Is content marketing a fit for your business?

While I’m a big proponent of content marketing, I’ve come to a realization that it’s not for everyone.

What kind of brands could benefit from content marketing?

It all depends. The world of content marketing isn’t a one size fits all solution. First, we have to definite what content marketing is. This is my definition, and not something you’ll find in a dictionary

Leveraging different platforms to share your information (“content”) on them.

Content marketing is comprised of many platforms. I like to think of the five “pillars” of content marketing as the following: blogs, podcasts, social media, email newsletters, and eBooks. (I do believe they belong in that order as well, but more on that later.)

One channel you may already use in your content marketing strategy is posting to Facebook. If you’re regularly updating your followers by posting blurbs or photos on your business’ Facebook page, congratulations: you are already using content marketing to build your brand’s awareness.

From there, however, things get a bit trickier.

How much time do you devote to creating content? Do you always send out the same information? Does it generate any interest? Which platforms do you need to be on? And do you need to be on all of them?

Being consistent is as important as the message you are sending. But aside from creating a marketing strategy, the first question atop your to-do list should be “Is this right for me?”

Whether you own or operate a nationally recognized corporation or a pizza shop with a single location that answer is almost always yes. There are far more benefits to generating content and publishing them on your various channels than not. Some of those are simply getting your name out, while others have to do with Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

In many cases, “sweat equity” (that is your own time and effort) is all it takes to operate a successful content marketing campaign. But in many cases, people will feel as though they’ve become a slave to the process and give up: which a have far-reaching negative effects on your brand. (Yes, even worse than never getting started!)

That’s why I created this site, along with my upcoming book and podcast series. I don’t want to see anyone abandon their blog or Facebook page, giving up because they feel they don’t have the time or the means to share their story. Oftentimes the very tools you need to successfully grow your business with content marketing are right in front of your nose.

Sometimes, the materials you need are right there too and require no extra work other than a few minutes each week.

If this kind of information sounds interesting to you, I implore you to follow and/or subscribe to my various social media accounts and the DisContent Podcast. In the coming weeks you’ll learn how to utilize the same tools, tips, and tricks I use to efficiently, and effectively, leverage these five pillars to build your brand’s awareness.

And if you don’t have any these outlets already setup, don’t worry. I will be sharing how to successfully build a platform in which your content will shine.

My goal is to make sure you no longer see content marketing as a scary word. Join me, and you’ll see why.

Why I started the DisContent series

I have a gut feeling that the one question I’ll get asked a lot of via this new venture is: “Why did you decide to do this?”

That’s a two-fold answer based on what “this” is. If we’re talking about content marketing, I didn’t choose it, it chose me. To be completely honest, I’ve always been into technology. Computers and the Internet were incredibly fascinating to me ever since I got my first one in high school. (Prior to that I used to drive across town to a public library to edit websites in pure HTML code. Oh the good days!)

I’ve always been a creative person as well. When I was a kid I was really into art, especially drawing. As I grew older, I did a lot of writing. I initially went to college for computer science, but circumstances pushed me into the world writing and editing, but I never lost my fondness for building new things, especially websites.

Little did I know how my diverse background would play to my advantage.

Doing websites for small businesses while in college helped me build a portfolio which, in turn, helped me land a job with a great marketing agency. That background put me in the driver’s seat of managing blogs and social media accounts for clients. Before you knew it, I was knee-deep in the world of content marketing. But at the time, I still didn’t realize what “content marketing” meant. (I’m not even sure the term existed at the time.)

My fascination with the Pittsburgh Steelers sent me down another path, where my small blog became a bigger deal than I had ever anticipated. It grew from my lonesome to a full staff of contributors, and a podcast with over a half of a million downloads in just under two years.

However, it wasn’t always like that. I had to put in the effort to interact with people on social media and produce quality content to gain their following. Then I started to apply the same principles learned from every facet of content marketing I was involved in (blogs, podcasts, social media marketing, and even email newsletters and eBooks) to those clients.

Soon enough I came to recognize that even if they were capable of creating a Facebook page or sending out a Tweet, their efforts were falling short of realizing their full potential. Speaking with these individuals, be it in a training room with two people or a full-fledged jam-packed conference room for a seminar, they needed help.

That’s why I started DisContent. It’s a play on words, but it’s no gimmick: if you’re not content, i.e. discontent, with your content, I’m here to help.

Some of the information I reveal on this website, the DisContent Podcast, or other mediums is completely free. Take it, please. Run with the ball and score. Nothing would make me happier.

However, if you’re in need of more help, I’m here too. Not everyone has the time, creativity, or resources to successfully reach their audience consistently. That happens to the best of us. (Even me.)

So if you need guidance, drop me a line on my contact page and I’ll do my best to get back to you in a timely manner.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to having you join me on this journey of navigating the various ways in which content marketing can help your business.

Sincerely,

Joe Kuzma