Crucial Role of Content Marketing in Local Business

Published on: 09 March 2021 Last Updated on: 26 December 2024

What Is Content Marketing?

It’s a form of marketing wherein brands create and share online content. It could be in the form of blogs, videos, social media posts, reviews, descriptions, etc.

Content marketing does not explicitly promote a company/brand (although there can be promotional content). Instead, it aims to generate interest in a service/product via customer education and awareness.

Why Is Content Marketing Important?

Content marketing holds immense importance for brands for myriad reasons. Some of those are:

It educates people about your products/services and brand in general
It answers the questions people may have about you
You can build long-lasting relationships with people through content
In the long run, it establishes you as an authority in the market
It can improve conversion rates
It’s the primary source of lead generation

When all else fails, the fact that most people expect high-quality content from their most favored brands is the reason for companies to churn out content regularly.

Does Content Marketing Work for Small Businesses?

The short answer to this question is – YES. It does work. Small businesses often feel at a loss as they don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on ads every month. But, with content marketing, they can secure top positions in SERPs for keywords with high search volume.

By investing a few hundred dollars in some quality blog posts, they can almost get the same traction as big companies often do by spending thousands.

Reasons Your Company Needs Content Marketing:

Content creation is the basis of securing a huge following on social media. However, just having followers is not enough. To keep them interested and engaged as you progress, you present them with information that interests them.

If you’re having a hard time securing any traction on social media despite a big following; you may need to tweak your content strategy.

Establish Trust With Your Audience:

Through content, you can address people’s pain points in your arena. When customers see that you can help them out, it will inevitably establish a sense of trust with them.

Builds Authority:

By churning out quality pieces such as those around possible future trends in the industry and data analysis, a brand can establish itself as an authority in the niche. As people read and interact through your content, they will think highly of your brand. Brands that regularly publish quality and authoritative content tend to enjoy more customers and better sales.

Greater Return on a Smaller Investment:

Unlike traditional marketing that requires a ton of budget but can only reach a small number of prospects; with content marketing, you can reach a much wider audience with very little expenditure. If applied correctly, the return on investment from content marketing can be exponential.

This arrangement is particularly good for small businesses as they are mostly short on the marketing budget. For a tiny budget, they can secure a strong footing in the industry.

Expose Your Business to New Prospects and a Larger Audience:

By optimizing your content for location-specific keywords, you can widen your outreach. There’s no limitation to the amount of audience you can target with the help of your content marketing efforts.

It’s all about how creatively you find topics and promote them through a combination of strategies. Whether you’re a local business or a global one; content can keep on bringing new prospects and a bigger audience to you.

Boosts Organic Search Visibility:

Through the means of regular blogging and social media posts, you can make sure that more and more people can find you organically. Organic visibility is when a person can see you in the search results against queries related to your industry terms or your brand name.

Content marketing and SEO strategy will help you appear naturally in search engines like Google and Bing.

Content Can Be a Major Lead Magnet for Growing Businesses:

By crafting helpful content and placing CTAs strategically in that content, you can get quality leads. With the help of free content such as guides, how-tos, infographics you can prompt the desired user action. It could be getting them to a landing page and getting them to subscribe to a service.

Every lead magnet, in the end, must rely on quality content.

How to Score Your Content?

Often writers are unable to quantify what kind of content is best for their brand as well as the audience. With the help of content scoring, they can objectively look at their content process and identify the pieces that are proving to be the most valuable.

Based on this evaluation, they can replicate their best-performing content strategy to create similar traction in the future as well.

Here’s the content scoring process to stick with –

Decide on a metric –

For your scoring system to be effective, you must decide on an engagement metric. Based on the success of that engagement metric, you can see what type of content is creating the biggest impact. For some, this can mean page view. For others, it can be the number of shares on Facebook.

Devise a campaign –

After deciding on the metric, you need to draft a campaign that can meet the said metric threshold. For instance, if you feel 1,000 pageviews are good enough, start pouring in content assets that can meet those criteria.

Monitor the performance –

See how well each content piece is doing. Keep adding the pieces of content to your campaign that meets the criteria. You can use HubSpot Analytics to track performance.

