As a community manager, I work with tons of companies trying to maximize their reach online. One of the best ways I’ve found to go about this: content marketing.
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| Image Courtesy of Mashable |
So before we delve into HOW you can leverage content marketing to your advantage on your blog, let’s talk about WHAT it is first. You can read much more about what content marketing is from a smarter source than this one, such as Wikipedia, but in layman’s terms, content marketing is all about creating content (which all bloggers do) for distribution and consumption by a target audience. If you think about it, bloggers are content marketers already. We create and post lots of content talking about (i.e., basically advocating for and endorsing) the products we love, and seeking out an audience who will care. The only catch: a lot of bloggers are not being paid, so really, companies are getting tons of free advertising from us!
An added bonus: people are super sick of banners, ads and pop-ups. In fact, lots of studies have shown that a new phenomenon, banner blindness, is on the rise, in which consumers are blinded to or skim right over website areas where you’ll typically find ads (such as the right hand side or bottom corner). So instead of using banners, businesses are gravitating toward creating awesome, informative or inspirational content (don’t tell me you didn’t want to try the food you last saw on Pinterest) that their target market can use to get them in the eyes, hearts and minds of…well, anyone and everyone.
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| Image Courtesy of Content Marketing Institute |
Do you think that bloggers should be used as content marketers? Have you ever advocated for a product on your blog and been paid for it? I would love to hear what you think!
Comments
Wow.. thats an awesome post. And so true.
Following you via GFC and Bloglovin.
Heena
http://icynosure.blogspot.in/
I think bloggers are very influential and should definitely be used and paid for marketing. I haven't been approached yet, but why not do it? Hopefully in the future 🙂
Adela x
Misspinkstyle.net
Someone out there will see your fabulous style and influence and want you to rock their (hopefully pink) kit soon! 😉 x
Great post, totally agree… I thing that we are all very influential!!!
Happy weekend hun!
Great post!! 😉
http://fashionabejita.blogspot.com.es/
Yes you are very true !! I love the content 🙂
I totally agree with content marketing. Bloggers are really becoming more and more influential – and after all we are content creators! So I think it is important to engage. Great article – thanks for sharing 🙂 xo
We are indeed content creators, and (hopefully) the most genuine ones, looking for nothing more than a way to express ourselves rather than getting paid for it!
I think people read (and come back to) blogs because they are interested in the content but also for the person-to-person contact. You are a real person, giving your real opinion. So as long as you are being honest with your review of a product (/whatever it is), then I don't see anything wrong with it!
Interesting post! I think as long as the blogger is open about the sponsorship and it fits with the blog, it's a good idea 🙂
I unfollow or skip by blogs that just post lots of sponsored content or don't identify when things are sponsored, just tacky 🙁
Away From Blue
I do too, usually. I am actually starting to do more of it now that I belong to various blogger networks and I see the same brand on people's "wish lists" that just turn out to be paid sponsorships they aren't disclosing!
Great Post! We're starting a company that connects brands and bloggers on a single content marketing platform! Check it out you guys https://ghostlamp.com 😀