(This is a two part series. If you aren’t familiar with content marketing, get caught up here with our blog post, “What is CONTENT MARKETING?”. )
So you know you need marketing for your website or business. You also know that content marketing is where it’s at right now. But how? How does the small business, with limited resources and the never ending task list, participate in content marketing? I’d like to show you that content marketing is attainable for you and your business with a few practical examples of content marketing. This is no way conclusive, as any good marketing plan will be tailored to the individual business and target market.
Blogging often has negative connotations for small business owners, so don’t click away just yet. As a small business owner myself, I know how limited your time can be. The fact of the matter is that blogging is the cornerstone of content marketing. It is hosted on your website, which you (hopefully) own, and is the main gateway or central location for all the content you or a hired writer will create.
(Note: Yes, you can hire content writers to help build the content for content marketing. We will even help you market it out.)
Blogging creates a voice for your business to connect with its potential clients. This voice gives your business a human element that your potential clients can connect with. It makes you personable and approachable.
(Read more about blogging for small businesses here.)
Email marketing sees some of the highest success rates, solely because people have chosen to be a part of it. By opting in to receive the emails, they are much more receptive to it. This goes hand in hand with blogging, as any blog posts can be a converted to emails and sent out on a regular basis.
Photos are quick and easy to digest. With the rise of Instagram, Pinterest and the like, photo blogging can be a great source of content. This works great for businesses such as real estate, design orientated businesses, retail or local marketed businesses. Take a photo with your phone and shoot it on over to Hootsuite to send out to your social media sites.
(Read more about social media for small businesses here.)
Did you know that mobile users watch more video, and longer videos then their desktop counterparts? Video content is easily digestible and desirable by the mobile user. These videos don’t have to be filled with crazy animations and heavily edited. All they need to do is portray a message and be uploaded to YouTube and your blog.
We often optimize them with keywords and specific coding as well, to increase ranking and SEO power.
Anyone talking about you? Brag a little! Post it up on your site, with a link (which is beneficial for them as well).
Tutorial videos, product reviews, night classes, frequently asked questions, webinars, e-books: the list goes on.
These are all things that your clients need, want and will come looking for. Why not put these online? Some might wonder if teaching your business skills would empower clients instead of converting them into sales. The fact of the matter is that most of our businesses cannot be taught in a simple article or class. Teaching gives brand recognition, brand loyalty, while allowing clients to feel like “part of the team”. Educated clients are better clients. While you might lose one or two, the benefits outweigh the negatives.
Read an article here about how these businesses did it!
I hope these ideas get your creative juices rolling! The list is far from conclusive, and the best content marketing plan is hand tailored to your business. If you are interested in learning more about how you can incorporate content marketing into your business, give us a call and meet up over coffee with a KLCD team member to discuss some ideas for your business. Click here to schedule a consultation meeting.
In today’s competitive digital landscape, your website isn’t just a brochure—it’s a critical tool of your business. It’s your storefront, your lead generator, and often your first and only point of contact with customers. To ensure that your website delivers the best possible experience for your visitors while driving meaningful...
Here are some photography tips specifically tailored toward business leaders who use iPhones! High-quality photography is important for every website and social media page, but what exactly makes incredible iPhone photography? Although mastering photographic moments is something that challenges even the most experienced professionals on a day-by-day basis, business leaders...
Several Tandem Design Lab clients have recently experienced email difficulties, so here’s how to fix these issues! We’ve recently been hearing from some of our clients about how their email accounts are rejecting other people’s emails and kicking messages back to senders. This is an unfortunate communication mishap for any...