Content Marketing – Trends and Best Practices for 2014
If you’ve been internet marketing for any length of time certainly you’ve heard the oft-repeated proverb that Content is King. Well, the fact is, it’s finally right.
Content marketing is without a doubt the hottest buzzword entering 2014, and for good reason. Some 27 million pieces of content are shared daily. Along with Google’s search algorithm getting smarter, and by that I mean having the ability to properly discern a piece of content’s actual popularity via social signals amongst other things, it’s more and more difficult to foist unmerited content upon the search results.
So let’s look at a few trends and best practices for content marketing in 2014.
- Make a plan for your content – Understanding what and when you’re intending to publish content greatly simplifies other tasks associated with it, such as marketing, and helps with consistency. Most publishers report that producing enough content is their number one problem, so take away the pressure of having to do it on the fly!
- Have a company blog – Each month more than 329 million people read blogs, and the company which has an active blog is harvesting a cool 97 percent more leads than their competitors. Your blog is your easiest and fastest way to connect your brand with prospects.
- Branded content – A concept somewhat new to the scene, branded content is built to sell with entertaining, high-end content (generally with a visual component) that is inextricably tied to the brand.
- Try new content channels –There are a number of very highly-trafficked content channels out there you might not have taken advantage of. Have a look at LinkedIn sponsored posts, Google+, and Slideshare, to name just a few.
- Be sure to SEO your content – Keeping SEO principles in mind while developing your content can save time and improve rankings. Don’t make the job harder by having to fix it later.
- Employ a social media strategy – A full 80 percent of users would prefer to learn about and connect with brands on Facebook, it’s no longer just a recommendation that you have an active and engaging social media plan.
- Make sure you are optimized for mobile – 56 percent of Americans now have a smartphone, and are using it daily to make purchases and find your business! But that can’t happen if your site only looks great on a 21 inch screen using Explorer. Optimize for all browsers and be sure your content is brief and to the point on mobile. Nobody likes to read volumes on a tiny screen.
2014 can be the year your content helps you separate from your competition, if you plan for and execute it. It will be worth it!
