As a marketing professional, sometimes you just can’t help but feel like the leader of three-ring circus. Not only are you tasked with juggling strategy meetings, attending events and overseeing your team, but you’re also expected to create original, thought-provoking content. But let’s face it; there aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done.
Content marketing—the creation and distribution of valuable, relevant content—has become the new “it” strategy as it helps boost lead generation, spread brand awareness and increase consumer engagement. However, content creation has become a burden. According to Eloqua’s “State of Content Marketing 2014” report, 44 percent of marketers consider creating enough content to be a primary challenge.
To ease the heavy load, many organizations are contracting the help of custom publishing agencies. In fact, 47 percent of companies are now outsourcing their content needs to a third-party content strategy vendor, according to the aforementioned report. However, not all content marketing agencies are created equal.
In a recent article, titled “The Truth About Content Marketing Agencies,” Joe Pulizzi, Founder, Content Marketing Institute, warned readers that organizations of all “stripes” are jumping onto the content marketing bandwagon – most without any experience—in hopes of cashing in. “Even with all these choices, brands have it tough. There is good help out there, but it’s hard to tell the partners from the posers,” said Pulizzi.
So how do you separate the real experts from the wannabes? Below are three important things to consider before teaming up with a content strategy vendor:
1. Reputable team: Never trust a wolf in sheep’s clothing, or a company pretending to be a content strategist for that matter. Before hiring a content marketing agency, check out its credentials. Take a look at its blog, social media accounts, whitepapers and videos as this will give you a good indication of what you can expect. At Content Boost, our bread and butter is content creation. With over 40 years of editorial, marketing and brand strategy expertise, we’ve built a reputation as an industry leader using all the latest tactics to drive results. Watch our latest video above to learn more about our philosophy.
2. True advisor: At its core, content marketing is all about creating custom content, but it’s more than just that. You need a partner that goes beyond writing compelling copy. You need a true advisor who can help shape your content strategy and give you ways to integrate content into your overall marketing strategy. Here at Content Boost, we think of ourselves as brand advisors, helping our clients craft and conceptualize their content strategy from the ground up. When you partner with us, you have an assigned team of up to five professionals, including content producers, operations managers, designers, video producers and social media specialists.
3. Industry expert: You may have a team of experts, but can they write? In order to be seen as an industry thought leader, you have to write like one. Creating relevant copy that’s directly tied to your target audience is the key to increasing consumer engagement and climbing to the top of Google’s rankings, but it takes time—which chances are you don’t have. Whether you’re in the retail industry or the tech sector, find a provider that covers the whole gamut. Our dedicated team of writers has their finger on the pulse of every industry, combing the Internet for the latest news so you don’t have to.
Finding the perfect content strategy vendor isn’t easy. But if you keep these three things in mind throughout your journey, you’ll be able to weed out the winners from the losers. Happy hunting!
To learn more about Content Boost check out our website or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