Find out Patterns –

After you have the results from your analytics at hand, see if you can spot any patterns in your best-performing content. You can then take out those elements and replicate them across all the content pieces you write.

Repeat –

You should know that content is an ongoing process. With time you may notice new patterns emerging. Keep taking necessary action accordingly based on new insights.

The Role of AI-Generated Content in Small Business Marketing Strategies

AI-generated content is making waves in the marketing industry, we all know that by now!

It’s a game changer for small businesses.

If you’re a small business owner, you know that keeping up with content creation can be a full-time job in itself.

Blogs, social media posts, product descriptions—the list goes on and on!

But what if we told you there was a tool out there designed to help you do it all? Here are a few ways AI can benefit your small business.

Save time & Money

Time is money, isn’t it?

This is why you would need to make the most of the trendy tools which are coming our way. With AI tools, you can create content in the blink of an eye.

You could have a full blog post written, an Instagram caption, or even an email campaign done in minutes. Imagine having ChatGPT or Copy.ai doing it for you. Freeing up more time to spend on other areas of your business-like product development or customer service.

Affordable but Quality Content

Hiring a content writer? Expensive.

But AI? It’s way more budget-friendly! If you’re working with a small budget (and most small businesses are).

Yes, AI tools let you create professional-quality content without a huge price tag. Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll never need a human touch because editing is inevitable. But for the basics, AI can take you a long way. More money saved, more options to grow your business.

Keep Your Content Consistent and Engaging

Struggling to keep up? After all, whether you have blog posts to publish or social media posts to launch, there are a few things to make. Use of AI to rescue!

Utilize AI tools that can help generate topics, write drafts, and keep your content pipeline full. The best part is they can also analyze what’s popular in your industry, so you’re not just posting anything.

You’re putting it there because it matters to your audience. Plus, they are not very complicated to use!

Win Over Your Competitor

Let’s face it—it’s tough to get noticed in the online world these days. AI-generated content allows you to optimize your posts for SEO (even if you have no idea what SEO means).

This will give your business a better shot at ranking in Google searches and help you bring in new customers without spending a fortune on advertising.

If you’re sick of cranking out the content, and not delivering the much needed quality (because of writer’ block), why not try letting AI give your small business a little push instead?

Careful With AI!

No matter your niche or industry; if you’re a part of the online sphere you simply cannot do without an effective content marketing strategy at hand.

When talking about AI content, there are a few items you should remember!

When using AI for content creation, there are a few things to avoid. Don’t rely entirely on AI-generated content without reviewing it. Always edit for tone, accuracy, and personalization.

AI can make errors or create generic content, so make sure it reflects your brand’s voice. Avoid overstuffing AI content with keywords—it can hurt SEO.

Also, don’t skip fact-checking!

AI tools can occasionally produce outdated or inaccurate information. Lastly, avoid using AI for all your content; mix it with human creativity to keep your messaging fresh and authentic. Balance is key!

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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What to Know About Location-Based Data

