Content marketing is not just about creating content to post on your website or social media. Your content needs to contain valuable information that can attract your audience and gain their trust. The audience wants to be engaged, entertained, and informed. And to meet these expectations, marketers have to get creative.
If you are wondering how to start a content writing agency or are simply a marketer on a mission, the first thing you need to realize is that the days of the one-size-fits-all approach are over. In a world where people want everything customized and bespoke, you have to create content that is tailored to specific audience needs and preferences if you wish to grab eyeballs.
Content marketing formats
There are tons of different content marketing formats you can experiment with today. For instance, Netflix’s Twitter account is filled with Gifs, images about upcoming series, and retweets, while Wendy’s likes to post polls, and funny clips. With so many content creation software and tools at your disposal today, creating engaging content in various formats is easier than ever.
We have compiled a list of 10 content marketing formats that are sure to be a hit with your target audience.
1. Blogs
Blogs let you share your thoughts and ideas with the world. Whether you’re looking to simply share some food for thought on a topic you are passionate about or connect with like-minded individuals, starting a blog is a great way to do it. Before you start writing a blog, keep these things in mind.
- Pick a relevant topic.
- Formulate an outline before you start.
- Optimize your blog for SEO.
- Create easy-to-skim through content.
2. Videos
If you want to add some excitement and variety to your content marketing, try using videos. Videos are a great way to engage your audience and can also be used to promote your brand, product, or service.
According to Wyzowl, 92% of marketers consider videos as an important part of their content strategy and this hasn’t changed over the past few years. When used correctly, videos can help you build trust and credibility with your audience, and drive traffic to your website or blog.
Videos can be shared on YouTube, social media and other channels. You can also use video content in your blog posts to increase engagement.
If you are posting your videos on social media as well, you can schedule them using free social media management tools to make sure that they reach your audience at the best time.
3. Infographics
Infographics are easy to digest, visually appealing, and shareable. It is a great way to take complex topics and break them down into visually appealing, easy-to-understand pieces.
Here are a few key components to consider when creating an infographic:
- A clear and concise title that accurately reflects the content.
- Easy to understand short text and eye-catching graphics.
- A consistent layout and design.
- A call to action that encourages viewers to share the infographic.
Keep these factors in mind when creating your next infographic, and you will be sure to make a hit.
Here’s an example:
4. eBooks
eBooks are long-form content that cover a specific topic in detail. eBooks provide immense value to your audience and build your brand. They can help you elaborately discuss a topic and add more substance for your audience.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating an eBook:
- An eBook should be detailed and accurate.
- Promote on multiple social media channels to drive more leads.
- Ensure to add lots of valuable stats and relevant data to your eBook to make it more useful.
5. Checklists
Checklists provide step-by-step instructions or information on a particular topic. Checklists can outline the steps to take, things to consider, or resources to use when carrying out a task.
For instance, if your niche is blogging strategy where you offer blogging advice to your audience, you could create a checklist on how to create a blog post from scratch highlighting all the steps starting from ideation to publishing. It will help bloggers ensure they don’t miss any crucial step in the content creation process.
Have a look at the example below:
6. Reviews
Reviews are a great way to show potential customers what others think of your products or services. They can be used to showcase your best features or to provide an honest assessment of your brand. A review evaluates a product, service, or experience. Product reviews are user-generated content that you can use to your advantage. For affiliate marketers too, product reviews can be one of the most important types of affiliate marketing content.
They also help build trust and credibility with potential customers. Try to create case studies of how customers have achieved success with your product or gather testimonials for your product or service directly from customers. Say in service provision or when managing a restaurant, your reviews will help prospective customers choose your business more easily based on trust. These can act as social proof and build brand reputation for you.
7. How-to Guides
How-to guides are a great way to break down complex topics/processes into easy-to-follow steps. How-to guides could tell your audience how to solve a problem using your product or how-to achieve a certain outcome following a set of predefined steps.
These can be extremely valuable for the audience and can be a great way to build awareness about your product too.
8. Quizzes
Quizzes are interactive and engaging and can be used to drive traffic to your website or blog. Also, they are a lot of fun to make and take. Quizzes can help generate leads, build relationships, and increase the dwell time on your content/page. You can use an online quiz maker software to create fun and interesting quizzes for your target audience.
You can try quizzes on dynamic platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. It is also one of the Twitter best practices that many marketers resort to for building engagement.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating a quiz for your audience:
- Who is your target audience?
- What kinds of questions will attract your audience?
- What format do you want to use for your quiz? (Multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank)
Buzzfeed can be an amazing example of building great quizzes and how they help drive traffic to your website. Their website is full of interactive and fun quizzes on almost everything that they endorse on their website.
9. Podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to reach out to a younger audience and connect with them. Using the podcast format, you can deliver valuable content that your audience can listen to at their convenience.
These audio-based pieces are perfect for busy people who want to be entertained or informed while on the go. There are tons of great topics you can choose for your podcast. You could interview industry experts, chat with an influencer from your niche or simply share some cool tips with your audience if you don’t have a guest to invite yet. Podcasts give your content a more human touch. You can also convert podcasts into bite-sized content pieces that are easy to consume as a way of repurposing them and increasing reach.
10. Memes
There’s no denying the power of a good meme. They are the perfect way to add a little humor to your content marketing strategy and make your audience smile.
Memes are funny images or videos with clever captions that usually express an opinion or make a point. While you might think that memes are just for entertainment, they can be a powerful content marketing format. When used correctly, they can help you build a brand image, drive engagement, and even generate leads, all the while entertaining your audience.
Check out this simple yet relatable meme by Narrato –
Summing Up
There are many exciting content marketing formats you can use to reach your target audience. The best way to find out which ones work best for you is to experiment with a few and see what gets the best results. Step out of the comfort zone and try your hand at emerging content trends. The world of content is ever-changing and you never know what is that one piece that can make you go viral.
Author Bio
Yumna Hafeez is a content writer at Social Champ, experienced in content marketing and social media marketing. Get in touch with Yumna at yumna@socialchamp.io.