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Content is king. And for marketers, it can be platinum. Good content can serve as the foundation for your marketing efforts. This content is a valuable resource you can mine for email messages, blog posts, social media messaging and many other forms of communication. Content is how you engage, educate and entertain your prospects and customers. And of course, content is now critical for search engine optimization (SEO).

Content can also be a challenge for marketers – especially if your company hasn’t focused much time or energy on developing content up to this point. Starting from scratch, or trying to launch or expand a content marketing strategy on a limited budget, can seem be difficult. But, there are ways to get started quickly, even if you have a limited budget.

This guide will give you:• Tips on how to get started• Ways to take advantage of your existing resources• Why repurposing is so helpful

1 - Start With The BasicsIt’s imperative to setup the basics and start generating content. You can start small with some easy-to-create basic content, and then gradually build on that foundation.

There are generally three types of content production scenarios1. A group of people in management and marketing creates content. They are measured on the content they create, and they have a quota.2. A company hires digital natives and considers content creation a core requirement in the hiring process. 3. A content team takes orders from different marketing functions, identifies content gaps and is responsible for filling them. They act as an in-house agency.

How get started quickly:- Evaluate where you are and where you want to be

- Provide A ServiceOne of the biggest mistakes marketers make in creating effective content marketing is they market. Bragging is the quickest way to turn off readers before they can find any real value in your content that would convert them into buyers.

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Content as a service is a better way to sell than content as a sales medium … your content should be in service of your audience.

- Turn Problems Into SolutionsThe goal is to set up a content system that helps your audience. Share your knowledge and expertise, and quickly provide real solutions so you can facilitate a dialogue and begin building a relationship.

Help your audience, establish yourself as an industry thought leader, and then you can start making money.

- Tap Into Your In-House Resources For Content

- Create a Content CalendarOnce content goals and ideas are laid out, an organized content schedule to execute them is vital. Content must be produced on a regular basis on which readers can rely.

- Carefully Choose Platforms To Promote ContentKeep it basic and stay on your main channels such as email. Let other platforms evolve over time by utilizing forums and other hangouts (e.g. LinkedIn groups) where your audience is active, and involve them in a dialogue to understand where you are best going to reach them.

- Evaluate

2 - Focus on What Your Customers WantFigure out the best ways to connect with and engage your audience in a way that fits their needs. Learn what your audience is searching for, where they are coming from and where they were going after visiting your website, blog, and/or content networks.

3 - Use Data To Determine Your StrategyStudy your analytics and use that data to decide how to proceed.

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4 - Use All Available ResourcesThink about the resources you already have.

Create a library on your blog or website to house your whitepapers, long form content, webinars, graphics, videos, etc.

Reach out to peers, guest bloggers, and partners to help create content and increase your volume.

Produce multiple pieces from your original content, such as:- Blog posts- Press releases- Videos- Infographics- Tweets and posts linking back to the original content

5 - Repurpose Existing ContentDon’t just duplicate content, restyle it and/or expand it to add value.

6 - Leverage Your AssetsCreate profiles of your sales people and product experts. Include photos, videos, blog posts, etc.

7 - Be CreativeEven if you lack resources, you can differentiate yourself from your competition with nontraditional and interactive content.

8 - Always Test and EvaluateEven with an established content marketing strategy, you always need to evaluate your existing tactics – and test new ones.

Need help developing your content marketing strategy? Contact Lori 877-447-0134, x111.