What is Content Marketing?

The Definition of Content Marketing? What is Content Marketing?

In todays’ day and age, supplying customers with information about your brand and product is simply not enough to fully capture their attention. With so many different products around and within such a competitive market, it is becoming increasingly more important to supply content that is strategically aligned to produce a certain response. The definition of content marketing is that it is the process of supplying customers with relevant and valuable information that drives a customer to take a certain action. This type of marketing carefully aligns its customers with the most precise information and does so in a way that captures and keeps their full attention!  

Content marketing is an incredibly important part of the marketing process as it is ultimately what draws your customer in and keeps their attention. You can have vibrant colours and use strategic ways to capture attention, but what keeps the customer entranced is what they read or hear. Businesses that do not use content marketing strategies are far less likely to see high profitability from their marketing campaigns and very often, they provide overdone, overcompensated and irrelevant information that, for a lack of a better description, puts their potential customers to sleep. To fully grab your customers attention and make sure you retain their interest, it is important to use a content marketing strategy that fully focuses on the clients wants and desires. 

We here at Markethinkers have aligned our core content marketing strategies with the needs and desires of each of our customers and their target audience, ensuring that all content produced is unique, well-aligned and relevant! 

What is B2B Content Marketing?

The content marketing world is not just about providing valuable information to clients but it is also about gaining trust and creating awareness of your brand and it stands for. One of the most important ways to increase this awareness and strengthen the ties that a company has is through interacting with other brands and businesses. B2B content marketing (or business to business) is using content to increase your company’s audience, strengthen your brand awareness, and drive sales by appealing to other businesses. Business to business sales and marketing strategies are often one of the highest-earning sectors in a company and a lot of content marketing strategies are focused mainly on driving interactions between other businesses. 

Though B2B and B2C content marketing strategies are centred around similar ideas, the concepts and types of content that are used can often be very different. Appealing to either clients or other businesses involves very different kinds of marketing strategies, with customers often preferring shorter and more precise information while businesses often rather prefer more fuller descriptions of the products or services that are offered. 

What is B2C Content Marketing?

That brings us onto discussing what exactly B2C content marketing entails. B2C content marketing (or Business to Customer) is exactly what it sounds like, this is the content that is directed towards your customer base. While B2B focuses more on relaying the products on services offered to other businesses, B2C is focused more on what the customer would be interested in knowing about the brand. This type of content is often short, precise and witty, drawing in the attention of the customer and aligning the strategy with the completion of a certain action. 

One of the most popular platforms to engage with customers and use B2C content marketing strategies is on social media as these types of platforms offer a perfect way to interact with customers. This type of content is still aligned with the general idea of content marketing strategy and the type of information that is provided needs to be precise, eye-catching and relevant to the desired action that you are wanting your customer to take. This is an extremely important type of content marketing and having a customer base with access to good content can go a far way to ensure profitability. 

What is Video Content Marketing?

Content marketing does not just centre around providing well-defined texts and one of the major types of content marketing tools that makes a big impact in both B2B and B2C content is video content marketing. This type of digital content marketing is centred around providing valuable information in the form of a video, a very common type of video that we are accustomed to seeing are adverts. Each of the elements and words that are spoken within a video campaign are carefully thought out and designed by a content marketing team, and again, the aim is to convert customers seeing this content into action. 

There are many elements that are important to consider when looking to get involved with video content marketing and this type of content is one of the more expensive routes to take. Though the overall cost may be higher than other content marketing strategies, businesses tend to see high ROI’s when creating video content and customers and businesses alike both tend to gravitate more to this kind of marketing. 

What are the Types of Content Marketing?

