A strategic use of social media is vital for any business, and this definitely must include content marketing. But what exactly is content marketing, and why is it an important part of a sound social media strategy — and the history of marketing in general?
According to Marketo, “content marketing is the process of creating valuable, relevant content to attract, acquire, and engage your audience.” Like attraction and engagement marking, this method involves the use of social media platforms to reach your target customer and create social engagement. But content marketing has deep roots that trace back long before the advent of social media, as well as key elements that set it apart from the rest.
Let’s investigate.
The Birth Of Content Marketing
While it may seem like a new concept, content marketing dates back hundreds of years. In fact, you could say it’s the original way of successfully marketing a product and building brand loyalty, starting with John Deere’s magazine, The Furrow, in 1895. This helpful resource for farmers served as a source of information and advertising that paved the way for other recognizable brands and the evolution of content marketing as we know it today.
The Difference Between Content Marketing And Content Strategy
“Content marketing and content strategy complement each other perfectly, but they’re not the same thing,” according to Search Engine Journal. To understand the difference, we need to look a little deeper. As we mentioned earlier, content marketing involves creating and posting content that provides value and attracts and engages your target customer.
On the other hand, content strategy takes each individual bit of content and brings everything together to create a cohesive plan. This serves as a blueprint for your content-based social media strategy that helps you better understand your target customer and discover their pain points. It also takes a look at the overall goal of your business and its use of social media to increase customers and profits.
Current Examples Of Content Marketing
- Videos: Whether live or pre-recorded, videos allow a business to create relevant and unique content that can be shared across numerous social media platforms, including inside glimpses of a company, its employees, and its products.
- Webinars: According to Click Meeting, 87% of businesses use video as a content marketing tool, and webinars are one of the best ways to cash in on the video craze. Webinar platforms enable you to personally engage with potential customers and have become increasingly popular since the start of the pandemic.
- Podcasts & Emails: Podcasts and emails give a personalized touch to your social media strategy and keep your target customer engaged and connected. These can be released periodically through subscription, in order to grow a loyal audience.
- E-books: E-books are like a special gift or give-away from your business to your target customer. This type of downloadable content provides value and is a great tool for attracting leads and increasing revenue.
- Photos & Infographics: Quality photos and infographics visually grab attention and help to draw in customers. They offer valuable information on products and help to establish your business with branded content and a consistent look.
- Blogs: Setting up a blog is an essential part of any social media strategy, offering a valuable opportunity to give your brand a voice. When done properly and on a regular basis, blogging provides information that is both educational and entertaining, speaks to your audience, and drives traffic to your website and social media platforms. It also helps to build the know, like, trust factor — just like The Furrow!
What Content Marketing Can Do
Content marketing elevates your social media strategy in several ways, including generating leads that convert to sales and boosting your search engine ranking. With that said, content marketing is not about the hard sell — it’s about solving the pain points of your target customer to establish your business as a credible resource and trusted brand.
For example, when a target customer uses search engines like Google, answering questions and solving pain points through regular blog posts, videos, and quality social media content helps move your business to the top of search results. This allows you to stand out from the crowd and get noticed.
In short, content marketing attracts and drives repeat traffic to your website and social media platforms, builds brand authority and recognition, establishes customer loyalty, and has the potential to increase profits long-term. For help with content marketing and developing a sound social media strategy, contact the pros at Aliya Hammond Consulting today!
You’ve probably realized by now that Social Media is no longer an option. In fact, it is a vital and highly successful tool for building a business. Aliya Hammond Consulting is an online Digital Marketing, Training, and Consulting Company headquartered in the greater Philadelphia area. We specialize in Social Media Management and Marketing, Social Media Training, Blog Writing, and Graphic Design Services for small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. If you are looking to improve or increase your online presence, you can rest assured you are in good hands with us. Contact Aliya Hammond Consulting today to find out how we can help your business grow!
