What Is Content Marketing & Why Should A Business Owner Care?
So, as a business owner you’re probably wondering what this new-fangled content marketing is, and why you should care, right? Well, content marketing is the new boss hog of marketing, and it matters to you a whole lot more than you might think.
Content marketing is the practice of sharing valuable information with a specific audience in a clear and relevant way that evokes emotions and inspires action.
In other words, the art of content marketing is your new best friend and should be at the top of your list for development and implementation into your current business structure.
The History of Content Marketing
Content marketing has been around for hundreds of years in practice, but in theory, it is a relative newcomer to the marketing family. By providing relevant, useful and consumable information to a very specific audience just about anything can be considered content marketing.
For example, cave drawings from the prehistoric era are content marketing. They shared very specific sets of information with very specific audiences of people.
Such as:
- How to build a fire.
- Where to find shelter.
- Stories of great hunts or great warriors.
Another great example could be traditional oral storytelling in Native American culture. These stories were an important part of the culture and helped establish many different ideals within a community. Also, here are some great examples of content marketing throughout history.
The Present Day Applications of Content Marketing
There are no limits to the practical applications of content marketing in the present day. Content is everything from your web copy to the feeling people get after watching a commercial. So, it would make sense that the theory of strategizing your content marketing could go a very long way in making sure that a business is reaching the correct people, in the correct way so as to evoke the desired action.
Some very impactful applications of modern-day content marketing are:
- SEO & search engine marketing
- social media marketing
- email marketing
- PPC marketing
While these are all very different types of marketing avenues, they all come down to the quality of content driving their conversions.
Some Useful Content Marketing Statistics to Keep in Mind
Recently, the Content Marketing Institute released the 2015 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks and Research report.
One of the key takeaways from their report is the fact that 70% of all businesses surveyed said that they are creating far more content now than they did last year. So, with that in mind, if you’re creating tons of content, why not do it right?
In the digital arena of today’s world, sharing data has become a natural and nearly involuntary action taken by everyone on the internet. In fact, 27 million pieces of content are shared every single day, according to a Nielsen report in 2013 (AOL/Nielsen, 2013).
When we think of sharing data, the mind always leans towards social media. Which makes sense, but that isn’t where all of the data sharing happens. Another great stat to think about is the fact that content marketing beat out social media engagement as the top digital priority for both B2B and B2C businesses in 2013. (Econsultancy/Adobe, January 2013)
How Does the Future Look for Content Marketing
Although content marketing is still in its infancy, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. The future of content marketing is blinding. Seriously, it’s kind of like staring at the sun.
Because the concept of content marketing is both simple and common sense, we feel like it will overtake any other marketing styles and should be integrated into every business marketing plan before the end of 2015.
Remind Me Why I Should Care?
As a business owner, content marketing should be a high priority because it allows you to speak directly to the people you want to reach and create the type of connection that you need to succeed.
Who wouldn’t want to have that kind of connection with your audience? Plus, it’s easier than you think to begin and maintain a content marketing campaign for your brand. It all begins with having a documented content marketing strategy, with we can help with! If you’re interested in forging a deep connection with your customers, get in touch with us for a Discovery Consultation.