It’s becoming increasingly clear that the most effective way to promote a brand is with content marketing. A company provides their target audience with the things they’re looking for, then uses that hook to reel them in for a sale. But what kind of content works best? Most companies use blogs. But that’s only one option. And since it’s an option that so many people are using, it makes it much more difficult for an individual company to stand out and attract attention. But blogs aren’t the only type of content available. There are many other different forms out there, and their potential for reeling in customers is vast. Here are four great alternatives to blogs for content marketers.
Podcasts – A podcast is a great way to inject personality into content, by putting a face to it—or rather, a voice. The term “podcast” can describe video or even text, the most common form is an audio file, posted regularly like a blog. A charismatic host can relate to the audience and create anticipation for their shows. They can also feature interviews with celebrities, important or interesting people in the field and other special guests, creating a dialogue rather than simply a one-way relating of information.
Infographics – They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The problem with both blogs and podcasts is that they’re word-heavy. Whether it’s a lot of text or a lot of talking, it takes effort to hold the audience’s attention. But infographics take that same information and transpose it into an eye-catching image that’s easy to understand and easy to digest at a glance. They can be used to relate facts and statistics, useful tips, step-by-step how-to advice and much more.
Videos – More than 1 billion users visit YouTube every month, making quality video content one of the fastest ways to develop a loyal following for a brand. People love video content, because they love to be entertained. There are plenty of content options for promoting a brand with videos. How-to blogs become live demonstrations that show users a step-by-step process in a way that words and pictures can’t. A company can provide an up-close inside look at who they are and what they do. Or they could simply create something silly or funny that features their brand name prominently. A few years ago, Old Spice made dozens of videos featuring a man in a shower talking nonsense, and they got millions of views each.
Webinars And Live Chats – These take all the benefits of video content and make it interactive. Experts take the viewers step by step through a process in a live video, explaining best practices or how to do something in their field. Meanwhile, viewers can ask questions or provide comments and other feedback via Twitter hashtags or live chat, which the experts can then respond to in real time. When it’s over, the video goes up on the company’s site, tagged with pertinent SEO keywords, so that future audiences can find and benefit from this in-depth discussion as well.
There’s nothing wrong with having a blog. For someone looking to get into content marketing, it’s a great place to start. But after getting the hang of posting regular content, it’s important to branch out and explore these other options. Because the more quality content a company is able to offer, the more opportunities they’ll have to connect with potential customers.
