Shocking Facts about Content Marketing

Contemplating whether content marketing is still at the top of the pyramid? The statistics speak for themselves, with more than 27 million people are sharing content on the web every day, content marketing is just beginning to blossom.

Content marketing has developed into a new way for businesses to advertise. With many social hotspots, such as Twitter and LinkedIn, it’s a faster and more effective way to spread the word on what your business has to offer and what services you provide. Many would say that content marketing has taken on as a new ‘art form’ in itself.

Here are 10 shocking facts about content marketing:

1. Businesses with active blogs produce 67% more leads per month. This observation proves what SEO marketers have been saying all along: people LOVE blogs! Consumers love to have a connection from a brand they love, hence why company blogs can quickly become a “go-to” source for people in the industry. By utilizing your blog as another approach to capture leads, you could engage your audience with subconscious call-to-actions and ultimately drive conversions.
2.  Most content marketers are using 12 different tactics to acquire their demographic.  Statistics from the Content Marketing Institute show that the introduction of new social channels have opened more paths of communication to your audience. Marketing teams have to integrate the most important channels into their marketing strategy in order to be successful. Digital marketing is constantly changing with new trends, apps, and more, it is important that your team keep up to date and take advantage of new opportunities for growth.
3. 86% of B2C companies use a content marketing approach. Normally statistic show that B2B is the largest participants of content marketing, but in the Content Marketing Institute shows that B2C is matching their efforts! With more people turning to social media as their ‘influence’ for decisions, B2C companies are taking advantage.
4. One-third of budgets for B2B Marketing Teams are spent on content marketing. Content marketing is valuable, but B2B marketing companies know the true value to dedicate such a large portion of their budgets on this one practice. Although content management systems and email marketing software’s are not free, there are low cost options if you look for them.
5. Social media and blogs reach 8 out of 10 internet users in the U.S. 80% of internet surfers is a large number, and that doesn’t even including the consumers who are utilizing these sites to make purchases. Marketers need maintain a presence on all social media platforms and their blog in order to develop an outreach strategy.
6. Email is STILL the preferred method of online communication. Contrary to believe, email takes the lead against all social networks and relevant content marketing. This is an important statistic because many companies do not place a strong emphasis on the importance of an email campaign.  Email automation comes with analytics to make tracking easy; Mail Chimp is a low cost option for email marketing and is very user friendly.
7. Nearly half of B2B marketers regularly use LinkedIn. Your audience maybe on Facebook or Twitter but your business connections are on LinkedIn. It is important to utilize LinkedIn as a marketer to build your network. Top salesman of companies spend 6 hours a week (on average) on LinkedIn.
8. 87% of B2B companies use social media to distribute content. Publishing content on your site is important, but sharing this content is part of the process. Use different social channels to publish your content to help reach a large audience. Google +, Facebook and Twitter are the most influential channels but don’t forget about the overlooked avenues such as LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest. These are equally important if not MORE important depending on your industry.
9. Companies that post 15 blogs a month get 5x more traffic than those who don’t. Over 27 Million pieces of content are shared every day and 64% of B2B marketers say their biggest challenge is producing enough content. If these statistics don’t put it in prospective how important content marketing is, you may never learn. More than 329 Million people read blogs every month. Not only do blogs give your site more indexed pages and links but 37% of marketers agree that blogs are the most valuable content type for marketing.
10. 44% of companies outsource their content marketing efforts. Many companies choose to keep their content creation in house. The benefit of an in-house content team is the access to statics and the extensive knowledge your company’s voice would be, however outsource content is generally less expensive. The preference is to keep the content in-house but the easiest option would be to outsource. Weight out the pros and cons to this decision before making it, find out what is best for your company and if the savings are worth it, find a reliable copywriter that will meet your company’s standards.

With time we have continued to see the growth and shift in content marketing importance. Content marketing is a strong channel of communication to reach your audience, start to learn the best practices to “jump on the bandwagon” before it takes off! 

Utilizing The Cost of Advertising

"Get the most bang for your buck..." is there anyone in the business field that hasn't heard that quote? But there is one company that caught my attention at breakfast for their ability to truly UTILIZE their cost. 

While in the middle of enjoying my delicious chocolate chip cookies I could help but look at my milk carton. A few months back we decided to go completely organic in the house and milk was one of those products. So I'm enjoying my breakfast while reading the milk carton. Talk about getting the bang for the buck. Every inch of the carton had writing on it. Their are social media links, quotes, facts, and information on why Organic Valley milk is the best milk on the market. They promote subliminal messaging in their text by telling you how "they give their animals the greenest pastures and they give you delicious & nutritious milk". They thank the reader for helping support the Organic way of life. They use 'feel good' marketing when they show the picture of the farmer with the cows, how it is going from their family to your family, and that they raise their animals with love. They make a connection/bond with the customer by using words like 'family, nurturing, children, love, and affection'.  

If you are buying their products, they know that you are health conscious (if not you wouldn't spend the extra $3 for the half gallon). Most people that are health conscious and shop at Whole Foods or GreenWise are usually against the cruelty of animals or vegetarian/vegan. So they pump the milk owner with all these facts on their cows, their family owned farms, and the way the animals are treated and raised. I mean Organic Valley really did what they could to use the carton. You figure you have to design the carton to hold the milk in, why not use every inch of space to convince the buyer why they should continue to buy our milk; not only our milk but try our yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and don't forget to like us on Facebook! 

So for the little businesses that cost is an issue, take some advice from Organic Valley farms; think about the products that you already have and buy and use them completely. Use the back of your business cards to place a discount promo code and add social links. Make sure you add links to social profiles on your website and make them easily accessible. If you have to buy boxes for your products, advertise all of them! The customer is going to get the box, and when they are bored eating cookies & drinking milk, they are going to read what you wrote. Make every dollar count so that you can say you get the 'best bang for your buck'! All around great approach for marketing and neuromarketing while on a budget. 

For more marketing tips, keep reading on the Tandem Interactive Blog! Have a great week! :)