Do you know that the number one reason why businesses fail is because of the absence of good marketing strategy? Part of a good marketing strategy should developing great content. As they say, content is king.  If you want to build a sustainable brand reputation, you definitely need to put a lot of effort to come up with strategic content. Or better yet use these 10 savvy types of content marketing that can help you grow your business.

1. Write High Quality Content in the Forms of a Blog or Article.
Blogging is definitely a top content marketing choice. In fact, it is by far one of the most effective tools you can have in your marketing plan. One of the most obvious reasons would be ---- it’s FREE! Not only that, there are a huge amount of SEO opportunities. That means, it is a great place to collect leads. Additionally, it can improve your website ranking and can help you build your exposure.

Effectively, when you are writing your blogs, try to make sure that you are writing about what the audience wants to read and learn about. Bare in mind, your audience would usually read to look for solutions, seek new information or just for the heck of reading something. Hence, it’s important to make the content as informative as you can and as specific as possible.

2. Start a podcast.
According to a recent study, 1 out of 3 people listen to at least one podcast every month. For busy bees, audio content seems to be a very convenient way to get in touch with the outside world. Your hands might be full but your ears aren't.

Apple and Spotify are two of the most popular podcast sources. They are a great and dependable medium to take your podcast anywhere around the globe. Here are some interesting stats that you should know about podcasts:

• Spotify has 200 million users worldwide.
• Apple Podcasts has more than 500,000 active podcasts, including content in more than 100 languages.
• 49% of podcast listening is done in the comfort of the home or in the car.

Once a podcast is done, passing around its recorded version wouldn’t be that hard. You can even showcase it in your articles and video logs. That’s a sure hit to integrate your podcast marketing!

3. Upload Videos
There is a good percentage of people who prefer videos rather than text reading when learning about a product or service. Just take a look at the massive success of YouTube in recent years.  So, if you’d like to tap into the power of video marketing, you have to contemplate what types of content and topics will appeal to your audience.

Particularly, the Millennial audience are quite fascinated over product reviews, travel vlogs, unboxing and tutorials. Short and thought provoking video content increases brand awareness. On the other hand, tutorial videos or product demos greatly influence the audience's purchasing decisions.

4. Promote Infographics
If you are on the verge of generating little to no relevant traffic, then infographics is a must-try! This highly graphical visual representation tool is an innovative way of displaying content. 

The science behind the catchy effect of infographics relies on how human brains function. We are visual creatures. Needless to say, we easily understand a certain subject by seeing the actual physical elements. That’s where infographics comes in.

Therefore, leveraging graphics to your content marketing strategy is a must! Do it creatively. Here’s a pro tip: you must pair them up with a well-written text. Now this is what we call a powerful duo. If both used correctly, you create a compelling tool to help you get out from the information wilderness and into your targeted audience’s brains.

5. Do a live streaming.
Live streaming is just like doing a live interview. The only difference is that this has a more genuine vibe. No scripts involved, just pure and casual speech. You don't have to hire an interviewer, you can just do it all by yourself. All you need is a reliable connection, decent lighting, a dependable phone and you’re good to go. This works great for those who are on a budget!

What streaming video does best is letting your brand display transparency. It has more of a human-to-human connection. It features live commenting capabilities, which allows users to participate directly to the stream.

But before going live, you have to figure out who you are trying to connect with first and ask yourself whether you are equipped enough to satisfy your audience. If not, you can invite someone else to join in. Most importantly, just be yourself. Bring out your funny or weird side to keep your audience hooked. Lastly, promote it. Tell your audience to share your recorded livestream video to their social media profiles in order to reach more viewers.

6. Conduct Case Studies
If you’ve never heard how case studies are implemented, let me explain it to you.

Case studies are basically online marketing campaigns fueled by your customer’s stories. What is more, they help leads to better understand how your brand can add value to their lives or businesses. Real-life examples are legit. Also, finding out some stories of success would help you build the trust that you need from your audience. Usually, people today appreciate more authentic stories.

You can launch your case studies on your company website, or your social sites. Don’t fret, case studies are inexpensive compared to explainer videos. Just make sure you work with customers or clients who are willing to provide not only their permission to be used as the subject of the case study but also some quotes and statistics that show how your business has helped them flourish.

7. eBook Downloads
For more complex and detailed content, eBooks are the most suitable material. To tell you the truth, they are more educational in a sense. Ebooks can also be gated, therefore you have the chance to collect some personal information about your visitors in exchange for free content. That’s a win-win situation right there.

However, it’s crucial to know that when you try eBooks for your content marketing, it does require a bit more of an investment. They take time to complete and a whole team of experts to arrange the ideas accurately.  However, don’t let this frighten you off from making effective eBook content. The leads that you will produce through this locked up content will give you an edge. It is going to be worthwhile in the end.

8. Join the Social Media Hype
In the first place, raising brand awareness should be your top goal.  Many digital age business moguls owe their success to social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and search engines. If they have done it right, you're no exemption. One thing’s for sure, there are about 2.6 billion social media users all around the world. That’s like 2.6 billion of chances to make or break your marketing campaign.

Essentially, social media content does not only influence the purchasing decision of customers, but it is also the key to lead nurturing. You can basically start conversations in your social media posts easily (e.g. commenting, tagging, direct messaging). Actually, engaging them right on the spot will make them feel valuable. In another case, tagging their names and saying thank you's goes a long way.

9. Whitepapers
Whitepapers may look like eBooks in many ways. Similarly, they are in the form of downloaded content via gated portals. What sets whitepapers apart is that they tend to be completely heavy in information, data-driven and detail focused. In addition, whitepapers are superb content for B2B marketing, particularly the ones who want to build thought leadership and gain more respect in their industry.

Generally, whitepapers are promoted through your landing page. If you want to know more about how to design a landing page that easily converts, check out our previous blog How to Build a Landing Page that Converts.  

10. GIFs and Memes
Last but not least, making the best out of shareable images, such as GIFs and memes. In case you weren’t paying attention to pop culture these days, a meme is a concept or catchphrase, often to mimic scenarios from films for humorous purposes. Meanwhile, GIFs (Graphical Interchange Format) are a series of images or silenced video that will loop endlessly without the need to press play all the time.

Moreover, you can integrate GIFs and Memes into your Social Media Posts, Blog Content or Email Invites. Besides, they are a playful way to communicate and resonate with the general public. Particularly, they bring that extra kind of excitement and attention that you never attain from person-to-person contact.

Final Say
Remember, not all types of content marketing strategies will work for your company. It’s always best to test each one, reevaluate, and continue to make improvements.

Which one of these content marketing types caught your interest? Fortunately, here at Highmark Agency, we've got you covered. If you have no idea how to start tweaking your marketing strategies, we’d like to help you out.

Feel free to contact us on our Facebook or Twitter page. Or head on to our official page.