Are you looking for ways to increase sales through content? These are six practices and habits that marketing professionals use to create great content marketing strategies with a high ROI. Here are the top 6 content marketing strategies:
1. Set realistic goals
Content marketing strategies are not likely to result in instant sales explosions. Instead, expect to learn about the time it takes for people to make purchases. Some industries are able to make quick purchases or respond to crisis situations, but most businesses must cultivate loyal customers to build loyalty and avoid risk aversion. This is where content can be a great tool.
Reduce your goals
Start by breaking down your marketing goals into campaigns that have specific timelines and themes. This leads you to set both short as well as long-term goals. You can then identify whether an initiative is working and take action if it isn’t.
Expectations and effort should be weighed
Think about the amount of effort your company and your team are putting into content marketing. If you are able to post one new social media status, article, or link per month, expect significant changes in your followers within a quarter.
Compare previous marketing initiatives
Consider the ROI of any previous outreach or marketing work. Even if your digital marketing skills are not extensive, chances are you have tried other methods to spread the word about your work.
If you own a brick-and-mortar store, signage can have a great ROI. You must keep track of metrics online to see how they compare. There is often overlap. Customers may have visited your site or read your blog before contacting you about your products and services. To see if your content is reaching its goals, track every step.
2. Connect with current customers
You don’t have to purchase expensive tracking software if you aren’t sure whether your customers are reading your blog. Ask them. A simple survey is one of the best tools to retain customers. It’s possible to be amazed at the things you can learn from people who already have a relationship with you and value your services.
A content marketing strategy should include deepening your relationships with customers. This must start with current customers. This is how content marketing drives sales. Happy customers make for happier customers. Answer their questions by using your blog. Tell them all you wish you knew about your industry. Smile at them.
Encourage your audience to share the content with their friends. Include a call-to-action (or CTA) in everything you do. You shouldn’t assume that they will read your informational blog, but they will be able to explore the topic on your website. You can increase your leads and sales by asking them for a click or offering incentives to forward the link to a friend via a loyalty program.
3. Refine Target Audience
You will be able to refine your idea of the ideal customer as you learn more about current customers. To analyze the similarities and differences between your customers, gather as much information as possible. This will help you create future content and marketing strategies that are more effective for your target audience.
To identify, look beyond the obvious:
- Demographics include their education level and marital status.
- Psychographics include values, attitudes, and lifestyle choices.
- Behavior patterns, particularly in the area of purchasing
- You can use geography to meet the specific needs of each region.
Many business owners claim that they want everyone to be their customer. However, in reality, this is not true. You need to focus on what makes your customers different from your competitors. You’ll see the benefits of using content to reach customers in a genuine and professional manner.
4. Choose your platform(s) wisely
Social media platforms are very handy to share content. Certain generations and demographics have a preference for certain platforms. Some industries, like fashion, beauty, and tech, make more sense on certain platforms than others.
Do not try to do it immediately. SMART goals are the best: specific, measurable and achievable, relevant, time-bound, and applicable. You’ll waste your time and energy trying to post on every platform. Begin by focusing on one platform and then move on to another.
Once you have decided on your platform (B2B should use LinkedIn, for example), create a publication schedule to promote the blog. Use professional images, avoiding stock photography if you have the budget. Schedule your posts using Sendible or HootSuite.
You must also publish content regularly, but that’s not the most important thing. You might want to publish new blogs every other week, once a week, or twice a month. To maximize your social media marketing reach and sales, be realistic.
5. Get started producing quality content
One word can sum up how content marketing drives sales: quality. Search engines like Google will not be interested in the content you produce if it isn’t what customers are looking for. How do you define quality content, then? What should you look for?
- Value is when the article has some benefit for the reader.
- Credibility is what earns trust and loyalty for a brand.
- Specificity so the reader understands your situation and can help them solve any problem.
- Excellent user experience so that readers can find the answers they need easily
A blog’s user experience is defined as a well-researched article that is grammatically correct and clear. Blogs should not exceed 1,000 words. It is a good idea, therefore, to break down the information with bullet points, numbered lists, and subheadings. It’s important to make it easy for your reader. They could become your customer in the very near future.
6. Partner with professionals
Because content marketing is a skill that requires practice and focus, it can be intimidating. If you don’t write frequently, it may take you too long to create an informative, entertaining, and engaging blog post. Consider your ROI — it is often worth your time and money outsourcing some work to professionals.
Content writing services offered by agencies can also include SEO research and editing. This will ensure that you present a professional image to the public.