Online business can indeed provide promising results. However, it all depends on the strategy you use. In today's digital era, content marketing is one of the most widely used strategies. Many people believe that this method is very effective in attracting potential customers.
If you've heard the term content marketing but don't know what kind of marketing it is, now we can find out together.
What is content marketing explain?
Content marketing is a term that is closely related to online business, Digital Marketing, content writing, internet marketing, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). So what exactly is content marketing?
Content marketing is a marketing strategy in creating and disseminating relevant and valuable content. The content is usually consistent and can catch the attention of the target audience. You can listen to this article on how to build a Digital Marketing Strategy for complete information.
The focus of this one marketing strategy is product benefit information but not directly. When you want to use this strategy, make sure that your content has a promotional purpose or to market products or services from the website.
What are forms of content marketing?
If you are interested in this digital marketing strategy, there are several forms of content marketing that you should try because many businesses are already using it. Curious? Check out more below!
1. Infographic
Infographic trends can be a solution in conveying information. In this way, even complex information can be conveyed easily so that the audience can easily understand it. The advantage of infographics is that they combine pictures and writing but keep the information to the point.
2. Websites or Blogs
Still don't know where to start content marketing? Try creating a blog or website. Usually, those who go into online business have a website. Apart from important information about the business including the products and services provided, usually website managers are also diligent in uploading blog articles.
The goal is to tell search engines that the website is active and always doing activities including sharing uploads via blogs. Blog articles must match the target audience that you have set.
3. Podcasts
Podcasts are audio recordings of conversations that can be a content option for marketing purposes. Interesting topics are usually presented in a relaxed and light manner. Indirectly, the audience will begin to recognize the brand.
As the popularity of podcasts increases, more and more people are creating them. Anyone can listen to podcasts anytime and anywhere via the internet. So, there's nothing wrong with considering this one content.
4. Videos
In content marketing, video is still the most effective method. You can share videos via the YouTube channel. Currently, TikTok is a popular social media. Well, this is an opportunity to reach a wider audience by creating short videos and sharing them on this platform.
There are also other forms of content marketing that can also maximize the results of online marketing strategies. Yes, you can try content in the form of ebooks, templates, or webinars.
Why is Content Marketing Important?
Before implementing a marketing strategy, both conventional and online, business people must first know why they have to implement this strategy. If you don't have clear reasons and goals for implementing content marketing, consider some of these reasons.
1. Measurable Long Term Strategy
An online business that focuses on creating content that is useful and can help people who are searching, has the potential to create content that ranks high on Google. This kind of content can usually result in consistent traffic growth.
2. Brand Awareness Improvement
Increasing brand awareness from new customers is not an easy thing. But it's not impossible that you can do it, especially if you choose the right strategy.
3. Helps Improve SEO Efforts
Another reason behind the importance of content marketing is that it becomes a parameter for optimizing and increasing website traffic. As we know, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an important part of increasing the visibility of an online business.
To be able to improve search engine optimization results, you definitely have to create optimal content. The more content you share, the more website pages will be indexed by search engines. So that your content will be at the top of search engine search results.
4. Improve Brand Reputation
One of the biggest advantages that shows the importance of content marketing is building a quality brand through interesting content. In today's digital world, building trust is very important for a business. Thus, your business has the opportunity to build a positive reputation.
5. Building Relationships with Customers
If you're still wondering why content marketing is so important, consider customer relationships. Good content helps build good relationships with customers. This method helps develop the audience and get more leads.
Content Marketing function
Because content marketing is a promotion but is not carried out directly, its function is the same as that of promotion or advertising in general. Some of the functions of content marketing include:
- Attract the attention of consumers or buyers
- Introduce brand products or services
- Expanding the consumer network
- Increase online sales
- Increase brand awareness (brand awareness)
- Engage the product user community online
What is an example of Content Marketing?
Sometimes it is rather difficult for us to capture and understand information if it is not accompanied by an example. This might also happen when we talk about content marketing but there are no examples.
For those of you who want to try their luck from digital marketing that involves various types of useful and quality content, there's no harm in trying some examples of content marketing below.
1. Sharing Tips and Tutorials Through Blogs
The blog article that you shared is actually an example of implementing content marketing. In this case, you can share any information that is really useful and interesting to read, for example about tips or tutorials that will really help internet users.
2. Utilize Social Media
To implement a marketing strategy through content, you can also take advantage of social media. There are many social media platforms that you can use including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tiktok. To help you use social media for content marketing purposes, you can also start learning Facebook Ads.
3. Create a YouTube Account
Another content marketing strategy that you should try is sharing content via a YouTube account. This can add to the way in reaching a wider audience. The content created is in the form of videos.
Just like creating content in other forms, for example blog articles, the content in the form of videos that you will upload on your YouTube channel must also be interesting. This is not easy, especially if you are not a content creator. The thing that you should always pay attention to is make sure the content relates to the products and services that your business offers.
What skills do I need for content marketing?
Creating interesting content is not easy but it can be a challenge in itself. If you want to dive directly into the world of content marketing by creating content without involving other people, there are several skills that you must hone. Here are some of them:
1. Content Writing
Even though it is important, not many content marketers can create content with good results. Even though writing content is very important, especially for website pages and blogs.
In this case, there are several skills that you must master including content and copy writing, communication, and storytelling. In addition, you also have to be used to using good grammar. To make copywriting interesting, you can read the copywriting study guide.
2. Editing Ability
Creating content for marketing purposes is not enough just to create content. For every article or video that you will share, there is an editing process that you must go through. So every content marketer must have editing skills before publishing content to the target audience
3. SEO capabilities
For every type of content you create, SEO plays an important role. You have to know how to increase ranking in search engines, especially Google. Your role is not only limited to creating quality content but also creating content that can convert readers, listeners or viewers into potential buyers or customers.
There are several skills that you must master including keyword research, placement of keywords in content, on-page SEO, and competitor analysis.
4. Understanding of Sales Funnels
Just like other marketing channels, the goal of content marketing is to convert website visitors into leads and leads into customers. For this purpose, you should use sales funnels which consist of different stages of the buyer's journey. This stage starts from awareness, interest, decision, to action.
5. Content Promotion
It doesn't matter how good the content you create, everything will be meaningless if no one reads, watches, or listens to the content. That's why content promotion is important. There are several ways to carry out promotions such as through social media, blog communities, and email. In this way you can increase content traffic.
Content Marketing Strategy For Business
So that the results you get from implementing content marketing are in line with your expectations and goals, there are a number of things that you should always pay attention to. Yes, all of these can become a strategy whenever you use content marketing for business. Some of the strategies you should apply are:
- Set goals
- Create quality and interesting content
- Have a target audience
- Do the right promotions
- Content evaluation
What is a common mistake in content marketing?
You may already believe that content marketing can be a bridge to achieve success in online business. Unfortunately, sometimes you yourself destroy these goals and dreams by making mistakes that you are not aware of.
When starting content marketing, make sure you won't make the following mistakes:
- Not figuring out what content the audience wants
- Focusing on only one form of content
- Write for search engines, not to answer audience needs
- Too focused on sales and forget about value and quality
- Irrelevant content
- Not having enough Call to Action (CTA).
Because content marketing has an important role and can provide many advantages for those who are running digital marketing without making digital marketing mistakes, make sure you understand each point well. Understand well what to do and avoid so that the marketing strategy can reach the target that you have worked so hard for.
Conclusion
Content marketing can be a digital marketing strategy that has an important role in developing a brand. To optimize the results of this marketing strategy, you can also take advantage of Google Ads by starting to learn what Google Ads is.