There’s one vital question you should be asking about your business: “How will I find my next customer?” Or, better yet, “How will my next customer find me?”
Enter content marketing.
By now, you’ve probably heard how quality content can help grow your business, but if you haven’t invested in it yet, it may be because you are skeptical about the benefits it can bring. Or maybe the prospect of developing a long-term content marketing strategy feels intimidating and, aware of the complexity of this task you’ve been putting it off forever.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the benefits of content marketing to help you understand how it can help your business.
5 Awesome Benefits of Content Marketing
Benefit #1: Trust and Credibility
Trust is at the core of any business transaction. People that purchase from you trust that your products or services can help them solve their problems. Trust is so important that consumers stop 70% of online purchases because they perceive the companies as dishonest.
So, how can you build trust and credibility?
You can focus on getting positive reviews and testimonials and winning awards. But, you should also pay close attention to the content you are creating.
Here’s the thing: content helps prospects know your business and familiarize themselves with your products. Plus, by providing high-quality, relevant content, you establish yourself as an expert in your niche. The more expertise you prove, the greater the number of people that will turn to you for advice. If they trust the information you deliver, then they’ll most certainly trust you enough to buy your products or services.
Benefit #2: Website Traffic
Google has made it clear that content should be relevant, educational, and helpful, but how much influence can it have on the success of your business?
A lot.
If the content you’re creating is poor, irrelevant to your audience’s needs or, visitors won’t spend that much time exploring your website and will bounce straight off. A high bounce rate is an indication that your website isn’t the best answer to people’s queries. And, because Google is focused on delivering only the best possible answers, it will bury your page deep in the SERP results.
By focusing on creating quality content that is useful and relevant, you increase your chances of being picked up by search engines and boosting your ranking. The higher your ranking, the more people will visit your page.
More Read: 5 Best Flipboard Alternatives to Increase Website Traffic
Benefit #3: Lead Generation
Businesses that blog generate 67% more leads per month than those that ignore this practice altogether. That’s because quality content allows you to build a connection with your prospects, thus making it easier to move them down the sales funnel.
A prospect who reads your blog regularly and trusts that the information you deliver is well-researched is more likely to opt for your services, buy your eBook, or download your white paper than one that heard about your business just now.
Benefit #4: Social Proof
We are social creatures and, as a result, we want to ensure that our actions have the approval of the community. To put it simply, we want to know that our decision to buy from a certain business is correct, so we look for proof.
Content marketing can deliver the social proof prospects need to convert into customers. Here’s how:
- You can provide an expert opinion that can attest to the quality or benefits of your products;
- You can use celebrity endorsements. If people can associate your business with a local celebrity they know and like, then they’re more likely to buy from you.
- Clients’ testimonies. If people have tried it and are satisfied, then others will feel more at ease when making a decision.
- Even something as simple as the share count on your blog posts can contribute to the proof of your business in the industry.
Benefit #5: Customer Retention
It was a long process, but you finally did it: you’ve managed to convert your prospects into customers. You can do a happy dance, open the champagne, and relax. Right?
Not so fast.
Sure, gaining a new customer is exciting, but your job is not over yet. Now, you should focus on turning them into loyal advocates of your brand.
Again, content marketing can come in handy.
Conventional wisdom says that to have a happy and long lasting relationship, you need to remind your partner from time to time how much you care about them. Likewise, you need to remind your customers that they are important to you.
You can do this by offering quality content to your customers, such as eBooks, in-depth blog posts, customized offers, and so on. These small perks can keep their interest high and encourage them to purchase other products.
Conclusion
If you haven’t considered content marketing for your business, maybe it’s time to think about it seriously. After all, as we’ve pointed above, it can help you get amazing results.
Author: Mel Devent is a passionate blogger who enjoys writing about all things digital marketing. She is currently working as a Marketing Associate at Blogger Sidekick, helping small businesses build authority brands with content marketing. In her spare time she loves scuba diving, watching movies and catching up with friends.
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