What plans do you have for content marketing this year? 2014 is here and many of us have yet to plan our best SEO tactics for the whole year. Gosh! How do we move? Can content marketing be perceived as one of the most power-packed SEO tactics in 2014?
With Google’s “canonical” warnings, it is becoming more difficult to achieve business objectives and balance that with SEO. It is indeed the need of the hour to re-evaluate your content marketing strategy if you want to stand out in 2014.
The following tips will help you to strengthen your content strategy:
1. Advantages of Content
Did you know that 78 percent of CMOs strongly think of rendering custom content as the future of marketing? If you did, then content marketing should be a part of your SEO strategy.
The significant advantages of content marketing are:
- It uses varied media formats like text, photos, audio, video and infographics.
- It reaches users across different devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, Smartphones and others.
- Gets third party support.
- Offers easy outreach through social media platforms.
- Uses different content marketing tactics such as articles, blog posts, e-newsletters, videos and case studies.
- Connects with existing customers, attracts new customers and retains old customers.
Content Marketing carries the key branding elements of a business and reaches the masses unfailingly. In 2013, B2B content marketing business grew seven percent — from 26 percent in 2012 to 33 percent in 2013.
2. A Strategic Approach
In 2014, most marketers will take an expansive approach to content marketing with an expansive digital strategy that works across all channels and devices.
3. Google+ at Head of the Table
Google+ will be an impressive distributor of online content in 2014. Google is promising huge benefits to those who are signed up for its social network and also offers a break for those using Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Google+ is becoming a major platform for sharing content. Since Google announced giving a boost to Hashtag naming, content owners are enjoying a rewarding time on the network. Content on Google+ will bring more visibility (no chance of losing unless you have worthless content), and hence better SEO.
4. First-Rate Content
Preference to quality and subtle content will be at the top. In 2014, there is going to be a large focus on creating quick and intelligent content that says things smartly entwined with images. Like Twitter, much relief is on the way with bite-sized content. Storytelling now has the persuasive capability in saying things promptly and wittily. And, this comes to reflecting on individual personality and choices to which people like to attach with.
5. Photo-Centric Text
Photo-centric text will ganer more attention. Visual content is processed 60,000 times faster than text by the human brain. Using photos alongside the content is more pleasing to the eye. Post it on Instagram, Flickr, Google+, Twitter and Facebook.
6. Link Building
Link building is strongly regarded by many marketers for establishing and popularizing a brand. Link building can be best understood as something that improves your SEO. In general, link building can be created via different modes like naturally or manually. Unlike natural link building, manual link building involves more of an effort.
7. Blog Postings
More and more small blogs can be posted on different sites like WordPress, Blogger.com and Tumblr — not just Facebook. The purpose is to diversify to reach more users. These sites create RSS feeds automatically and share content on other sites too so, eventually, you have more content dissemination. You should also write comments on other article links which are similar to your industry, for example event announcements, updates, press releases, etc.
8. Direct Posts on Social Media
Various surveys have revealed social media marketing budgets will double over the next five years. You should use direct posts on social media profiles like posts, photographs, videos or any other links. For example: use Instagram and Twitter for posting photos directly.
9. Slim Content
It’s time to rule beyond the desk. You cannot ignore mobile devices or tablets or other handy devices that behave more like instructional guides but still are market movers. These devices give no restriction to geography, time, space or place. Users want to be everywhere at all times and connected to the online world. Start strategizing for mobile. Small and easy-to-read is best for small devices.
10. Photo + Description
Describing your photos with appropriate captions lends you more mileage. It is this narration that helps to maximize outreach. Most of such photo description is promoted through Google, Yahoo and Bing. Search engines are doing it for better photo selection and text helps give SEO a boost.
Using #Hashtags on social media will help your post to appear in more news feeds and search engines. Write a photo description, something like: ‘The globe trotter was mesmerized by the #Montmorency Falls Park, Quebec City’ ―then post it on Google+ or any other social networking site. Your post will be discovered more because of the use of Hashtag.