For businesses in any industry and of any size, location-based data and the use of a location analysis tool can take your marketing to the next level. Location-based marketing means that you’re targeting your audience based on where they are at a current moment, or maybe where they’ve recently been. For example, you could target an audience that had recently been to a local car repair shop, or maybe you’re using zip codes to target people. Location data can provide a lot of information about what a person does on a daily basis. This could include their shopping habits, where they prefer to eat, and it can even provide information about how they go from looking at a product online to buying it in a store. The use of location-based data means that you can personalize your products or services and be more targeted and efficient with your marketing. The following are some of the big things to know. The Basics Location data is typically a reference to the specific geographic position of a smartphone or another device, or a building. There are coordinates that are expressed as Latitude and Longitude, and these are the geographic positions themselves. As far as marketing, GPS data is what’s most commonly being talked about. GPS provides coordinates gathered by a device. There’s another term to be aware of here too, which is a Software Development Kit or SDK. SDK codes are used by app developers. These codes then tell the app once it’s installed on someone’s device to collect location data from that device. The codes that are installed in an app do require that the user give explicit permission for the collection of location data. The SDK method gives deep insight into the habits of users, but the opt-in element is important. Usually, the opt-in is obtained when a user first interacts with an app after downloading it. In some cases, an SDK can only work when the app is open, and others can run in the background. Legality Location data doesn’t record someone’s identity or any information that could personally identify them. Businesses small and large throughout the world do use location data. There are regulations and legal compliance issues to be aware of, though. For example, data privacy laws dictate how businesses can collect and utilize some customer data. A data collector has to get the specific consent of someone to use, store, manage or share their data. You also have to provide them the opportunity to opt-out any time. Strategies For Location-Based Marketing There are a lot of ways that you can use location-based data in your marketing. Examples include: Geofencing: This is a concept where location data is collected in real-time. With this approach, there’s the creation of a virtual perimeter around a certain location. Then, you’re either gathering data within that or targeting. You can use it for proximity marketing. For example, if someone with your app enters an area within your perimeter, then they might get a push notification letting them know of a sale or event. Geotargeting: This is about delivering ads to people in a particular location, but it’s different from geofencing in that it can use previous location data paired with specific attributes of the audience. It might, for example, use location along with interest or behavioral data. This gives the opportunity for segmented and tailored marketing. Conquesting: This location-driven marketing approach is about reaching your competitor’s customers. For example, you’re using collected data to reach an audience when they are visiting the location of your competitor. What Types of Businesses Are a Good Fit for Location-Driven Marketing? There are broadly a few types of businesses that might find location marketing is a good fit for them. First, if you have retail locations, it can be a good idea to explore the collection of location data. This can include shops, restaurants, or car dealerships. If you’re a business that has special events or seasonal events, you might consider it. This could include event venues, sporting businesses, and businesses in travel or hospitality. eCommerce brands might use location marketing to find shoppers that go to brick-and-mortar competitors. Niche industries such as transportation and real estate as well as education can benefit from location marketing. Location data is really the biggest thing right now in terms of understanding customer behavior and the full customer journey and filling in gaps in that journey or perhaps the gaps between online and offline behavior. Read Also: Crucial Role of Content Marketing in Local Business Tips on Doing Search Engine Marketing (SEM) for Businesses 5 Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Business on Instagram

