Marketing in the world of startups can be a daunting task. Introducing a new product or service to a competitive market is not a piece of cake. It entails tons of research, trial and error, and strategy development. This article will explain how to get it right.

Content marketing is inexpensive for businesses to raise awareness and build an audience. Content marketing involves sharing information with potential customers and offers long-term organic growth. While targeted ads are essential for lead generation, content marketing keeps people interested.

However, it is not a one-shoe-fits-all solution, and there are several ways to go about it. And if you are wondering where to start, the answer is research. Content marketing is not something that you jump right into without answering the right questions. Who is your target audience? Where do they go for information? What kind of content do they like to consume? What questions do they have about your product or service?

One content tip for people new to content marketing is to start with FAQs. Content should be relevant to your target audience, and frequently asked questions are a pointer in the right direction.

Four areas of content that are essential for your business

Next up is deciding how to deliver information. Social media allows businesses to connect with millions of people at a low cost.

1. Written Content

Blogs were the dawn of the internet, and they aren’t out of style yet. You may get stumped on what to write about, but the internet offers tons of writing inspiration. Search for relevant topics in your niche. Tools like BuzzSumo, Ahrefs, and SEMRush are great for finding trending keywords related to your niche to write about. SEO (search engine optimization) focuses on using the right keywords to get your content ranked higher on search engine result pages (SERPs).

Another crucial source of insight is your competitors. Look at successful posts from your competitors and figure out ways to replicate that for your audience. Sites like Quora and Reddit are a fantastic source of insight into niche topics.

Outside of blogposts, other forms of written content like guides, whitepapers, case studies, and press kits are a great way to give potential customers first-hand information about your products and services. Long-form content is significant if your products require a learning curve. If you sell specialized software or equipment, the content you share will be essential in ensuring your potential customers get the best use out of it.

Also in written content are emails. Keeping customers engaged with emails is the way to go in this day and age. The promise of exclusive content is what keeps email marketing relevant. Emails allow you to create personalized messages and get feedback.

2. Infographics

A content strategy is never complete without diverse content across several channels. In your research, you will find that not all of your target market uses the same media for consuming content. Infographics are ideal for social media. They are engaging images that are useful for condensing a lot of information into pictures, charts, and texts, so it is easier to interact with. You can take complex information and make it easier to understand.

Infographics are also fantastic for establishing your social media presence and brand identity. You can establish your voice, colors, and iconography all in one and make your brand memorable to your audience.

Another great benefit of infographics is that they allow you to recycle content. You can condense blog posts into engaging images for social media.

Infographics are often overlooked as a way of improving SEO. They can help you rank higher on Google image searches and drive traffic to your website.

3. Video Content

Videos are becoming the most preferred type of content. Studies have shown that 72% of people prefer to watch a video to learn about something than watch a video. Having a video about how a product works is much more effective than just blog posts. People prefer showing to telling.

One drawback, however, is that videos can be expensive and time-intensive to produce. Unlike writing an article, a single video can take days to weeks. Planning, research, scripting, shooting, and editing are not a day’s work.

But don’t let that hold you back. There are tons of ways to go about video content. There are low-cost ways to go about it. Instagram and Tiktok allow you to make great-looking videos on your cellphone without professional editing skills or equipment. And the opportunities for virality cannot be understated. You can put your business in front of millions of eyes at a minimal cost.

4. Audio Content

Podcasts are popular nowadays. For a good reason too. Unlike other forms of content, it allows people to listen on the go. It is a way to generate buzz for especially niche audiences. For example, a podcast on saving, budgeting, and investment may be the way to go if you offer financial management software.

Like infographics and video content, you can repurpose your articles into podcasts. It can help you foster a community of people that will be enthusiastic about what you offer. But, podcasts are not a comprehensive solution for every business, so be sure to test the waters before deciding on audio content for your business.