What is Content Marketing?
Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and sharing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
Types of Content That Can Help You Generate Leads
There are many different types of content you can create to help you generate leads. The key is to create material that will be of interest to your target audience. Some ideas include:
Blog posts
These can be about anything related to your industry or business. For example, if you sell software that helps businesses manage their finances, your blog could discuss the latest changes in tax law or offer tips on cash flow management.
Videos
A video could be a tour of your office or product, an interview with a satisfied customer, or a short explainer video about how your product works.
Infographics
These are great for complex subjects that can be difficult to understand. An infographic about income taxes, for instance, could break down the different tax brackets and explain how each one works.
Whitepapers and ebooks
These are usually more in-depth than other types of content and are used to showcase your company's expertise on a particular subject. For example, an ebook about social media marketing could provide detailed instructions on how to create and maintain a strong presence on various platforms.
Podcasts
A podcast could feature interviews with industry experts or discussions about timely topics related to your business.
Content marketing is not a new concept. In fact, some of the most successful companies have been using content marketing for years to draw in customers and generate leads. But with the ever-changing landscape of the internet, certain content marketing tactics have become more effective than others in recent years.
So, if you’re looking to step up your content marketing game and generate more leads, here are a few tactics you should be focused on.
1. Publish Long-Form Blog Posts
One of the best ways to generate leads through content marketing is to publish long-form blog posts that are packed with valuable information. These types of blog posts show that you are an expert in your field and that you are able to provide readers with actionable advice that they can use to solve their problems.
Not only will publishing long-form blog posts help you generate leads, but it will also help you establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. And when you’re seen as a thought leader, people are much more likely to do business with you.
2. Use Visuals
Another great way to generate leads through content marketing is to use visuals. People are visual learners and they are more likely to engage with and remember content that includes images, infographics, videos, etc.
3. Repurpose Your Content
You don’t have to start from scratch every time you create new content. You can repurpose old content in a new way or even combine a few pieces of old content to create something new. For example, if you have a series of blog posts on the same topic, you could turn them into an ebook or an online course.
4. Promote Your Content
If you want your content to be seen by as many people as possible (and you do), then you need to promote it across all channels — social media, email marketing, paid advertising, etc. The more places people see your content, the more likely they are going to click through and convert into a lead.
5. Host a webinar or virtual event
Finally, another great way to use content marketing to generate leads is to host a webinar or virtual event. Webinars and virtual events are excellent lead generation tools because they allow you to speak directly to your audience and answer their questions in real-time. Additionally, they provide an excellent opportunity for you to pitch your product or service at the end (or during) the event.
Content marketing is an effective way to generate leads for your business by building relationships with potential customers and demonstrating your company's expertise. There are many different types of content you can create, from blog posts and videos to infographics and whitepapers. If you want to generate leads through content marketing, focus on publishing long-form blog posts, using visuals, repurposing old content, and promoting your content across all channels. By producing high-quality material that is of interest to your target audience, you can earn their trust—and eventually turn them into paying customers.
