2014 Trends in Content Marketing

Before looking at the 2014 content marketing forecasts, content marketing needs to be clarified. Content is important and what you do with the content is also significant to your results. But - there is a big ‘BUTT.” Yes, I know I used two “T’s” in ‘BUT,” but it was just to see if you were paying attention. That is how you write content – engage your audience and provide value-added information that is not easy to find online. Your prospective customer will consider you an expert, learn to trust you, get to understand your brand and have confidence in the information you provide.

If you want your campaign to be successful when marketing content, you must establish your brand and yourself as knowledgeable in your field. This is the foundation for lasting and continuous business relationships.

To simplify, content marketing is all about building strong relationships and not only just selling a product or service. Some forms of content include:

·         Blog Posts

·         Podcasts

·         Social media Posts

·         Electronic Books

·         Online Videos

·         Guest Blogging

·         Email marketing

·         Webinars

·         Web Content

No matter what format you use to publish content, you must have a “CALL TO ACTION” – always and with no exceptions. Write content that will stand the test of time. A good topic would be “Top 10 Places to Visit in Hawaii.” For someone looking to visit this state, you will be the ‘go to’ person for valuable information.

What to Expect for 2014

For 2014, where is the trend going as it relates to content marketing? What are the challenges that online marketers face? With Google Hummingbird, Google Hangout and Google Helpsout, alertness is required in order not to ‘make Google’ or the search engine angry with you. This means marketers have to stay abreast of the new algorithm rules and guidelines.

Most online marketers use content marketing as part of their marketing approach. However, it is safe to say that some of them may not really be able to express what content marketing means to their business model. I truly think that many business owners will be able to definitively express the concept of content marketing in 2014 and how it aligns to the scope of their business. They will also be able to tell why it is so important. It is not going to be a catch phrase in the mouths of those who still say that “content is king,’ without knowing what that really means.

The New Title

Companies, in the past, hired someone to write content for marketing and would give them the title of:

·         Freelance Writer

·         Marketing Writer

·         Content Developer

However, now companies are placing more significance and emphasis on these employees’ positions since it is much more than just writing content and so look for new titles like Director of Content for 2014. No one will have any doubt; not even the employee, of what the job entails. The improved awareness will force companies to make adjustments and put more money into content marketing strategies.

Companies that don’t go the extra mile to put more into their content marketing budget will certainly lose out in 2014. Whether someone is assigned in-house or on a contract basis, companies are going to need more in content creation and distribution.

Going Mobile

Some companies have not yet caught on to the mobile marketing craze. Mobile marketing taking over and by 2016, companies not on board with this are going to feel the ‘pinch.’ A strong content marketing strategy should be incorporated into the mobile phenomenon. In fact, Google’s new algorithm, “the Hummingbird,’ and the complete cancellation of the previous keyword search tool from Google Analytics is going to quickly force companies to embrace this. What does this mean? Well, to reach your targeted mobile audience, your content must be more concise, well-formatted to meet the guidelines and provide more actionable posts since prospects will be viewing the content from their mobile devices.

If this article was useful to you, please share it with a friend, your followers and anyone who is in your contact. For business owners or companies that want to embrace the concepts and improve their business model, you can hire my services to write marketable content for you. In the meantime, check out my Amazon.com page where I have a list of self-published books. 

How to become a paid expert

So you have been working on your job as a nurse practitioner, legal assistant or marketing assistant and you decide that you have had enough and want to branch out on your own. How do you get paid for your expertise? The answer, obviously, is to become a writer or consultant. When you get paid for what you know, your skills, experience and wisdom, it can be more fulfilling than working on a 9-5 job. People will always be looking for specialized information and help. That is where you come in. You are going to be the expert that these people are seeking; locally, nationally and worldwide. The Internet is the ideal platform that you should use to allow these people the opportunity to find you.

So that is why you may need a:

• ·         Blog
• ·         Website
• ·         Writing abilities or outsourcing to another expert writer
• ·         SEO and PPC specialty, which you can also outsource

Google Helpouts

Google Helpouts is one of the new additions to Google online capabilities. The new system helps to get the word out to like-minded people. In fact, it helps you to start immediate in leveraging Google’s platform to receive the exposure that you need to share your knowledge and expertise. With that, you will generate free leads and increase traffic to your blog and/or website. Since Google Adsense, this is the ideal way to increase your bottom line using the Internet.

You will be able to connect to people who really need your help. All you need to know is how to create a video, which isn't difficult. You can solicit the help of a video creator, if you don’t know. With Google Hangout, another new Google technology, ou can become an instructor or consultant using those same your videos and charge for the time you spend sharing your knowledge and advice.

Advice

When someone is searching for information online, they are looking for someone like you who knows exactly what they want to know or learn. With your blog, you can become the expert others are looking to approach so be sure to provide quality content and write content that is question-and-answer based. Keep your blog frequently updated. You want people to see you as the expert that you are so don’t write about everything on the planet. Offer specialized information to make your blog more valuable and interesting.

Create an electronic book with the expertise that others are searching for. Providing information using this format provides another means of making money online, in addition to offering video content. Using your expertise, you can create a video tutorial for your prospects to glean more information than one video or one article would provide.

Conclusion

If you are good at writing, music, cooking, marketing, creating a website, or just about anything, you can use your knowledge to educate others and make money at the same time. So don’t procrastinate. Take action today by creating your first free blog and writing an article about something related to your field. If you want to see some of the books I have written, click “BARGAIN BOOK SALES.”