Content Marketing is an essential component of digital marketing as it helps in bridging the gap between the audience and the organizations to boost up their business.
It is one of the most cost-effective advertising strategies to generate more leads at a cheaper cost than most other alternatives. Hence, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that “Content is the King”.
There are various types of content that are used to engage the audience. Having different types of content is beneficial for reaching and interacting with people at various stages of the digital sales funnel to target different audiences to generate leads and sales.
In this blog, we’ll look at the most effective and popular types of content used by organizations and how to leverage them to generate new leads and increase sales for boosting up the overall business.
But before we get into the different types of content, let’s understand why content marketing is such an important marketing strategy and how it benefits businesses.
Benefits of Content Marketing
Content is also one of the most important SEO search ranking variables. It helps in enticing the audience to drive more traffic.
Crafting high-quality content is the utmost necessity without which the audience might not stick to your site resulting in a higher bounce rate.
The major benefits of content marketing are as follows:
- Improves visibility
- Increases web traffic
- Brand awareness
- Better Conversion rates
- Provides domain authority
- Cost-effective strategy
Types of Content
Here is a compiled list of the most engaging and effective types of content to help assist you to boost the audience engagement for your website and obtain a greater ROI from your content marketing strategy.
1. Blog Posts
2. Long-form Articles
3. How-To-Do Guides
4. Infographics
5. E-Books
6. Reports/White Papers
7. Case Studies
8. Presentations
9. Email Newsletters
10. Testimonials
11. Checklists
12. Polls & Quizzes
13. Research Papers
14. Webinars
15. Podcasts
Blog Posts – Most Popular Types of Content
Blog postings are the most popular among different types of content. It has been around for as long as the internet has come into existence, but the practice has evolved with time, particularly when it comes to organizations utilizing blogs to engage audiences for increasing sales and profits.
Blogs created should be of high-quality, relevant, and well-written on fascinating topics to grab the attention of the audience. Thus, they serve to be a terrific tool for developing authority, trust, and loyalty leading to higher conversions. Another advantage of a blog is that they are very quick to produce and publish, highly shareable, and can be are easily discovered by search engines.
It is recommended that you follow the five critical procedures while writing a blog.
- The first step is to select a topic with an interesting and informative headline that appeals to the audience.
- The second phase entails writing, which should be both instructive and sales-oriented.
- The third stage is to improve the quality of the blog by including photographs and videos.
- The fourth step is to finalize the blog before releasing it.
- Finally, the marketer should devise a strategy for publishing and promoting blog entries.
Blog entries are quite simple to create, especially if they aren’t too long and don’t include a lot of photographs.
You should also optimize your content using relevant keywords. The keywords selected should be relevant and unique and must be incorporated organically and effortlessly. Finally, ensure that you focus on issues that invoke interest in your target audience and that you utilize your knowledge on the topics to establish authority and confidence.
Blog articles are also be used to promote products and services by providing information to meet the demands of the readers and utilizing the CTA (Call to action) function to boost views and create leads.
The benefits of Blog postings are mentioned below:
- Helps build authority in your niche.
- Increase the number of citations from other credible sources, which will lead to a higher search score.
- Create blogs that can be converted into other types of content.
Long-Form Articles
Long-form articles are such types of content that are free and is accessible online. They are an excellent method to establish thought leadership and grow your subscriber base.
Long-Form Articles as the name suggests are very long and lengthy articles usually between 5,000-15,000 words in length. There are generally have several chapters, each with its own URL page. As a result, they provide a tremendous amount of value. Users don’t need to go elsewhere for information on a subject because it covers almost all the topics concerning it.
Moreover, along with providing so much information, these types of content are free and accessible because they are available online.
Remember to divide the long articles into easily digestible chunks and to strongly market them.
How-To-Do Guides
How-to do guides are exhaustive and instructional in nature. They are among the types of content that come under the long-form types of content. These types of content go into great detail about how to do anything from the beginning to complete a task for creating something. This type of content is excellent for sharing expertise, building trust, and loyalty of the audience.
