Its Time to Bust These 5 Content Marketing Myths

While many companies have embraced content marketing as a key marketing strategy, a study by the Content Marketing Institute reveals that only 42% of businesses feel that theirs is effective. What’s holding so many companies back? Well there’s lots of information on content marketing online but not all of it is sound advice. It’s time to lay some of these myths to rest. Myth #1: â€Å"Social media isn’t a big priority† Many brands let their social media presence slide because they don’t think of it as a major priority. But if you want to maximize the reach of your content, you need to be promoting it on social media. Paid and organic social posts can help boost your visibility, drive traffic and increase sales. With an average of 28% of time online spent on social networks, it’s vital that your brand is engaging with customers where they actually are. Myth #2: â€Å"I need to publish as much content as possible† In the world of content marketing, quality trumps quantity. Low-value content doesn’t inspire trust in readers, which will lead to fewer shares, traffic and conversions. Even worse, Google algorithm changes increasingly tend to send weak content plummeting in search page rankings. Myth #3: â€Å"We need to talk about what we do† Many make the mistake of confusing content marketing with copywriting, especially if their background is in advertising. In fact, research shows that most consumers don’t like the amount of promotional content they’re bombarded with on social media. Instead, content marketing is about engaging with your audience and providing value to them. So, figure out what their challenges and pain points are and offer information that can help solve these problems rather than making it all about you. In other words, â€Å"be the best answer on the Internet.† Social media has revolutionized the way people communicate and interact online. However, many have gotten the idea that the growth of social networks has rendered email obsolete. But actually, the opposite is true: email continues to be one of the most powerful ways to promote your content and boost conversions. The numbers don’t lie: one study reveals that the average return for companies for each dollar invested in email marketing is $44.25! Myth #5: â€Å"Anybody can write my content† Everyone knows that quality content is essential for content marketing success, but a surprising number of companies fail to allocate the necessary resources to create effective content for their brand. When it comes to content creation, you get what you pay for. If you want content that gets results, it’s worthwhile to invest in high-quality content writers. Remember – one top-notch piece of content can be more effective than 10 low-quality pieces. Myths Busted Content marketing often involves a process of trial and error, but separating the facts from the fiction can keep you headed on the right track.