You’ve heard it before, and it bears repeating: When it comes to modern-day digital culture, content is king. Content marketing drives engagement, builds relationships, focuses on the customer, and serves as an effective tool for lead generation, when correctly. 84 percent of people expect brands to provide content that entertains, tells stories, provides solutions, and creates experiences and events. When you create content that is interesting and adds value to your customers’ lives, the benefits are plentiful. Read on to learn how content creation benefits your business.
Nearly 50% of 18- to 49-year-olds get their news online.
Pew Research Center conducted a study in 2016 analyzing how Americans get their news. This study showed that more and more people every day are putting down their newspapers, turning off their TVs, and turning on their devices. Of the adults who prefer to receive their news digitally, over 70% of those 18 to 29 prefer or only use mobile devices, as do 53% of those aged 30-49. The message is clear: Younger generations want to digest their news from the Internet, whether on a computer, a phone, or a tablet.
How can you reach these consumers? It’s easy: Make your online presence the place to be! Your social media channels and your blog are ideal outlets to reach those seeking information. Quality content pieces that give away valuable information without asking your customers for anything in return are highly effective here. You’re not only attracting visitors to your site, you’re telling them you’re ready to help meet their needs and solve their problems. Well-written content pieces help turn happy, engaged readers turn into satisfied customers.
Content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing, yet generates over three times as many leads.
Wait, compared to traditional outbound marketing, content marketing costs nearly 2/3 less, but generates over 3 times more leads? Yes.
Outbound marketing is the dated, stagnant process of creating advertisements that tout the greatness of your brand, service, or product. It’s pushy marketing at its finest—BUY OUR THING, IT’S GREAT! In a world where consumers can skip right over any ad they don’t want to waste time watching or listening to with one click, it doesn’t work well. There are better, less-intrusive ways to engage your target audience, and content marketing is a great one.
Small businesses who blog get 126% higher lead growth than small businesses who don’t.
More leads mean increased business. HubSpot compared blogging businesses to non-blogging businesses over a course of six months. The blogging businesses had 165% lead growth, compared to only 73% lead growth for their non-blogging counterparts. That’s one heck of a big difference—126% more leads just for keeping a blog! When you stop to think that Internet users in America spend three times more time on blogs than they do on email, it just makes sense to use a blog to engage with your customers in addition to your email list.
Content marketing converts leads into customers.
Content marketing, in additional to the benefits we’ve already mentioned, has nearly six times the power of traditional outbound marketing for converting readers into leads, and leads into customers. That’s 600% more customers for your product or business than before!
Content marketing requires effort on your part. It takes time to craft quality content, patience to interact with your readers, and effort to keep it going. The rewards, however, are far greater than those of traditional marketing.
If you need help with your own content creation, reach out to us. Our writers specialize in content marketing for a variety of industries. We are always available to help your product or business shine.
