What's in this article?
What are the different types of content marketing? It’s a question you must answer if you want to create a content marketing strategy that generates results.
Some of the many types of content marketing include:
- Blogging
- Checklists
- Courses
- Ebooks
- Infographics
- Podcasting
- Quizzes
- Social media posts
- Webinars
And that’s just the start.
If it has anything to do with content — even something as archaic as a phone book — it could have a spot in your content marketing plan.
But that doesn’t mean every type of content will “stick.” Even if it’s high-quality content, it may fall short in engaging your target audience.
Start by deciding what you want to get from your content marketing efforts. Examples include:
- Driving traffic to your website
- Increasing customer and/or prospect engagement
- Generating revenue
- Generating social media shares
- Becoming a thought leader in your space
Once you’ve pinned down your goals, it’s time to learn more about each type of content marketing. Below, we outline the types of content marketing mentioned above.
1. Blogging
Blogging is one of the most popular types of content marketing. This is due in large part to benefits such as:
- Establishing yourself as a thought leader
- Generating social media shares
- Generating backlinks to your website
- Using SEO keywords to appear in search engines
In addition to blogging on a domain you own, other options include guest blogging, LinkedIn, Medium, and contributor posts.
2. Checklists
Don’t overlook the power of checklists.
Not only are these visually appealing — as they can break up long sections of content — but they’re also helpful to your audience. Add in the fact that they can be easily shared and you have a winner.
While checklists can standalone, they’re generally included within some other type of content such as a blog post or infographic.
3. Courses
Creating a course can do wonders for your brand. Two of your primary options include:
- Create a free course to generate interest in your company, engage your audience, and provide value to your readers.
- Create a paid course as another source of income.
Today, most courses are primarily video-based, but you can still opt for a text-based course if it better suits your business and audience.
4. Ebooks
Think about an ebook like a blog post on steroids. It’s generally longer and more detailed than a blog post. The benefits include but are not limited to:
- Accessible by anyone with a computer or mobile device
- Easy to update
- Easy to share
- Opportunity to include interactive elements
- Give it away for free or charge a reasonable fee
As you create more blog posts, you may find that you can repurpose and combine many of them into an ebook.
5. Email
There’s no shortage of people who believe that email marketing is dead.
But remember this: These are people who aren’t using email marketing or those who aren’t taking the right approach.
You can use email to share any type of content with your audience.
Send a short message every time you publish a new blog post. Start a newsletter that you share with your audience every day, week, or month.
Even a small but highly targeted email list can do big things for your business.
6. Infographics
Visual content is one of the best ways to engage (and impress) your audience. You can use infographics to explain a product or service, share statistics, answer questions, and more.
Best yet, you don’t have to be a graphic designer to create professional infographics. There are plenty of “plug and play” tools designed for beginners.
7. Podcasting
According to Statista, “the number of podcast listeners will surpass 160 million in 2023.” And that’s just a small sampling of the growth that’s sure to occur over the next year.
Podcasting benefits run deep. The content is easy to digest at any time of the day. You can build up a large subscriber base. And of course, it’s perfect for establishing yourself as an industry leader.
If you don’t want to create your own podcast, reach out to others in your space to pitch yourself as a guest.
8. Quizzes
A quiz is a type of interactive content that allows customers and prospects to engage with your brand. Other similar options include games, assessments, and polls.
The key to success is creating topics that engage your audience. Choose unique topics while finding a way to give the person something in return. For example, you could run a “what type of marketer are you” quiz.
Bonus: use quizzes and other types of interactive content to grow your email list.
9. Social Media Posts
You can’t talk about the many types of content marketing without mentioning social media.
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram are the big ones, but there are many other niche platforms to consider.
It’s best to stick with one or two platforms when you first get started with social media. For instance, if you’re selling a professional service, LinkedIn is a good jumping-off point.
Use social media to share news and advice, answer questions, connect with your audience, and generate leads.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you bite off more than you can chew, so start slowly with a defined schedule. As you see what is and isn’t working, tweak your social strategy as you continue to track your results.
10. Webinars
There are many reasons to host webinars for your customers or prospects, but one stands out above the crowd: the opportunity to position yourself as an expert in your field.
A webinar is a great way to share free knowledge with anyone and everyone who wants to learn more. And of course, as you’re sharing your knowledge, you can sell yourself and your products/service.
Guest webinars are also an option. You’re not the host, but instead, you’re part of another company’s webinar. It’s a good way to put yourself, your brand, and your products/services in front of a new audience.
Summary
These are just a few of the many types of content marketing to consider. Some will work, some won’t. Some will generate killer results, while others fall flat.
Kaleidico can help you put out an effective content marketing strategy. We’re a full-service marketing agency, including content marketing, with over a decade of experience. Contact us for a discovery session. We’ll talk about your goals and how to implement our ideas and generate more leads for your business.