Cost-Efficient Content Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses

Small businesses are sometimes stuck in limbo on where to start with their marketing approach. Of course, when you don’t have a plate full of resources, you’d want to make sure every resource is maximized. Some stick to conventional marketing methods, while some take more present-day advertising — content marketing strategies.

Content marketing strategies can be cost-efficient and effective at the same time. Of course, a small business marketing team shouldn’t expect everything to be easy peasy. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to create content marketing approaches that increase conversions.

Read on to find out why your business should focus on content marketing and learn a few content marketing techniques that boost your bottom line.

Benefits of Content Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses

As per the Content Marketing Institute’s definition, content marketing is “creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”

Additionally, the revered organization also claims that content marketing tactics get thrice more leads than paid search advertising. Here are other content marketing benefits for small businesses:

• Boost your brand’s online presence
• Establish consistent branding within a targeted audience
• Garner more website visitors without spending an arm and a leg
• Beat the competition by a mile — if done accordingly
• Maintains constant website traffic
• Encourage more engagement from prospects and current customers
• Has a higher return on investment

Affordable Content Marketing Tactics for Small Businesses

Now, if you’re still all balled up on which content marketing scheme to take, here are 11 content marketing techniques that should skyrocket those sales fast!

Feature the Ins and Outs of Your Business

Popular in the food industry, going on supply runs could be excellent content to create. You can make a video of where you get your ingredients. This will be even more impactful if you’re supporting the local community and business owners. 

You can also follow McDonald’s footsteps. They created a landing page wherein customers can ask them anything, mainly where they source their ingredients. 

Repurpose Famous Content Into a Slideshow

With analytics, it’s easier to determine your most evergreen content. But don’t let it stay stagnant in the same content type. Repurpose it to another marketing collateral. Though slideshows have been around since the World Wide Web, they’ve proven they’re here to stay. They’re quite effective in presenting information succinctly, apt for listicle blogs and videos.

Feature Your Customer’s Questions

Don’t let slide any of your customers’ questions. One way to scour for those is to breeze through your social media posts and pick the most relevant one. Then feature one question any day of the week to tackle on. You can turn it into a blog post or a simple video to create that air of personalization. It’s like you’re answering your customers virtually! 

Ramp Up Emails for Special Events and Announcements

While SMS marketing is a quicker way to reach your audience, email marketing also takes the lead when it comes to message personalization. In fact, SMS is limited to just text alone. Through emails, you can include visuals and even GIFs to make it more appealing. And this is how you can leverage emails for your updates, announcements, special events, seasonal sale, or all things content. 

IG Stories for Behind-the-Scenes Moments

Businesses have this air of detachment as customers always associate a logo with the company. To put a face on that brand, let your audience enjoy some behind-the-scenes moments. This way, they can grow with you as your brand also progresses. Check this example of Domino’s video of some customer complaints and how they’re dealing with it, supposedly behind the curtain. 

Try the Skyscraper Technique

Brian Dean swears by the Skyscraper Technique. It starts by picking keywords you want to rank for, then looking up which competitors rank for those keywords. Once you have their content, create something better and more valuable. Lastly, reach out to the right people. Here’s how Backlinko tripled their website traffic in a few weeks. 

Interview the Big Players in the Industry

Whether they’re influencers, thought leaders, CEOs, or anyone who has established a footing in your industry, grab any opportunity to interview them. The best part about interviewing industry experts is that they already have a good following. Smash the interview with relevant and thought-provoking questions, and it’ll be a hit!

Write About Current Trends, Issues, and Topics

One way to get with the times is to pick out the hottest issues and topics. Then you can create content around these. For instance, any malpractice in healthcare should fire up the healthcare industry. You can write about your comments in the form of a blog or create a funny video parody of it. 

Start a Podcast 

Podcasts are highly engaging types of content. Plus, they’re also one of the most cost-efficient content marketing strategies fit for small businesses. And last but not least, podcasts are extremely easy to make. So why turn a blind eye to the good ole podcasting? 

Gather Lists of Social Media Influencers

If you’re looking for free ways to get a shoutout from social media influencers, including them in a list might hack it. Look for the most influential influencers in your industry. Compile them and write a flattering description that’ll surely make them share your content with their audience.

Craft Interesting Blog Posts

Blog marketing is one of the most affordable content marketing tactics that create a long-lasting impact. In fact, if a blog is extremely good, it could make the rounds online for months or even years! However, the only way to stand out is to craft unique, engaging, entertaining, and valuable blogs for your audience. A couple of suggestions are:

• Industry myths and misconceptions
• Responding to another trending blog post
• A listicle of things to avoid to be better
• Jaw-dropping history relevant to your industry
• Your business’s charity events
• Surprising industry facts
• Hacks, Guides, Checklists, etc.

Wrapping It Up

These are just 11 content marketing techniques that should give your brand a good headstart. If you let your creative juices flow, you should be able to think of the most compelling, shareworthy content without breaking the bank. Experiment with one or mix a couple and see those leads come pouring in.