Let’s have a look at some of our very own comprehensive guides as an example to offer a better understanding.
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Best practices for how-to-do guide:
- One of the most essential things to remember about tutorials is that they must be of high quality in terms of writing.
- It should be clear, precise, and concise in explaining how to complete any particular task.
- The whole process and procedure should be broken down into easy and simple steps
- The structure and design of the content must make be easy to read.
- Try to incorporate images, diagrams, screenshots, videos, and other graphic components to highlight important points or difficult-to-complete procedures for easy understanding.
Infographics
Infographics are among the most popular and widely shared types of content online. 84% of digital marketers find infographics as one of the most effective types of content.
It is critical to get the graphic components perfect and make your infographics visually appealing to grab the attention of audiences. Always keep in mind to make the content entertaining and trustworthy.
Here are a few pointers to help you get started if you wish to use such types of content for your marketing purposes.
- Plan your infographic in the same way that you would any other type of content, so that it tells a story.
- An outline for a blog article is a wonderful place to start.
- Make a catchy headline and fascinating subheadings for it which can be created with Canva, Piktochart, or any visual content marketing tool.
E-Books
As the name indicates E-books are electronic books that are widely available as PDF downloads or in HTML format. Ebooks are another type of long-form content. These types of content provide you with an excellent platform for sharing your knowledge and skills on a certain issue. E-books help you to generate leads, create authority, increase email lists, and improve your entire content offering.
Ebooks are great assets that may aid marketers in lead creation. They must be well-written and connect with corporate objectives. You require the services of an experienced writer who can assist you in informing and educating your target audience while also enhancing your brand’s reputation as a leader in your industry.
Reports/White Papers
White papers are the types of content that are thick with information and can provide answers and facts on a certain topic. They provide all the information on a specific topic. The definition of whitepaper differs according to the market industry type. As a result, marketers find it difficult to create whitepaper content for their companies.
A white paper is a report or guide that teaches readers clearly on a difficult problem and offers the issuing body’s viewpoint on the subject. It is intended to assist readers in comprehending an issue, resolving a problem, or making a choice.
Whitepapers are primarily used by marketers to educate targeted segments about current issues and to promote and explain problem-solving approaches. They are sophisticated problem-solving manuals. Whitepapers typically demand at least an email address to download (and often more), making them ideal for gathering leads.
They are wonderful for establishing leadership and earning industry reputation. Moreover, they offer authority and also serve as lead magnets. A whitepaper is a compelling, authoritative, in-depth report on a specific issue that highlights a problem and offers a solution.
They help in creating leads if the length, structure, density, format, and style are all done correctly. White papers and studies can help you engage your audience.
According to Forbes, 79% of B2B buyers share white papers with their colleagues. That adds up to a significant chance for you to gain more business.
The finest white papers are not sales pitches. Instead, they want to benefit the intended audience. They are effective even without the hard sale.
The best white papers are:
- Concentrate on a single critical problem. They are generally brief, ranging from 6 to 10 pages.
- Conduct extensive research
- Verifiable statistics should be used to back up any assertions.
- Include charts, graphs, and pull quotes.
- Include a call to action so readers know what to do next.
Case Studies
Case studies are one of the most successful types of content marketing formats for generating new leads. Case studies are an excellent approach to make topics more relevant since they utilise archetypal instances to demonstrate frequent pain points and obstacles your audience may experience.
Another reason it’s a fantastic content choice is that it shows prospects how your company, goods, or services can assist them to solve difficulties they may be having, which fosters strong relationships and builds loyalty.
To write a good case study, begin by outlining the issue your customer was experiencing. Then, go over the solution, offering concrete and step-by-step examples that prospects may use to replicate the process. Finally, present a description of the results your client obtained while using your products or services, highlighting how the results solved the problem and improved your customer’s life.
