The 1980s introduced comic book heroes as a powerful form of content marketing. Brands like Marvel and DC created comics around action figures like Spiderman and G.I. The content helped bring the toys to life for a generation of children, and form a powerful bond that still exists to this day . The 40s and 50s are known as a period of decline for content marketing. Marketing Automation was mostly due to the proliferation of advertising , which monopolized all formats of popular media, leaving little room for the more subtle techniques of content marketing. A popular example of this is the Jell-O ads in “Ladies Home Journal.” Jell-O placed ads in the publication, which mostly catered to housewives, on how to make delicious desserts using their product.
The big goal in the middle of the funnel is to convert “problem aware” and “solution aware” prospects into leads. With TOFU content, you want to create awareness around problems as well as solutions. And the good news is it works in any industry for any type of product.
Here’s an example of a pie chart template visualizing the most frequently used visuals in content marketing. In our blog post about the Visme GIF maker, we used illustrations of our team members instead of their real photos for a unique, creative touch. If you’re talking about other tools and products, such as in a software review or how-to, you can use screenshots of the product to demonstrate how to use it. There are plenty of ways to use video content for your brand.
Today, the difference comes down to how technical you want your language to be. Content marketing is a specific technique for using content, while digital marketing is a catch-all term for any type of online promotion. A form of digital marketing that might not directly fit into content marketing would be paid advertising for your website or services. This can get tricky as frequently, what is being advertised is some form of content explaining a service or product. It is generally best to think of these terms working hand-in-hand with one another.
Value is what gives your readers a positive association with you. Because of this, it is well worth the time it takes to research what they are already reading. Content marketing is evolving, and, as buying becomes increasingly non-linear, can play an important role in aligning selling with buying. But there are now many myths and unexamined assumptions that have accrued around content marketing as the practice has exploded.
Once you’ve set your goal, you create content that aligns with your goals. You can attract people to your content through solid SEO, social shares, and email marketing. Retain them by consistently delivering on your promises and providing value. With Build Mode, you have 45 days free to create content, set up shop, and get ready for launch without paying a dime. Learn about the 18 different types of marketing you can use to grow your business. Remove anything that goes against your company beliefs and purpose, anything that your customers don’t like, anything that doesn’t contribute to solving the very specific challenge you’ve picked.
As mentioned above, forms can provide a great way to generate leads, as can questionnaires and surveys. You can also use simple contact forms for lead generation, asking users to check the box that corresponds to their interests. For instance, at this stage, you might create a series of videos that showcase the benefits of your products. Shopify took a similar approach and created videos to show potential customers how their mobile interface allowed e-commerce shop owners to quickly and easily manage their stores on the go. While the videos were entertaining and showed customers using their product in various locations, they also highlighted specific product features that help Shopify stand out from their competitors.
Here at Foleon, we want our TOFU content to be detailed and educational enough to provide real value. Your visual branding is where you create a first impression, so it’s essential to get it right. We have a newsletter called The Crave, and each week we have a different writer contribute a story, anecdote, or tips to readers. Here’s an example of one of our favorite issues where the writer explains better ways to procrastinate.