Content is king. How many times have you heard or read this phrase and cringed? Although it’s a hugely overused cliché, that doesn’t change the fact that it is true. Online marketing has become increasingly competitive in recent years, and maintaining a simple blog with a splash of social media is no longer enough. Larger companies dedicate whole teams to online content marketing, so is it realistic to expect that you can achieve worthwhile results with the little time that you have on top of running your business?
Obviously, the answer is no. To make it with today’s digital marketers and still remain competitive, you need a structured approach with some qualified support. At this point you may be thinking, perhaps it would be OK if I don’t focus on a content marketing strategy and let my brand develop organically. Do not get caught up in this line of thinking. No matter how good your products or services are, if you can’t compete online, you’re throwing away a huge potential market, and this will hurt your business.
Increasing numbers of people are turning to online search to find local businesses. With the high penetration rate of smartphones, it is now possible for consumers to research your brand and your competitors from anywhere they have an internet connection, at any time. If you aren’t content marketing, then you’re essentially out of the game. What’s the solution? A dedicated marketing team that can achieve results. The good news for you is that this team doesn’t even have to come from within your own business, and outsourcing to a content marketing agency could even prove to be more cost-effective, with better results.
Effective Management Keeps a Project on Track
The four key elements of an effective content marketing strategy are effective management, outstanding content, compelling visuals, and relevant data. Management is key because no matter how well each process is performed, without the right vision, the end goal may not be achieved. Effective leaders are able to create a roadmap for any strategy. They can identify opportunities for promotions, key dates to release content and what that content needs to communicate. With effective oversight, they can also ensure that the content and graphic design elements of the marketing strategy are in line with what is needed to compete in the market. To understand what is needed, leaders take data from their analysts. Data shows how the content is performing and identify areas for improvement.
Superior Content Drives Engagement and Solidifies Brand Reputation
We come back to content is king. Without effective content, you don’t have a marketing strategy. Content can include concise marketing copy, authority-building blog posts, relevant social media, informative video scripts and direct engagement with an audience through forums and other platforms. You need strong writers, and they need to be able to communicate your brand and your message in a way that is engaging, informative and persuasive. The best writers will understand your brand, and they will understand the bigger picture, such as where your company is going and the goals you have.
Graphic Design Ensures Content is Front and Center
Content marketing needs to have substance, but it must also be visually compelling. This is especially true when you consider that many of your efforts will be on platforms where users have limited time for interactivity and relatively short exposure times. Powerful graphics, strong company logo branding, and well-designed layouts will make sure your content is seen. Modern graphic artists will understand that text is as visual as any image. The way content is presented will determine whether your audience chooses to read it or not. The right artists will understand the subtleties of a good layout for any platform, whether it’s your blog, your product pages or your social media posts.
Analysis Tells You What You’re Doing Right And Where You Need to Improve
Numbers are critical. How many people are reading your content? How engaged is your social media audience? Did your last campaign attract the right people, and was your investment in marketing rewarded with quantifiable leads and conversions? Without this data, you will run a blind strategy with success or failure determined by sheer luck.
Does a Content Marketing Agency Make More Sense?
Knowing all of this, it’s clear that your marketing strategy requires leadership and highly talented professionals. Most small to medium-sized businesses don’t have the expertise to build a marketing team from scratch or even the resources to manage the process from end to end. A content marketing agency can provide all of the areas of expertise that define an effective marketing team, with the added benefit that you reduce your own overhead and the time investment that is required for marketing.
A content marketing agency will give you access to the best writers and graphic designers, along with analytics that provides you with real campaign and growth track.
More than 61 percent of consumers search online to find information about products and brands. Are you ready for them, and more importantly, do you have the content strategy to ensure that they will find you?
At Blackstone Agency we have a deep understanding of content with more than 20 years of content marketing and management experience. We know what it takes to succeed in modern content marketing. We were producing content and developing strategies even before e-commerce and internet marketing were part of the mainstream. In short, we know exactly what it takes to get your brand noticed while building a responsive audience. With a talented team of full-time marketers, we can ensure that your content marketing strategy translates to sales success and real business growth.