The beauty of content marketing is that there is an endless selection of forms that it can take, all of which depends on your business, the situation and your target audience.
Here are 15 content marketing types you could start implementing today:
1. Social Media Posts
Every business needs an active social media presence – that is non-negotiable in this day and age. The best channel for you to engage with your customer base will depend on your business and your target audience; however it is wise to have a presence across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram as a minimum.
Once you have active accounts, you can post engaging status updates and photos, tweet and share other forms of content. Social media posting is an incredibly effective way to personalise your brand and connect with both current and prospective customers.
2. Videos
Videos are a little more entertaining than an image and slightly more engaging than text – this can be the perfect method for delivering value to audiences. Many content types like How-To Guides, blog posts, checklists and more can be turned into videos that either stand alone or support the original form. ‘
Videos can also be shared on your website and social media accounts to expand your reach and encourage brand awareness.
3. Images
It’s an age old adage, but it remains true that a picture is worth a thousand words. Images can be a great way to break up information-heavy content and entertain audiences in between content marketing posts. However, always be sure to double check your images are related to your brand.
4. How-To Guides
This is one of the most effective ways of providing value to customers. Teaching people to do something or educating them on how to deal with certain situations is incredibly useful.
In addition to providing value to your customers, this type of content also allows you to be seen as an expert in your field.
5. Whitepapers
Whitepapers are an excellent way to promote a service or highlight the features of a certain solution or product. If done well, whitepapers can be used to entice or persuade potential customers to learn more about or purchase a particular product, service, technology or methodology.
Whitepapers are also useful as you can watermark your businesses logo onto each page. This will subconsciously associate your brand with the topic being discussed in the mind of the customer.
6. Blogs
In the early days, content marketing gained momentum primarily through blog posts. Blogs are a great way to spread your message, bring customers to your website and establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.
Ranging from serious to entertaining, blogs allow you to both educate readers and add personality to your brand. As with images and video, blog posts can also make great social media posts.
7. Infographics
This is a great way to communicate facts and figures to customers in a visual and user friendly way. Infographics can also be posted on social media channels or as part of a blog post to reach a wider audience.
8. Webinars
Webinars are essentially the audio visual equivalent of How-To Guides. They allow you to share your knowledge with a large audience and can be a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.
After you have completed the webinar, audience members can get in touch with you to ask questions, clarify things and seek help. This is an incredibly useful way to establish yourself and your business as experts.
9. Reviews
Industry or product reviews demonstrate that you understand what you are talking about – not only when it comes to your own business but in regards to the industry as a whole.
Reviews allow you to establish yourself as an expert who is qualified enough to validate the worthiness (or not) of a product or service. This can lead customers to associate your brand with expert opinion.
10. Listicles
Audiences love a listicle. If you’ve ever clicked on a ‘5 Reasons Why…’ or ‘Top 10 Things…’ article online you probably already understand the appeal of a listicle. As humans we are wired to appreciate short snappy content and are more likely to read to the end of a post if numbers are involved.
11. e-books
An e-book is what it sounds like – an electronic book. Usually offered in PDF form as a downloadable product, e-books allow you to ask customers for personal details (including email addresses) before they can access the content.
Producing an e-book can also help establish your authority in the industry and is a great way to share your knowledge with others. It’s more likely that those who have seen your e-books will return to your business in the future, should they require a product or service you offer.
12. Case Studies
A case study can offer customers a unique insight into what it is you actually do. Often customers feel disillusioned while playing the waiting game, so providing them with examples of what you do behind the scenes and how you have achieved success for clients in the past, can be an incredibly useful tool for educating clients while they wait.
13. Podcasts
Podcasts are a great example of simple, easily digestible content. Audiences can listen at their own pace, in their own time, particularly during their commute to and from the office or during exercise or work.
14. Interviews
Interviews with your businesses key decision makers or the face of your company can be incredibly appealing to audiences. They provide an added personalisation to any brand and allow potential customers to truly grasp the concepts behind your business.
15. Newsletters and EDMs
This is a great way to continue providing value after you have turned prospective buyers into clients. To use this content type properly, it’s important to ensure that your newsletters are not simply spamming your database – you need to offer them high-value, relatable and engaging content at every single interaction.
For more information about content types would work for your business, get in touch with Arrow today on 1300 766 665.
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