How to use IT to Save Your Business Money

In a world that’s focused on making your business fly, ‘return on investment’ (ROI) is a term that’s usually talked about when you’re planning SEO, PPC or social marketing strategies. In fact, IT can offer a huge ROI for your business – simply by streamlining processes that could otherwise see your team or contractors spending unnecessary time struggling with sub-par systems and devices. We’ll walk you through 6 of the best ways to save money, with nothing but IT as your tool… How to use IT to Save Your Business Money: Explore open-source software : It’s easy to forget that Microsoft, Google, Adobe and the other huge software and service providers aren’t the only companies out there who create worthwhile resources. If you’re used to working for a company, you might take it for granted that the typical applications you’ll use (think; word processing, spreadsheets, customer relationship management, accounting – and much more) are just there for you within a few clicks – but actually, those pieces of software cost a significant amount of money. The truth is, the household names are the ones we know about because they’ve got the budget to market their products far and wide – but in fact, there’s a host of great open-source applications out there that are completely free to use – you’ve just got to know where to look. Open-source is more than just a money-saving tip though, in fact, there’s a world of developers who believe open-source is the only way you can truly reflect user’s needs in the long term – and many of those developers commit themselves to maintain and adjusting the free software to suit businesses just like yours. This TechRadar list offers some great open-source applications that’ll definitely help your business save money when compared to full price alternatives. Let employees work on their own devices : ‘Bring your own device’ (BYOD) such a simple idea – yet so many businesses resist it. When you let your employees use their own devices to do company business, you’re saving huge amounts of money – and actually increasing productivity at the same time. Countless studies have shown that employees are more comfortable and more productive when they use their own devices for work tasks – and the maths really adds up: If using a device you’re familiar with only saves 10 minutes each day – that adds up to an incredible 45 hours over the course of a full working year – essentially offering you a free week’s worth of work if you’re happy for employees to use their own machines. Of course, there are security considerations to be made – and BYOD is likely to be impractical if you’re handling a lot of sensitive client information, but if you’d like to take away a huge chunk of capital expenditure from your budget, these could be problems you’d be happy to work around. Outsource support : When it comes to money-saving, good tech systems can give and take in similar measures – but one of the largest costs to consider when you’re installing IT relates to the people who are going to support it. If you’re a small company, even if you only have a very small number of employees, you’re probably going to need someone to support your IT systems – and if you don’t have that person in place, you run the very real risk of not being able to trade if your IT network goes down. So, what does the maths look like? Well, you’ve got a $40,000 basic wage for someone who comes with the skills set needed to keep a network up and running by themselves – then you’ve got to factor holiday cover, sickness, maternity/paternity leave, training and what happens if that person decides they’d like to work somewhere else. All in all, carrying IT staff can be problematic – and extremely expensive – which is why managed network providers (MSPs) are becoming more and more popular with small to medium-sized businesses. With an MSP, you’ve got the potential of 24/7 access, 365 days a year – plus no need to worry about keeping an individual up to speed with the latest accreditations and training programs. You simply pick up the phone and access the support – which, most of the time, can be applied to your systems remotely. If you’d like your tech to save you thousands – you could do a lot worse than finding a good MSP and treating them like they’re one of your valued team. Buy resources ‘as a service’ : If you’re bringing your IT support onboard as an outsourced service – why not do the same with your applications, platforms, and infrastructure? In the last 10 years, larger tech companies have realized that there’s an increasing number of small businesses becoming established year on year – and those companies simply do not have the money that’s needed to buy expensive software licenses, development platforms and costly networking infrastructure straight out of the gate. The solution? Offering all of the above on a subscription basis – pay for only what you use, whenever you need it? A result is an increasing number of people opting to move to solutions like Microsoft Office 365 and Google’s G-Suite – both examples of ‘Software as a Service’ (Saas). That said, it’s not just cloud-accessed software that’s available in this manner, Microsoft now provides email exchange servers on a similar subscription basis too – with the robust security you’d expect from one of the biggest tech companies on Earth. All these things are made possible by the cloud – the concept of storage and services that are hosted centrally, with your internet connection bridging the gap between your business and the resource. Of course, you’re going to need a connection that is stable and fast enough to allow uninterrupted access – but that’s more than realistic for most internet service providers. Interestingly – the monetary benefits of SaaS are actually likely to be two-fold, as there’s an increasing body of evidence that suggests people actually work more effectively together when they’re collaborating online, even when compared to sitting next to one another in an office space. If you want to increase productivity and reduce costs with the help of IT tech, you could do a lot worse than to explore which of your required resources could be procured ‘as a Service’. Read Also : How Does Modern Technology Propel The Success Of Your Business? 5 Affordable E-Commerce Shopping Carts For Small Business What Are The Benefits Associated With Crowdfunding For Businesses?

Elevate Your Property Presence With Digital Real Estate Signage – A Modern Marketing Approach