There are a number of different types of content marketing jobs and platforms where customers and businesses can interact and share relevant and well-produced information. With content marketing being such an important part of a company’s ability to drive sales and increase revenue, many businesses have many different kinds of content marketing techniques and platforms where they are able to display their content. A few types and content marketing examples are as followers: 

• Blogs: One of the most popular kinds of content marketing is blogging. Blogs offer the perfect space for businesses, both large and small, to interact with their customer base and provide content that reflects the goals, aspirations and success stories of the company. A blog can be entirely what you make of it and whether you are posting a new article every day or once a month, posting videos or written content, it is all relevant to ensuring your customers and clients are up to date with your products and services. 

• Social Media: One of the most popular forms of content marketing in the 21st century is social media! Just about every company or business around the world has at least a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter account, though most nowadays have all three! These types of content marketing platforms allow for businesses to share and interact with customers while promoting their brand, the things they sell 

• Emails: Another form of content marketing that is very commonly used is emailing. Interacting with clients over email, whether it is to confirm an order or inform them of a new item or service for sale, can be an incredibly useful tool to use! 

What are the Benefits of Content Marketing in This Digital Era?

Content marketing is only becoming more and more valuable as time goes on and technology forces the world to become smaller and more connected. There is so much information, products and services out in the world today that it is incredibly important for a company to be able to provide unique, direct and valuable content to its customer base. The benefits of content marketing are astronomical and the need for good content marketing skills, techniques and strategies is only increasing. The following are just a few of the major benefits of content marketing in the digital age we live in:

• Increase brand awareness: Content marketing allows businesses to become more engaged with their clientele, bridging the gap between themselves and the customers who support them. This interaction not only ensures that a business has a better idea of what their clients need, but it also humanises a company and makes the clients feel as if they are a part of the journey. This emotional connection is a large part of what makes content marketing so important and it can go a long way in securing a clients business. 

• Better conversion rates: One of the most important things that content marketing secures are better conversion rates. There is little point in attracting a customer to your store or website, only to have them walk away and not make a purchase. Content marketing strategy ensures that your business will have better overall conversion rates as customers are better informed of what it is they are buying and why they should make the purchase. If you are a business that is struggling to convert interest into a sale, a content marketing strategy may be just what you need to revitalise interest! 

What is a Content Marketing Funnel?

A content marketing funnel is a system that is put in place to guide potential customers through the purchasing process, from their first interest in the product or service to the payment stage. It is incredibly important that a business has a content marketing funnel that is effective as this could impact overall sales. If you are a business owner that is wondering whether or not you have a content marketing funnel that works, it may be pertinent to have a look at your conversion rates. Customers that are visiting your website without purchasing anything are not being convinced of the product or services’ worth, and this is something that can be checked and adapted within your sales system. Businesses with content marketing funnels that work and are effective see high rates of conversion with the majority of those who express interest going on to purchase the item or service promoted. 

What is Content Marketing Matrix?

A content marketing matrix is a sort of mapping of your marketing campaign, displaying exactly what content you are hoping to get across, the audience that should receive it and the tone in which it should be perceived. A content marketing matrix is unique to each business, with different goals, objectives and types of content being relayed to each customer. This type of strategy can be adapted over time and as things get tested out and either do well or fail, you may find out more about your business than you ever have before! Many businesses that use the content marketing matrix are able to more clearly understand which strategies work and which do not, ensuring better conversion rates and content marketing campaigns in the long run. 

What is the Relationship Between SEO and Content Marketing?

SEO and content marketing go hand in hand with each other, the one not working well enough to survive on its own without the other. SEO (or Search Engine Optimisation) refers to creating content that contains certain keywords that establish a good ranking of the website on search engines like Google. It is important that the keywords are used to highlight the desired content and refer the correct types of customers to their page. Incorrect SEO tactics, or no SEO driven content at all, can lead to lower traffic on websites and those who do visit are often not converted into paying customers. 

While SEO is responsible for directing the right kinds of customers to the page, the content marketing of a website is responsible for driving sales and converting site visits to paying customers. Both of these facets are incredibly important parts of the marketing process, both systematically working with one another to increase sales. 

What Content Marketing Consultant Do?

