December 10, 2013

Why Business Owners Need to Consider Content Marketing for 2014

The end of the year can mean many things for business executives. Right now, the average business owner is likely thinking about 2014 product unveils and new offerings, as well as trying to carve out new business objectives – one of which should be re-evaluating his or her marketing efforts.

One huge trend rising in the marketing realm that business owners have been casting an eye on is content marketing, or the creation and sharing of custom, relevant copy for bolstering brand awareness and driving profitability. In fact, corporate spending on branded content increased by almost eight percent in 2013. This represents a budget of about $1.86 million per company, according to the Custom Content Council’s annual “Spending Study: A Look at How Corporate America Invests in Branded Content for 2013” report.

Content marketing is going to represent a huge chunk of business owners’ 2014 initiatives. However in order to remain competitive, businesses must be able to reinvent the wheel. To help you get a head start on the competition, consider these three basic ideas with a twist:

1. End of Year Pieces: The “End of Year” story always dominates Google’s Web searches come the start of every December. The best perk of these kinds of stories is that this concept can encompass virtually any industry; however, the potential downside is that it can be difficult to rank high with so many companies producing the same kind of content. One creative angle could involve completing an end of year story that focuses around your company’s accomplishments and major reveals. Ask yourself, “What would someone have missed if they’re just learning about the company now?” 

2. Holiday-Inspired Content: The concepts for holiday-inspired content are far-reaching and never go out of style, where ideas can range from food to gift giving to holiday wish lists. Get your creativity flowing and have fun, but always remember to be sensitive to your target audience and to be aware of how all customers spend their holiday season. Be innovative yet inclusive.

3. New Year’s Material: The very last moments of December often represent a content marketing goldmine. You can stick with the classic “New Year’s Resolution” or find different ways to mix it up and keep it fresh. One way to do this is to share what your customers’ 2014 New Year’s resolutions are. It may not be directly related to your company, but it will be promoting customer loyalty, and that’s the most important thing at the end of the day.

The same old strategies unfortunately don’t cut it anymore. The world is ready to welcome 2014 as well as the continued rise of content marketing. Are you? 




Edited by Brooke Neuman




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