Bill Gates once said, “Content is king,” and over the years, content has only become increasingly important to marketing. From your website to your eblasts and Facebook account—your brand needs to offer engaging, professionally-written content to stand out in a sea of competition.
So, how exactly does content marketing benefit your business?
It will increase your Google ranking.
Years ago, SEO was focused on keywords, and while we won’t downplay the value of incorporating keywords, the quality of the content you’re developing has become just as important! To ensure its users find up-to-date, credible, and relevant information, Google is now using a very complex SEO algorithm called Hummingbird. So, posting regular content, linked to other credible sites will likely increase your Google ranking. If you haven’t touched your website since 2011, there’s a very slim chance any prospective client will find you organically.
Also, by creating blogs and social media posts people are enticed to share, you will be quickly increasing your brand awareness as well as your search rankings. Google now pays attention to the number of “shares” a website has on social media, and the greater the amount of shares, the higher your website will rank in search results.
It provides qualified leads.
General website content will draw a large audience to your site, but more specific blog and social media content will bring an exact audience you are looking to service. For example, if you’re a computer repair company looking to target gamers, a blog titled “10 Ways to Enhance Your PC Gaming Experience” will more effectively drive that niche audience to your site.
It builds credibility.
Today’s consumers are knowledgeable and shrewd, and to gain their confidence, your brand must have a prominent presence online and deliver content that speaks to their needs. For example, if you are a home inspector, you could create valued content around the topics of market conditions, tips for buying a house, or how to sell a home quickly. Also, be sure to utilize relevant social media channels to extend the reach of your website and blog.
It’s highly influential marketing without being pushy.
Blogs, e-newsletters, and social media are non-interruptive marketing tactics. Instead of constantly putting a sales pitch in front of consumers or buyers, you’re providing them with information. And by providing the audience with consistent, valuable information, you are, in turn, creating positive brand connotations that will influence them to buy your products or services. But does this work as effectively as traditional advertising, you ask? YES, it does—companies like Sears and Colgate are heavily invested in content marketing strategies.
It’s cost effective.
While a content marketing strategy may take some time to initiate, in the long run, you will find it is far less expensive than many forms of traditional marketing.
Do you have any content marketing tips or challenges? Share them below!
Sources: http://www.b2bmarketing.net/blog/posts/2015/05/05/5-benefits-b2b-content-marketing-your-business, http://www.piworld.com/post/four-benefits-content-marketing/
