Today, content marketing has become the most effective way togrow a brand online. The impact of traditional marketing methods like outdoor advertising is decreasing as we speak. Apart from lower costs, content marketing also has an increased conversion rate as opposed to traditional advertising methods. This is happening because today’s consumers want to see stories with real substance and not just advertisements. For instance, in the last few years, Kraft Foods has driven 4 times better ROI through content marketing than through traditional advertising.
Given its everchanging nature, content marketing keeps evolving. However, brands that can hack their way through the changes aren’t caught by surprise and can gain a huge advantage. Here are 5 content marketing trends every successful brand will need to follow to gain the most out of 2019
Niche content will rule the day
Today, brands are creating more content than ever before. With so much content on the internet, brands need to ensure that they stand out or they face the risk of getting lost at sea. But creating niche content is easier said than done. Big brands need to focus on creating an identity and separate audiences for their sub-brands in 2019. While doing so, these brands must keep in mind that the tone and style of content for their sub-brands needs to be different from that of the parent company. They can do this by creating content that is in-depth and creative. For instance, Nerd Fitness focuses on a niche in the fitness industry i.e. “nerds who are looking to get fit”. 2019 will see a shift towards niche content that will find its own relevant audience.
Long-form content is here to stay
As readers are increasingly looking for trustworthy sources on the internet, long-form content will gain even more importance in 2019. Also, search engines are rewarding lengthier posts in results rankings. Search engines prefer long-form content as opposed to short-form content. However, long-form content needs to be a quality resource that is worth the readers’ time. Bite-sized content might be easier to create, but long-form content will help you establish your brand as an authority in its space. For instance, Red Bull’s magazine that goes by the name ‘Red Bulletin’ has adopted a traditional journalistic approach of creating long-form features about sports, culture, and lifestyle that are both relevant and interesting to the brand’s target demographic. Most of the content pieces found in this magazine are well over 2000 words. The magazine’s editorial team is dedicated to telling unique, real-life stories that provide value and entertainment.
Video content will steal the show
In the past 5 years, consumption of video content has increased tremendously, and its growth isn’t going to slow down anytime soon. Talk to any digital marketer and he will tell you that video content is most saleable. Hence, brands need to make it a point to invest in making and distributing videos in 2019. While creating production-grade videos is great, don’t let it be your main focus. Instead, create videos that are highly relatable and of decent quality. For instance, Taco Bell is conquering the video marketing world with its creative campaigns. Their strategy involves posting short videos that will make viewers chuckle.While you’re at it, try to customize your videos for different social media platforms. Taco Bell once posted a six-minute mini-movie on SnapChat to introduce their ‘Spicy Chicken Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos’ on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards.
Content marketing will be preferred over traditional marketing
Over the last decade, online presence has become mandatory for all brands, no matter their size or the industry they belong to. While social media helps generate brand awareness and revenue, it is content marketing that is going to steal the show in 2019. Brands are increasingly adopting content marketingafter looking at examples around them. Content Marketing Institute (CMI) reported that 91% of B2B brands and 86% of B2C brands use content marketing and are seeing results. Moreover, the brands that don’t use it also plan to start soon. Among businesses that use digital marketing, nearly 80 percent plan to increase their investment in content marketing in 2019. DemandBase, a marketing technology provider that specializes in serving B2B brands, used infographics, white papers, SlideShare, and webinars to source new leads for one of their campaigns. According to Top Rank Blog, the company generated 1,700 new leads and connected with 125 webinar viewers. This helped them generate over $1 million in new revenue through content marketing.
Personalized content will take centerstage
The easiest way to deliver delightful customer experiences is through one-to-one marketing. In 2019, more and more marketers will strive to provide highly personalized experiences to their consumers. This is because personalization of content is imperative to the current and future success of brands across all industries. Did you know that personalized content marketing converts 4 times more than generic marketing?Northeast Nursery understood this and so they used Core DNA’s personalization functionality to allow contractors to view and receive a special price on selected products. According to a research by Invesp, 57% of shoppers are willing to give away their personal information in order to reap the benefits of personalization.
While the trends are indicating an increasing adoption of content marketing, it still remains to be seen how businesses use it to their advantage. Brands that have got it right are reaping the benefits of their efforts. The biggest takeaway is that a lukewarm approach to your content will no longer suffice in 2019.
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