A content marketing consultant is either a person or a team who has been hired to create a content marketing strategy that aligns your business goals and objectives with proven and expertly derived campaigns. With so many different companies and competitors in the market today, business in the 21st century is not just about producing the best product or offering a good service. A company now has to also focus on how they are relaying these different products or services to their clients and find the best way possible to ensure that they are the most noticed providers of the goods or services that they provide. 

We here at Markethinkers always say that it is no longer just about what you sell, but also how you sell it! Content marketing consultants or teams are there to ensure that you reach your desired goal and supply your customers with the best and most relevant content to promote your business and brand. 

What Makes a Successful Content Marketer?

To be a successful content marketer it is incredibly important to have a good idea and understanding of exactly what you are promoting, the goals you need to meet and the expectations of your client or boss. Having a creative flair, an understanding of the different content marketing strategies and a unique interpretation of the market will ensure that you are able to correctly and adequately create a solid content marketing strategy. One of the biggest things that a content marketer needs to do is listen to what the client needs and convert that into a unique strategy that will convert to an increase in overall traffic and sales. 

How to Make a Content Marketing Strategy?

One of the first steps to creating a good strategy is to make sure that you have set a few achievable content marketing goals. These goals could be centred around an increase in sales, in traffic or even just in the amount of attention a web or social media page receives over a certain period of time. These goals are incredibly important for both the content marketer and the client as they set out exactly what needs to be achieved within a certain amount of time. A marketing strategy is centred around reaching these goals over an allocated period and each goal should be met with the set amount of time to be considered successful. 

How Should You Prepare a Content Marketing Plan and Calendar?

One of the best ways to stay on top of your marketing goals is to create a content marketing calendar. This calendar will outline the objectives, goals and targets of the content and the time frame in which it needs to be delivered. This kind of content marketing plan is important for both the content marketer and the client as it outlines the strategy for the content, when it will be delivered and the targets that it should meet over a certain period of time. Having this information on hand ensures that both you and the client will know and fully understand the intended outcomes of the content. 

The first step of the process would be to set out the objectives and goals. This will ensure that everyone involved has a clear idea of what they are writing about and who the intended audience or target market would be. The next step of the process is to do research about the topic, the intended market (buyer persona) and the different strategies that could be used. This step is incredibly important and if not done correctly it can be detrimental to the entire process. Next, you and your client should set out the dates and time frames in which the work should be completed, after having done your research you should have a good idea of how long it would take you to put together the content. Finally, you write and implement the content and then monitor and analyse the response! 

What Skills Do You Need to be a Content Marketer?

Content marketing can be a very enjoyable and rewarding career path to take! There are a number of skills that are however needed to be the best content marketer that you can be and provide clients with the strategies and content that will drive sales and increase overall revenue. The following are just a few of the best skills to have if you are looking to become a content marketer. 

• The ability to communicate well: As each company, project and campaign are very different, a good content marketer should be able to take the vision of his/her client and produce content that will aid their efforts to convert potential clients to sales. This is an incredibly important step of the marketing process and is imperative to the success of each content marketing strategy or campaign.

• Copywriting skills: If you are an individual content marketer, it is extremely important that you have the ability to write good and direct content. Being able to produce writing that is unique and has the desired effect on the target market ensures that your content will be influential in the market. Writing good content and being able to produce it within a certain amount of time is an incredibly important part of content marketing! 

• Research and data analysis skills: Analysing both a company’s data and measuring the different effects of the market are incredibly important skills to possess if you are hoping to be a good content marketer. One of the major aspects of content marketing is measuring the effect that certain content has on the intended audience, whether it is received well and has had the desired effect or not. 

How Do You Find Best Content Marketing Courses?

There are many different kinds of content marketing courses, some may be more informal while others could be three-year degrees from an accredited university. These different types of courses offer technical knowledge, practical techniques and insider know-how of the various different methods that are needed to become a great content marketer. 

What is the Buyer Persona in Content Marketing?

