content marketing services

This year, content marketing is a non-optional activity for any brand that wants to be successful. Facts: 84% of consumers now expect brands to create content. And if you think you can just get in front of them with ads… think again. Today, 80% of users ignore sponsored search results in Google. Organic is where you’ll win. However, if you’re thinking about content marketing services (such as hiring an agency to manage your content marketing campaign from start to finish — something we don’t do, we only write great content) — it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out what services to choose, and from whom. Should you go with strategic content services from a digital marketing agency? Or should you go with content development and marketing services from a creative agency? Or should you just go renegade and do it all yourself? You have a lot of options, so I’ve put this guide of the most quintessential content marketing services that you need. It’s got advice for whichever route you choose, so if you’re going to take that dive (and you absolutely should!) … start here. [bctt tweet=”Thinking about content marketing services? It’s overwhelming figuring out what to choose. …Or should you just go renegade? ‍ Learn everything you need to know in this guide on the Write Blog.” username=”ExpWriters”] A Quick Guide: Content Marketing Services You Need This Year – Table of Contents What Goes Into Content Marketing? 9 Content Marketing Services You Need to Grow Your Brand in 2020 and Beyond 1. A Rock-Solid Content Strategy 2. The Creation of Mind-Blowing Content 3. Frank, Thoughtful Video Creation 4. Captivating Infographics & Visual Assets 5. A Kicka$$ WordPress Site 6. Flawlessly Branded Social Media 7. Next-Level Email Marketing 8. A Fresh, Modern Maintenance Routine 9. The Right Tools to Measure Success So, Exactly What Does Content Marketing Entail? If you asked me to pick the top 10 buzzwords in the online writing industry, content marketing would definitely be near the top of the list. It’s difficult to tell when the term content marketing first came around. It appears in a few marketing textbooks (available on Google Books) from the late 1990s, but internet results all seem to indicate that digital marketers first adopted the term in the mid-2000s. Now, it’s everywhere. But what does it mean? In short, content marketing is the strategic planning, creation, and distribution of content to engage audiences and drive revenue. (CMI wrote a wonderful guide on it that’s worth reading.) In 2020, content marketing is all but a necessity for any company looking to market itself effectively. Consumers were fed up with in-your-face advertising and slimy sales tactics a LONG time ago. In contrast, content marketing takes a different approach. It emphasizes the delivery of engaging, helpful, useful content to audiences rather than convincing them outright to buy a service. It’s helpful to think of content marketing like a chain-reaction. Each step builds on the previous to create a working system to build an audience and generate leads. In general, you’ll see six steps: Strategy: Content strategy is the foundation of content marketing. It’s your road map and blueprint to build your content engine. Creation: Content marketing relies on the creation of superb content that’s been developed with your audience’s needs and the customer journey in mind. Optimization: With optimization, it’s time to get technical. Here, you make sure that search engines see you, your site works on mobile, and all the details are perfect. Distribution: Also called promotion in some resources, this is the release of your content on platforms like your blog or social media. Maintenance: Keeping the momentum going is important. In the maintenance stage, you apply the sensibilities of marketing to keep your content and presence fresh. Metrics: In 2020, everything is data-driven. To maximize success, you need to know how your content is performing. [bctt tweet=”It’s helpful to think of content marketing like a chain-reaction. ⛓ Each step builds on the previous, leading to growth. There are 6 steps: 1) Strategy 2) Creation 3) Optimization 4) Distribution 5) Maintenance 6) Metrics ” username=”ExpWriters”] Content marketing involves a lot! It’s no surprise that 84% of companies outsource at least one of those elements (usually content creation) – even if they have a dedicated content marketing team (which according to CMI, most do). So, what all goes into content marketing? Here are nine content marketing services you should absolutely consider if you want to grow your brand this year. 9 Content Marketing Services You Need to Grow Your Brand This year, you’ve got abundant options for content marketing services and packages. As the marketing approach finally goes mainstream, there’s no shortage of agencies and independents offering tricks, tools, and services. However, not all content marketing services are created equal. It takes a discerning eye to decide which option is best for you. If you’re looking around and feeling overwhelmed, I totally feel you! It’s a big, big world. Here’s a guide to the top nine services for content development and marketing that you definitely should consider this year. 1. A Rock-Solid Content Strategy First and foremost, don’t go anywhere without a road map! Content strategy is the framework for your content marketing. It’s what will inform things like what content you create and where you’ll distribute it. In many ways, developing your content strategy is front-loading your content marketing. With a solid content strategy as your foundation, you’re already halfway to a comprehensive content marketing engine. Strongly consider documenting your overarching strategy. According to CMI’s 2020 B2B Content Marketing Report, only 41% of surveyed businesses had one – but that included a whopping two-thirds of the most successful businesses who reported. Likewise, only 16% of the least well-performing companies surveyed had a content strategy that was written down. Many marketing agencies and even freelance writers offer content strategy. When shopping for a service, make sure that it’s got a few quintessential items: Trending topics research: Don’t let your … Read more