What is Content Marketing? The truth is, the answer to this question is not as simple as you may think.
Before looking at the entire phrase, it's important to re-define the term "content." Previously, "content," in the context of marketing, was generally something written - a blog post, white paper, or a PR. However, with the advent of new and more dynamic types of media, content has taken on a whole new meaning.
Today, content marketing is a much broader practice, and us content marketers have many more tools at our disposal. The new digital media-related weapons for content marketing allow us to more effectively capture the interest and excitement of our target market.
Your blog is no longer just for written content; it can be enriched with other forms of dynamic media, which in this new world of content marketing, are also content.
Several digital media tools allow you to take content from their platforms and embed it into your blog posts. By doing this, you create a more interactive experience for your reader, which increases the chances of successfully capturing their attention - and, hopefully, converting them into a lead.
Here are 5 types of media to include in your blog posts:
Slideshare
Case studies, product feature descriptions, and white papers are just a few of the many types of content that can be shared via Slideshare. The platform allows you to upload both PDF and PPT files, and helps ensure that your content gets seen by a wide audience. Since being acquired by LinkedIn two years ago, the networks have become more tightly integrated.
If your main goal is to generate leads, you could use Slideshare to embed a "teaser" slideshow with a short blog post describing the full thing. Include a call-to-action that encouragers readers to register and download the full piece of content. This can enable to convert more leads more effectively.
Soundcloud
With the continuously proliferating world of social networks, Soundcloud has emerged as one of the hottest audio-related social channel out there. The platform allows you to create audio content, such as music, and upload it to your profile. Additionally, many marketers are starting to use Soundcloud as a repository for their Podcasts.
There are several benefits to having a Soundcloud presence, including tapping into new propinquity points of your target market. An even greater benefit to marketers is that Soundcloud also allows you to embed your audio content directly into a blog post.
With this functionality, you can have a large collection of audio podcasts on your Soundcloud page, and you can create a unique, short blog post for each one. Embedding a Podcast within your blog will keep readers there longer, and the blog post itself will act as a good teaser for the podcast - or vice versa.
Youtube
We live in an age where most people prefer to learn visually. Not only does it capture our attention more effectively, it requires less time and effort. Embedding a video into your blog post can enrich the point you are trying to drive home, and add greater value for your reader.
YouTube is clearly the most popular video sharing platform, and embedding YouTube videos into your blog is a simple and powerful way to mesh the benefits of video content with your of written content.
The types of videos that are most effective for your blog include:
- Tutorials of features or best practices
- Video recordings of webinars you've hosted
- Interviews with thought-leaders in your industry
- Major product announcements
Visual.ly
Infographics are one of the most popular and engaging forms of content out there today. With their ability to both appeal to the reader visually and easily convey valuable and useful data, infographics are a must-have for any marketer's toolbox.
Visual.ly is an up-and-coming social network that, among other things, allows marketers and graphic designers to upload infographics to their profiles. Visual.ly also allows you to embed infographics from the network directly from the platform.
The reason Infographics are so powerful is that 65% of us are visual learners; a well-done infographic can tell the same story as a long, drawn out 1,000 word essay could.
Slide.ly
Everyone loves pictures, and Slide.ly is a fantastic tool that allows you to include a great slideshow of curated images from across the web. Slide.ly lets you create an entire album of photos, without having to post numerous photos on your blog - which would take up valuable space.
Slide.ly even lets you add music from Youtube to your slideshow!
Embedding a Slide.ly photo album into your blog enables you to add fantastic, engaging visual content, without overloading your blog with images throughout the text.
There are some amazing platforms out there that let you embed unique media into your posts, and more are sprouting up every day. What are some other platforms that you utilize? Leave your comments below!
The post '5 Types of Media Content For Your Blog' first appeared on the Oktopost Blog.