10 Types of “Non-Marketing” Content That Actually Boost Your Marketing

In case you haven’t noticed, today’s most effective marketing content, especially in B2B, is no longer about pushing for the order and bashing people over the head to close sales.

Increasingly the more subtle content marketing is what wins customers over the long term, while helping to build brands into trusted resources.

It’s an approach that, delivered properly, results in … more orders and closed sales.

Here are 10 fresh content marketing ideas for you – all proven to help grow business.

1. Case Studies

Whatever you are selling, you have to talk about how great you are at some point. But how about proving you’re competency and value by writing the story of a successful project or happy customer first? With a case study your credibility is founded on real-life examples of your success. That’s much more powerful than one-sided sales speak.

2. Viral Articles

Share some of your knowledge in an article and post it to sites like knol.google.com/k, ezinearticles.com or articlesbase.com. You’ll get more Web and search engine exposure, while demonstrating your superior knowledge on a subject your audience cares about.

3. Blog Posts

If you want to extend your authority further, start a blog. You don’t have to become a full-blown publisher overnight. Just share information with your website visitors they will value. Combined with a permission-based email list your blog could easily turn into a valuable subscriber base you can market to regularly.

4. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Page

Most businesses have a list of questions they are always answering. Address such questions on your FAQ page and, again, prove your competence in your area of expertise at the same time.

5. A Website Q&A

What about those questions there is no space for on your FAQ page? Consider a Q&A section on your website that invites people to ask questions about your specialist area. Because your users are seen to set the agenda in asking any questions they like, you will come across as more accessible, open and authentic.

6. A Book Review

Locate a publication that will be of interest to your customers and resonates with their view of your place in your industry. Read it and give your opinion on its value, based on your expertise and experience.

7. Demonstrate With an Image

Simplify a complicated process with a mind-map or process flow diagram. You could even get a design professional to produce an entertaining info-graphic that simplifies a hitherto complex subject and wins you gratitude for your smart thinking.

8. Video

Useful video content can transform into sales very quickly. Whether a brief monologue, how-to video or entertaining demonstration, video content wins more fans and drives more people to websites than ever before.

9. Shared Content

Smart social media marketers already know that sharing quality information wins favour with their followers, fans or readers. As long as the content is helpful, people will remember you as a useful resource – even if you didn’t originate the content.

10. Publish a White Paper

Want to really advance your reputation as a resource that knows its stuff? Assess an aspect of your market that matters to people and produce a white paper about it. Address the issues well enough and a white paper might just move you into a whole new league in the eyes of your customers and prospects.

Think Helpful Before Selling and You’re Off to a Great Start

Marketing methods based on useful content are winning more business than ever; primarily because this approach treats readers with the intelligence they deserve.

With smart content marketing you can not only show your audience you know your onions, you’ll actually be building a base of content you can re-purpose and use again and again.