Consider the content as a success narrative rather than a case study, and focus on the hows and whys of the tale to make it more interesting and accessible. Finally, don’t forget to include a clear call to action at the end.
Case studies allow you to highlight your consumers while also allowing you to:
- Demonstrate what you’re doing well
- Make niche-specific content
- Create trust and authority
- Emphasize your competitive advantage
White paper studies and case studies are two of the most informational and interesting piece of content for anyone who wants to learn quick and learn something new, other than the common stuff available on the internet. You can know about some very interesting case studies from the online marketing world through a dedicated digital marketing course in Bikaner and learn from real life examples.
Presentations
If you’re already using presentations to promote your business, this is a good type of content to employ. Furthermore, using a SlideShare account makes it very simple to publish them online.
SlideShare was discovered to be an efficient technique by Traffic Generation Cafe to:
- Increases website traffic
- Increases your Facebook follower base.
- Increases your participation on SlideShare.
Email Newsletters
Email Newsletters are an excellent method to promote content that has already been published in other formats. Newsletters are types of content that notifies your audience about the most recent news, advice, or updates about your product or company. Some newsletters are weekly digests of material, some are quarterly organization updates, and still, others market new items, but there is no limit to what you may put in a newsletter.
An email has a high ROI, as a result, you must not overlook such types of content marketing formats. Consider the goals you want to achieve when determining what to put in your newsletter. Including a blog, round-up helps position your brand as a thought leader in your sector and will keep your followers interested.
It also gives a wonderful incentive for subscribers to send your email to their like-minded contacts, which is a low-cost option for you to expand your reach. Similarly, posting links to your social profiles gives additional avenues for your readers to learn about your brand’s objective. You can also publish industry news that your readers will find fascinating and use your newsletter as a chance to establish yourself as a reliable resource.
Newsletters may also be utilised to keep subscribers up to speed on your company’s activities, but bear in mind that your subscribers join your list for information that offers instant value to their lives. So, whatever corporate updates you chose to provide, should have an impact on your readers. The goal of email newsletters is to keep readers connected, interested, and informed about what’s new in your company or sector.
Testimonials
Among many types of content, testimonials have a definite position in digital content marketing. It is the opinion or information expressed by important business people or customers as a result of the services and products.
It is a terrific technique to laud offerings by sharing experiences and making remarks to enthusiast surviving audiences. It is usually publicized on official websites. Companies can pick between influential, social, and quotation testimonials based on their requirements.
Companies utilize testimonials to tell tales and communicate good personal experiences in order to develop trust among their viewers.
Checklists
A checklist is one of the simplest types of content to make and engage the audience. They’re widely popular with some generating hundreds of shares.
Worksheets, tip sheets, and cheat sheets are examples of this type of content. They are simple to create by extracting essential aspects from other types of content.
You can design and develop them in a Google Doc or Word document, format your cheat sheet and export it as a PDF. Alternatively, you can convert it to a graphic using tools such as Canva and then export it to PDF.
Polls & Quizzes
According to Content Management Institute (CMI), quizzes are one of the most engaging types of content to engage audiences. They are undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to develop the interest of the audience. Shareable, enjoyable content is an excellent complement to any content strategy. And the fact that they’re generally simple to complete is an extra plus for your viewers.
Similarly, polls can increase participation by piquing participants’ interest in the outcomes.
To design online quizzes, you can utilize services like Quizzr or Playbuzz.
For polls, utilize the tools incorporated into many social networks, or try WPForms.
Research Papers
Another most popular type of content genre that receives links and shares across several media is original research papers. A research paper is an essay in which you explain what you have learned after thoroughly researching your topic. In a research paper, you include material from sources such as books, papers, interviews, and Internet sites. You also employ your own ideas, expertise, and views.
The purpose of a research paper is to gather various points of view, evidence, and facts about a topic through books, journals, and interviews, then interpret the material in your own writing. It is about a relationship between you, other authors, and your teacher/audience.
