During the early 2000s, businesses relied on SEO companies to drive traffic to their website. Even though SEO agencies still exist, another type of company is becoming more prevalent today – the content marketing companies.
Every business owner is aware that they have to craft a steady and consistent stream of content in order to attract and retain consumers. But, achieving this feat can really be difficult. This is where content marketing agencies come to the rescue.
Are you thinking of starting a content marketing business? Read on to know the steps that you must follow to attain success in this competitive landscape.
1. Define Your Niche
Research indicates that approximately 88% of companies are using content marketing. So, content is in huge demand and the competition is fierce among agencies offering such services.
However, you can differentiate yourself. Become a content marketing expert in your niche and provide specialized services. The competition will be less harsh when you are focusing on a single industry.
2. Offer Services For A Wide Price Range
If you are just starting out, providing a broad range of services is essential. You’ll find clients who just need advice with their content strategy. You’ll also find clients wanting you to take full charge of their content strategy, from development to marketing. You may find smaller companies, as well as, bigger companies willing to collaborate with you. This is why you must create bespoke packages.
3. Consulting Approach
Do you like strategizing over the daily tasks of content marketing? If yes, consulting might be the perfect choice for you. Consultants are not hands-on with content marketing. Their responsibility is to provide recommendations and help with the planning and strategy.
Choosing to be a consultant would mean that you don’t need to be involved with specific tasks. Tasks, such as creation of content, its promotion and distribution will not be your headache. You will only offer advice on the best practices of content marketing.
4. Promote Your Business With Content
Want to establish yourself as an expert in the field of content marketing? Show your target audience how good you are! The best way to do this is by marketing your own business using content. Regularly produce compelling and gripping content regarding content marketing. Also, have active social media presence and keep your followers engaged with your writing skills. You can also become a guest blogger or have your own email list.
Your growing influence in the content marketing domain will make your prospects trust you. They will be inclined to choose you over the rest.
5. In-House Team Or Freelancers?
This is one of the most critical decisions that you will have to make. There are agencies who have done both. However, that may not be the best solution for you.
If you choose to work with freelancer, make sure to invest in long-term relationships. A lot of patience and time goes into training. This also entails a lot of involvement from you. Making use of the same writers for your projects gives assurance of consistency in the quality, voice and style of writing.
On the other hand, forming an in-house team might be expensive. Of course, they are a fabulous addition and can help you meet deadlines. But, they come with overhead expenses like, office space, salary, benefits and so on.
6. Case Studies And Reviews
Every industry is made of good and bad seeds. Content marketing is not different. To enhance your chances of being hired, dedicate a page on your website to your successes. Include case studies showing that long-term results have been achieved while meeting specific KPIs given by clients. Having a section dedicated to testimonials from happy clients is also a great way to get new clients.
You can also maintain a portfolio showcasing your complete range of content. This is will clients in deciding if you are the agency for them. Also, remember to include samples of each of the content formats that you are offering.
7. Collect Market Data And Research
A huge amount of content is being produced daily. But, not all of them are unique and original. To build your agency into an industry leader, you have to produce content based on original research and the collection of data.
Conduct your own research for that. Surveys and studies are a fantastic way to curate varied pieces of content including articles, blog posts, social media posts, white papers, infographics and so on.
Now is the best time to start your content marketing business. Content is one of the pillars of digital marketing. Keep the above-mentioned seven steps in mind to truly emerge the leader in this sector.
Are you an owner of a content marketing agency? What hurdles did you face and how did you overcome them? Kindly share your thoughts in the comments below.
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