Buyer persona in content marketing is incredibly important as your intended target audience is who you are attempting to reach and influence with your content. Buyer persona refers to an individual who has been created to reflect the perfect target audience. The attributes of this person differ according to the type of content you are creating and who you are hoping will be influenced by the content. Things like whether the ‘person’ is male or female, young or old, married or single are all different features that could differ. The types of behaviours and likes or dislikes are also important aspects that need to be reflected in this fictional person. 

What Should a Buyer Persona Include?

A buyer persona includes a number of different things and many teams actually give him/her a name! It is important to remember why you are creating a buyer persona when thinking about what should be included. Things like a person’s likes and dislikes, what he/she is interested in and the types of behaviour that he/she commonly displays are all important things to include as these things can impact how you will market a certain product. The things you include are all ways that a content marketing team can get inside the head of the consumer and relate to the types of products or services that he/she purchases. 

How Do You Use Buyer Persona in Content Marketing?

A buyer persona is used to create a strategy that is unique and specifically targeted at a certain group of people. By taking certain attributes and reflecting on how these attributes make a person think, a content marketing team can create ways of grabbing their attention! This marketing strategy has been extremely beneficial in the past and many marketing teams rely on the information from this process to structure their content and decide on what information would ensure that the desired response is taken. 

What are Buyer Persona Examples?

The following is an example of the different things that would be included in a buyer persona.

Name: 

Age:

Nationality: 

Location:

A day in the life of_____:

Income:

Likes and dislikes: 

Occupation:

Social media behaviours:

What is the Difference Between Content Writing and Content Marketing?

Content marketing is the entire process of creating and executing a content plan while content writing refers to one facet of content marketing. Content writing is an extremely important part of the content marketing process and what we read or hear is often what convinces us to take action.

What are the Basics of Content Writing?

The content writing process involves doing a heavy amount of research on the topic and aligning certain goals and objectives with the content that will be used by the marketing team. The basics of content writing involve creating and implementing the marketing team’s vision by creating information that reflects the intended tone, attracts a certain type of audience and ultimately convinces a person to take action. Content writing is an extremely important part of the content marketing process and these two aspects work very closely together. 

What are Content Marketing Blogs?

There are many different kinds of content marketing blogs to follow that teach you the skills and practical know-how that is necessary to become a great content marketer. These types of blogs offer an easy way to gain access to both the practical skills needed and the theoretical knowledge to be able to convert content into sales for your clients! One reason why blogs have become such a popular frame of reference when it comes to content marketing is because they keep up with the trends and can offer different perspectives and techniques in real-time as the markets change! 

What Content Marketing Blogs Do You Read?

Markethinkers academy is a great blog to read with many insightful arguments and blog posts about the digital age of content creation! Whether you are hoping to find theoretical knowledge or are looking more for practical strategies, the Markethinkers team has provided a number of spectacular resources to follow! 

Another fantastic blog to follow is the Content Marketing Institute and this blog has many amazing strategies, articles and information that could be the perfect way to either start your content marketing journey or brush up on your skills. With a number of different resources, including an online magazine, the information is right at your fingertips and could be just a click away. 

Content Marketing Tips for Beginners

One of the best content marketing tips that I received when starting on my journey as a content marketer was to evaluate and research the markets before even thinking of creating a strategy! You cannot know how a prospective customer would react to content until you have carefully looked at the different trends that are popular at that moment in time. markets and people are constantly changing, so be sure you are changing and adapting your mentality with the times! 

Another extremely important tip to remember is that content marketing ideas should be unique. Overworked and overdone strategies can lead to prospective clients becoming bored and uninterested with the content that you are producing. Staying on top of the different trends and market changes offers content marketers the opportunity to think ahead of the market and produce content that is unique and directed towards specific outcomes! This will ensure that you are always one step ahead of the competition, and that is exactly where you want to be in this competitive digital market! As Markethinkers, evaluating the latest trends and acknowledging when strategies are no longer useful is part of our job, so be sure to keep up to date with our Blog!