Inbound links can also be obtained through original research. This occurs when others quote your work, and it is beneficial to SEO. The CMI’s annual report on B2B content marketing is a prime example of unique research and an important type of content for providing crucial information.
Webinars
Webinars are nothing but online seminars. According to the data, webinars are very effective types of content marketing format. According to ReadyTalk, between 20% and 40% of individuals who attend webinars can turn into potential leads.
Webinars often include a presentation as well as a quick Q&A session. They assist you in demonstrating your knowledge. Webinars also display products and services so that people desire to utilize them.
Podcasts
Podcasts are the original audio or video recordings, but they can also be recorded broadcasts of a television or radio show, a lecture, a performance, or another event.
In simpler terms, a podcast is a collection of episodes. These episodes are audio files that are most likely hosted by a podcast hosting service. Podcasts often provide each episode in the same file format, such as audio or video, so that listeners may enjoy the program, in the same way, each time.
What’s intriguing about podcasting is that it’s extremely simple and inexpensive to create your own programme. Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular.
Another advantage of podcasts is that you can subscribe to them, which allows you to be alerted when new episodes are released (through your favourite podcast app).
In general, Podcasts are from:
- Individuals
- Companies (large and small)
- Television networks (CNN, Fox, ESPN, etc.)
- Radio networks (such as NPR)
- Comedians and storytellers
- New podcast-only networks (Gimlet)
The number of podcast listeners has increased over the previous five years, according to Edison Research. Currently, 15% of the US population listens to a podcast at least once every week.
As a result, it is obvious that podcasts are excellent types of content format for engaging your audience. Podcasts allow consumers to listen to your content whenever they want. They’re also a wonderful way to reuse existing content
For instance, if you’ve made a video, the audio may simply be turned into a podcast. You may also turn a blog article into a podcast episode by reading it.
Ending Note
Content Management is an integral part of digital marketing that helps in building audience base, trust, and authority. It accomplishes this by disseminating your knowledge and providing valuable information to visitors and consumers.
There are various types of content available each one with its distinctive features, but no single piece of content is sufficient enough to attract and entice all kinds of audiences. That’s why it is very important to modify and change the types of content according to the target customers to cater to their needs and requirements.
Hope the list given above reflecting different types of content would have helped you a lot in identifying the attributes and differences between each type of content and assist you in getting started with the one suiting your need.
Even though the types of content differ in their attributes they all share the same goal of engaging attracting and engaging the audience to create something valuable and relevant. So, put your thoughts into words, photos, and videos, and you’re ready to capture the attention of your target audience.
Hope that you now would have got a better understanding of some of the most popular and effective types of content formats available to help you boost and enhance your content marketing approach for better engagement to increase the audience base and improve web traffic. For, more knowledge and information on topics like this and many more concerning the digital marketing sector, kindly feel free to get in touch with the best digital marketing institute in Jaipur.
You might also like, Why Content Writing is Important?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs’)
What is content writing?
The process of developing, creating, and revising web material, generally for digital marketing objectives, is referred to as content writing. It can involve composing blog posts and articles, scripts for films and podcasts, and material for specialized platforms, such as tweetstorms on Twitter or text posts on Reddit.
Why Content Marketing is so important?
Content marketing is intended to provide consumers with solutions to very specific issues. It’s also designed to supply them with a value that they can’t obtain anywhere else. It’s a highly effective way to describe your product or service to a potential consumer who has an issue that needs to be solved.
Content marketing helps in building the engagement of the audience through developing interesting, informative, and engaging content. It helps in increasing brand awareness, audience base, conversion rates for achieving better visibility and profitability.
What are different types of Content?
There are different types of content to improve the engagement of the audience like:
- Blogs
- Guides
- E-books
- Case-studies
- Research papers
- Infographics
- Long-Form Articles
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- Polls and Quizzes
What are the most popular types of content?
The most effective and popular types of content are:
- Blogs and articles – 73% of users
- Podcasts – 57% users
- E-books – 56% users
