Content is defined as any piece of media that is consumable on the internet. Contents can appear in the forms of publications, videos, Ebooks, ad copy, press releases, animations, etc.
Social media is internet based and uses computer-based technology. It helps in facilitating the sharing of information, ideas, and thoughts. Social media through the building of communities and virtual networks gives users quick communication of content. Whatsapp, Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, and Tiktok are the largest social media networks today.
The ability to interact, share information, and connect with people from various parts of the earth is the power of social media.
Many individuals are leveraging social media to maintain communication with family and friends. In the business world, various startups have taken advantage of the new and popular communication network to reach out to customers and sell their brands.
Importance of Content Marketing
Content marketing has played a major role in helping startup businesses find their target audience. It is also effective in helping audiences find their desired products, services, and expertise. Marketing agencies for startups have been able to maximize content marketing. It has also played a major role in improving the visibility of brands and websites in major search engines.
Content is the major source of growth for startup companies. It helps to drive sales, develop a brand’s presence, and grow audience engagement. The benefits of creating high-quality content for startup brands are great.
Concepts of Content Marketing
Content marketing is the science of creating and distributing valuable and compelling content. It helps to attract and engage a clearly defined target audience. It is usually done to drive profitable customer action.
Every startup business needs to understand content marketing. Knowing it at even a basic level will help you change the direction of your business towards growth.
Content marketing is said to be a long-term strategic approach. Its major focus is attracting, engaging, and retaining an audience. It is achieved by consistently creating and sharing relevant content on all media.
Four Major Categories of Content Marketing
Consistently creating content that is relevant and timely has become quite competitive. As a startup brand, you have to constantly update your content. It keeps you at the edge of relevance and makes you a source of value to your customers.
Creating content that directs readers to your brand makes you stand out as an authority. It is therefore important that you consider the content categories available.
The four content categories used in content marketing are attraction, authority, affinity, and action. We will look at them one at a time to understand the role they all play in building comprehensive content.
1. Attraction Content
Attraction content is the type of content that drives traffic to your page. This is the very first step in every successful content marketing strategy. Your content will not matter if no one can see them, so attractive content is to be read and shared by others.
Content sharing is needed for start-up businesses to become visible. It helps drive traffic to your site. You share valuable information that people need. You also create attractive and useful content that hooks your readers and keeps them reading till the end.
Various approaches can be used to attract new people to your content. Some of the approaches that can be used includes slideshare, downloadable assets, surveys and statistics, and the use of infographics.
As a startup brand, your website will need a lot of attractive content to get attention, followers, and links.
2. Authority Content
Authority content is usually meant to attract high-quality links to your site. It also gets attention in a meaningful way that always translates into action.
If you must position your brand as an authority on a particular topic, you have to create content that is credible and informative. Your content should speak for itself demonstrating your expertise; you don’t have to state it outright that you are the authority.
One way to show off your authority as a startup business is simply by offering well-assembled and well-written information. This information should be valuable with an appropriate tone and a voice that is easily understood by your target audience.
Creating outstanding content helps expand your reach and singles you out as an authority. People particularly trust authorities they like.
3. Affinity Content
While attraction content leads people to you, it is affinity content that makes them like you and cling to you. This content connects with your readers’ emotions as they are people who share the same thoughts and beliefs as you.
Affinity content makes them believe you understand them. Because you are always able to connect with their emotions by creating relatable content.
As a startup brand, it is basically about the emotional connection you forge with your readers. They stick with you because you make them feel better and you understand them. You understand how they feel and also share a mutual bond with them. Put yourself in your reader’s shoes and try walking their path to increasing affinity.
4. Action Content
Action content as the name implies is designed to get your customers into taking action. Action content turns readers and fans into customers.
Every content you create as a startup business should end with you having an action in mind you want your readers to take. The very first step is to get them to follow your instructions and take your advice.
Once they can warm up to you and trust you, sales won’t be a problem.
The Three P’s of Content Marketing
The three p’s of content marketing are planning, production, and promotion.
- Planning: Make sure you always take out time first to plan. It is a very important factor in any startup marketing agency.
- Production: The production process is always quicker and cost-effective if planning is being handled properly.
- Promotion: Promotion is the process of distributing, creating, and publishing different types of content for a targeted online audience. This stage is as important as the production stage.
Also read: 7C’s of Marketing Every Online Business Should Develop
The Role of Content Marketing on Social Media Platforms
You must remain relevant in the digital space and create a long-lasting relationship with your customers. There is so much noise and distraction from everyone seeking to get attention in the same space. You must understand the importance of content marketing and the role it plays on social media.
Consistent creation of valuable and informative content is of high importance to digital any startup business. It is a proven way of building a strong relationship with your customers. This leads to an increase in revenue generation for any organization.
Content plays a very important role in helping startup brands achieve social media objectives. It helps with audience engagement, brand recognition, and lead generation. Your content should always be relevant to your audience and constantly reveal the unique standpoint of your brand. It is a way of building long-lasting relationships with your customers.
Your content is meant to inform your audience, pitch an idea, sell your products, and promote your brand. Your focus is first on the content, not the selling points.
Why Content Marketing Is Relevant on Social Media Platforms
One of the most productive ways of marketing your business presently is by creating valuable and compelling content on social media. Valuable content plays vital roles in startup businesses, which include but are not limited to:
Lead Generation
With social media, you can build valuable business relationships, and connect with potential clients. You can also generate leads by running ads and promotions.
Increase Your Brand Awareness
Social media helps you increase your brand awareness as well as reach a wider range of audience. As a startup agency, you can make your brand visible by creating valuable and engaging content.
Build a Relationship
Social media is a great way of building valuable relationships with other businesses and your customers. You create long-lasting relationships by engaging your audience with valuable content.
Boost Your Sales
You can easily boost sales, promote your products on social media and provide customer services. Social media is a great sales tool.
Conclusion
The relationship between content marketing and social media is so powerful that one can’t exist without the other. These two are important tools needed for business growth in modern society.
FAQs
What Results Do I Expect From Content Marketing on Social Media?
Content Marketing is a long-term strategy that requires patience. When embarking on social media marketing don’t expect instant results after you publish your first post. You must implement a long-term content strategy. These strategies yield tremendous benefits at the end of the day.
Is Content Marketing Expensive?
The cost of content marketing varies, depending on the size and scope of your company’s goal. Outlining your goals will help you figure out how much it will cost your company to embark on the project.
How Do I Measure the Success of My Content Marketing on Social Media?
There are a couple of things you should consider in determining the success of your content marketing. Some factors to consider include the revenue you generate, and how frequently you get email subscriptions. How you have been able to improve customer relationships through engagement and your social success.
