Recent years have shown a trend towards content marketing on social media and this trend shows no sign of slowing down with 4.66 billion people actively using the internet. This presents an opportunity for businesses to build brand awareness and really engage with consumers who use the internet to find new brands and learn more about them. What’s more, content marketing costs up to 62% less than traditional marketing and can generate around three times as many leads. So which content types reign supreme? And which types are best suited to your business?
VIDEO
Let’s start with some facts about video content:
- Watching video content accounts for one third of all internet activity
- 96% of consumers have used video as a way of learning more about a product or service
- Social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content
I could go on, but you get the idea. Video is key for any brand hoping to engage, educate or entertain its customers online whether its through social media, websites or blogs. Consumers seek content that engages quickly and short, digestible video content the ideal way to do this.
This trend toward video is only being accelerated by the global pandemic with 68% of consumers saying that their viewing habits have changed as a result of the pandemic and a staggering 96% of those stating that their viewing has increased.
So how can you make sure you’re getting the most from your video content? The Content Marketing Institute’s 23 things to consider when creating video content provides a fairly comprehensive guide for ensuring that you reap the maximum benefits from your videos. We work closely with the best content creators in Vietnam to provide our clients with the best video content at the most competitive prices. Contact us today and let Thud take the hassle out of video creation for your brand.
LIVE STREAMING
Facebook first launched its ‘Facebook Live’ streaming function back in 2016. Fast forward to 2023 and a whole host of social media sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn have all jumped on the band wagon with similar features.
So what’s all the excitement about? Well, the simple truth is that live streaming offers a much more immediate, real-time interaction between you and your customers with 80% of consumers saying that they would rather watch a live video than read a blog.
Another reason to be excited is that by ‘going live’ on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, you can beat those pesky algorithms that so often limit the amount of people who view your content. This is because live video garners up to 6 times more engagement than recorded video, which algorithms just love!
Whether you love it or hate it, live streaming is here to stay and is likely to become the new norm for many businesses. Much cheaper than creating recorded video content, maybe it’s about time you start considering how live streaming could benefit your brand. You can find some great tips on how best to live stream here.
INTERACTIVE CONTENT
Interactive content such as polls, quizzes, competitions, interactive maps and infographics can gain up to twice as much engagement as static content. This is because it empowers your audience to play an active role in a shared experience that will really set you apart.
The true value of interactive content can be found in the data that it yields. Each time you receive a response to a question you will be able to learn more about your audience which can then be used to inform your wider brand strategy.
CASE STUDIES
Case studies are an excellent way of generating leads and building trust in your brand. Case studies allow prospects to learn more about your brand and how it can add value to their lives through real world examples. But how do case studies achieve this? Well, hearing a case study from an independent third party source has a certain authenticity that both B2C and B2B consumers really trust. In fact, 88% of consumers trust online testimonials and reviews as much as recommendations from friends or family.
That said, creating case studies is not without its challenges. You need to ensure that you are properly demonstrating how you have helped a customer in a way that is relatable to other prospects. HubSpot have put together a step to step guide to follow when creating a case study that can help set you on the way to generate leads and close future sales.
BLOGS
It seems blogging has been around for almost as long as the internet itself. However, with 80% of users interacting with both social media as well as blogs, it’s clear that blogging is as popular as ever. And there is reason for that. Blog posts are an appealing content format for users and they give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are a master of your trade, whatever that may be.
Not only are blog posts useful for building your value proposition, but well optimized blog posts will help to boost your SEO. There are a number of things to consider when writing a blog post that will be properly SEO optimized, you can learn more about how to properly write a blog post here.
INFLUENCER CONTENT
Influencer marketing is everywhere. It’s almost impossible to scroll through your social media feed without seeing some sort of influencer marketing. Influencer content can help to increase brand awareness, drive sales or solidify your brand image in the minds of your target market.
So how best can you use influencer content? Influencers can be expensive, but don’t assume hundreds of thousands of followers means that you should be paying more. The truth is that influencers with between 1,000-5,000 followers can have an 8.8% engagement rate, while influencers with a bigger following tend to get an engagement rate of just 3.6%. Understanding the power of influencer marketing is increasingly important.
The Thud team is experienced at matching brands with their ideal influencers, drop us an email today and allow us act as cupid for your brand!
Conclusion
So there you have it, the best content types for your business. Creating content that really adds value to your brand isn’t easy, but Thud is here to help. We know the right questions to ask our clients when building a content strategy to really take the leg work out of content creation.
If you think its time you stepped up your content strategy, get in contact with the team at Thud to find out what we can do for you.