To maximize the impact of your podcast, make sure you provide useful information in an entertaining format. You can also guest host or use recordings to grow your audience.
13. Social Media Posts
Everyone from your grandmother to the teenager next door uses social media these days.
While it's true that they may be on different platforms, they all use them for the same purpose: to stay connected. And there are billions of users in the world.
By providing a way to start and maintain focused conversations, social media has become an integral part of any marketing mix.
How you use it will of course vary greatly from company to company.
For example, a pastry chef might be happy enough to recreate a viral TikTok video, but this approach probably won't work for a software developer.
To get the most out of your social media efforts, you need to identify the platform(s) your audience uses and then create content that resonates with them.
Strive to build relationships with your audience and influencers that can help you expand the impact of your content.
And don't forget that social media is also a great place to repurpose the content you've created.
Do you have a great infographic? It will be perfect for your Facebook. How-to videos about your product's hidden features should be on your YouTube page. Linking to your ebook on Twitter can help you get new leads.
Find where your content is and then post it on social media.
14. User Content
Like testimonials, your user-generated content gives you an authenticity that no amount of self-promotion can match. Best of all, since it's made by a third party, it doesn't require much investment on your part.
User-generated content, or UGC, can be anything from someone tagging your brand in a selfie to a video of them using your product. It provides social proof, ensuring word of mouth and active participation.
Encourage your fans and followers to create content:
- Post UGC regularly on your social media.
- Invite user-generated content with or without freebies.
- Create and use your own branded hashtag.
15. Video
If you're looking for a way to engage your audience, there's nothing better than video.
Platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Meta's Reels have made video a ubiquitous part of digital marketing. And for good reason: video content works.
While this type of content usually takes more time and resources to create than text or static content, video content has been shown to increase lead time, improve customer understanding of your product or service, and generate more leads.
Part of the power of video content is its versatility.
From explainer videos and social media clips to interviews and feature films that tell your story, video can help you connect with your audience in a way that most other forms of content can't.
16. Webinars
When you think of content marketing, webinars may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, they can become an invaluable part of your strategy.
Whether you use on-demand webinars to ensure round-the-clock work or real-time sessions to establish personal contacts, these online trainings are an excellent way to train clients and potential clients, attract new potential clients and strengthen your authority in your business. domain.
To create a successful webinar, first determine the necessary region. There are new laws affecting your industry, and there are many questions about their implementation.
В вашем предложении может быть быть обеспечение аппекты, количество клиенты не компьютер понимают. Or maybe you just want to offer an expert opinion on a relevant topic.
In any case, your webinar must provide unique content that adds value. For registration, a list of mailing lists is required, and this is an excellent way to create a new list of contacts.
17. Белая книга
Not to be confused with electronic book. Белая книга — это длинный документ, половленный даними, стастистой и информация, очень хогай на иследнейскую работу по бизнесу.
The information contained in them may be the result of their own research or a generalization of information obtained from other sources. In any case, they must offer key moments and provide reliable information.
Keep your projects clean and visually appealing for convenience of scanning and allow others to link to them for creating backlinks.
Conclusion: why use different types of content
Despite the fact that they may have common characteristics, each person, potential client and client with whom you work are different from each other.
Some people recognize visual students and love video and infographics. Others prefer to receive new information and better remember information from webinars. However, others prefer a downloadable text that they can browse at their leisure.
If you create only one type of content, you will not achieve as many goals as you could achieve with a more varied approach.
Busy marketers often tend to use a simpler approach, but it's not the best recipe for long-term success.
Instead, determine what your goals are and how you will define success. Then use it to create an omnichannel content plan that will help you with this.
Whichever combination of content you choose, there are several items for each element, regardless of format:
- He must provide value.
- He has to promote his brand and his product/service.
- It must be aimed at the specific audience you want.
- He must actively promote the client along the way.
- It should be publicly available.
Don't be afraid to experiment and risk. Not all types of content work for all brands, but if you put in the effort, you will definitely see results.
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