So many small businesses make the mistake of building a website under the misconception that “if they build it they will come”. Unfortunately, the world on the web is just as competitive as the world of business.
If you are not actively seeking customers you will not generate leads or attract business. Content marketing is the number one tool of successful online businesses whether it is attracting ad dollars for a successful blog or sales for online shops.
Here are six creative ways content marketing can increase your sales:
Building trust by example
The web presents many unknowns and by providing case studies in different scenarios you will establish yourself as a knowledgeable and trustworthy company. Covering specific pain points and the services or products you provided to resolve issues will let customers know you not only sell products they need, but that you also understand why they need them.
Testify
Case studies work well for specific examples, but having testimonials in your customer’s own words will reinforce your position as a dependable company who solves problems, has excellent customer service and gets results. Following testimonials use a call to action with a link directing new customers to the products and services that will help them.
“How-to” content marketing
The How to article is a key to problem solving for your customers. As an expert in your field helping people by solving a problem with step by step content will help profile your company as the expert and will also help generate Google search results to get you noticed.
Authorship recognition
Use your in-house experts as the face of the advice so people recognize you as a trustworthy resource as well as establishing authorship Google will recognize in searches.
Guest blog exchange
With established authorship you will be in a position to seek out companies in your industry who you can exchange guest blog posts that will prove mutually beneficial. Google respects guest blog posts and this will also help raise your position in Google searches.
Solicit subscribers
Using a newsletter format to collect emails will allow you to link to existing content marketing articles on your website while drawing people back to your site.
Much like you cannot build a website and let it sit, content marketing cannot be static. It must be ever changing and ever driving traffic with new posts and information drawing in customers everyday.