Boost your property's visibility with the cutting-edge innovation of digital real estate signage! In today's dynamic market, these innovative displays are transforming the way properties have a good market, providing a comprehensive and engaging experience for potential buyers. Let's delve into the realm of modern marketing strategies and explore how digital real estate signage can significantly impact your property's exposure. Modern Marketing Strategies: A Brief Overview Modern marketing strategies are a set of digital practices that help engage customers, enhance brand awareness, and drive conversions. These strategies encompass SEO, social media marketing, content marketing, email marketing, and PPC advertising. Leveraging specific digital channels, businesses deliver personalized content, fostering strong relationships with their audience. Data analytics plays a pivotal role, providing insights into customer behaviours, preferences, and trends. These strategies are not only sustainable and cost-effective but also measurable, making them highly effective in today's digital era. Digital Real Estate Signage In Today's Property Market In the ever-evolving property market, digital real estate signage is a game-changer. Utilizing LED screens, interactive displays, and touchscreens, these platforms effectively market properties. Unlike traditional signage, digital displays showcase not only property details but also offer 3D walkthroughs, virtual tours, and insights into the surrounding neighbourhood. With smart technologies and AI, these signs tailor content based on user preferences, enhancing the overall customer experience. The shift to digital real estate signage is revolutionizing property marketing and sales strategies. Understanding Digital Real Estate Signage Definition: Digital real estate signage is a contemporary method of advertising property listings through electronic displays. These signs, utilizing LED or LCD technology, dynamically showcase properties available for sale, rent, or lease. Featuring images, detailed information, and even property videos, these signs get real-time updation. It helps, providing an efficient tool for real estate agents. Importance: Digital signage plays a crucial role in the property sector by offering dynamic displays that captivate potential clients' interest. The ability to present engaging content can significantly influence a buyer's decision-making process, providing visual presentations of a property's key features. Furthermore, it streamlines the buying process by offering real-time information, enhancing efficiency and buyer satisfaction. Role in Boosting Property Visibility: Digital signage enhances property visibility by using compelling visuals and interactive features. These displays effectively communicate key selling points, providing a comprehensive view of the property through high-quality images, maps, virtual tours, and videos. This makes digital signage a powerful marketing tool, stimulating buyer interest and engagement, and ultimately boosting property visibility. Read Also: Instagram Advertising For Beginners Features Of High-Quality Digital Real Estate Signage Design and Aesthetic Enhancements: Incorporating design and aesthetic enhancements adds visual appeal and improves functionality. Upgrading structural elements, introducing complementary colours, and creating an appealing ambience can boost a brand's image and attract more clients. Technological Aspects: Touchscreens and multimedia have revolutionized interaction. Touchscreens offer an intuitive interface, while multimedia combines various content forms for dynamic communication, enhancing user experience. Interactive Components: Interactive components, such as buttons and sliders, facilitate dynamic and user-friendly experiences, making technology more intuitive and enhancing user satisfaction. Implementation Of Digital Real Estate Signage Steps in Implementation: Implementing digital signage involves defining objectives, identifying target audiences, choosing appropriate hardware and software, creating engaging content, and effectively managing and updating displays. Successful implementation requires a blend of technological expertise, creativity, and strategic planning. Factors to Consider: Factors such as product specifications, safety measures, cost implications, and expertise needed for installation must be considered. Careful planning ensures a successful and financially feasible installation process. Digital Display Modes: Various digital display modes, including LED screens and touch screens, have revolutionized how we interact with technology. LED screens offer vibrant colours and energy efficiency, while touch screens provide an intuitive and direct interaction method Benefits Of Utilizing Digital Real Estate Signage Increased Visibility and Attractiveness: Improved visibility and attractiveness are pivotal for growth. Increased visibility helps clients easily identify and locate you, while heightened attractiveness draws people towards your brand or product. Greater Property Exposure: Greater property exposure increases the chances of selling a property by showcasing it to a larger pool of potential buyers. Enhanced exposure also contributes to fair pricing and increased competition among prospective buyers. Detailed and Changeable Information Display: A detailed and changeable information display provides enhanced user convenience, promoting effective communication. Swift adaptability ensures the most relevant details are consistently highlighted. Increased Engagement for Potential Buyers: Increased engagement is critical for business growth. Creating interactive communication and building relationships through personalized marketing and quality customer service can transform engagement into actual sales. Future Trends In Digital Real Estate Signage Prediction of Coming Trends: Predicting trends involves utilizing techniques like data analysis, behavioural statistics, and market research. While perfect prediction is impossible, anticipating possible changes provides businesses with a competitive edge. Technological Advancements: Future technological advancements, including digital platforms, AI, and virtual reality, are expected to influence the property market significantly. These advancements promise universal accessibility, personalized suggestions, and immersive virtual tours, transforming the buyer's experience. In conclusion, digital real estate signage is a modern marketing strategy that effectively enhances property visibility, engagement, and overall marketing efficiency. As technology continues to evolve, businesses must adapt to stay ahead in the competitive real estate landscape. Embracing the benefits of digital signage ensures a comprehensive and engaging approach to marketing properties in the digital era. Read Also: How To Integrate Email Marketing With SEO 4 Points To Consider When Creating A Great Content Marketing Strategy Today