{"id":9461,"date":"2014-04-14T15:46:06","date_gmt":"2014-04-14T20:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ludismedia.com\/?p=9461"},"modified":"2014-04-14T15:46:06","modified_gmt":"2014-04-14T20:46:06","slug":"5-ways-smes-harness-power-content-marketing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ludismedia.com\/en\/5-ways-smes-harness-power-content-marketing\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways for SMEs to Harness the Power of Content Marketing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"guest-blog-opinion\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Content marketing<\/strong> is a buzzword right now \u2013 largely due to Google’s recent algorithmic updates. But if you’re concerned about having to learn another new skill to help get your business noticed online, don’t worry; content marketing is actually an old concept wrapped up in a new package.<\/p>\n

Essentially, content marketing is providing useful information<\/strong> to current and potential customers. In days gone by when you needed information, you accessed advice from books, magazines or even from the mouth of a shopkeeper; but now, like everything else, that information needs to be found online. Providing great informational content for your customers is an extremely effective marketing tool for your business.<\/p>\n

A successful content marketing strategy isn’t a quick and easy task, that’s for sure; what it does allow you to do is display your expertise for your clients and potential customers to see. There is no complicated coding to learn or reason to implement difficult SEO techniques. All you need to do is create something your customers want to read, then share it with them.<\/p>\n

The benefits of content<\/h2>\n

Content marketing allows you to position yourself as an expert in your field, build your brand and engage customers and prospects. It’s ideal fodder for sharing over social media platforms and easily forms a focal point for your marketing communications. Plus, creating fantastic online content is considerably cheaper \u2013 and substantially less wasteful \u2013 than printed media, so you can stop cutting down trees to get your point across.<\/p>\n

There are an array of challenges when it comes to content marketing, but it can also be great fun \u2013 allowing you to get creative, inspire customers and boost your brand and business in the process.<\/p>\n

\"coosing-hot-topics\"<\/a>1. Choosing a topic<\/h2>\n

The best content is based on subjects your customers actually care about \u2013 that they’re actively searching for online. Your content might answer frequently asked questions pertinent to your business. For example, at Direct 365 we recognised many of our clients weren’t clear about the changes to landfill costs this year, so we created a blog post providing answers to our customers’ landfill questions<\/a>. Detailed, targeted information like this allows you to spread your knowledge to old and new customers alike.<\/p>\n

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\u00a02. Attention-grabbing headlines<\/h2>\n

\"choosing-hot-headlines\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A good headline doesn’t have to be a tabloid-style \u201cFreddie Starr Ate My Hamster<\/a>\u201d scenario. Unless you think it will appeal to your target market of course. There are many theories to writing great headlines but here are a couple of tips:<\/p>\n