{"id":44607,"date":"2018-12-06T07:01:43","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T15:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/?p=44607"},"modified":"2022-07-20T16:59:16","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T23:59:16","slug":"content-marketing-for-small-businesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Content Marketing for Small Businesses: The End-to-End Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\"><p>You know by now that publishing a diverse mix of content is the best way to build brand awareness, drive website traffic, and increase conversions. But what if you don&#8217;t have a huge content marketing budget like many larger brands do?<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, content marketing doesn&#8217;t have to break the bank. Any small business can use it and see a positive return on their investment.<\/p>\n<p>Your potential customers are already out there looking for good content. They want answers to their questions, expert advice, and inspiration. In fact, <strong>around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.demandmetric.com\/content\/content-marketing-infographic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">70 percent<\/a> of customers would rather learn about a company through an article than an advertisement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of content marketing for small business, let\u2019s first break down what content marketing is and why it matters.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"what-is-content-marketing\">What is Content Marketing?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Content marketing is the process of using blog posts, videos, infographics, webinars, podcasts, and other forms of content to serve a variety of business goals, from engagement and lead generation to sales and customer advocacy.<\/p>\n<p>When developed strategically, content is able to move your leads through the sales funnel to ultimately drive you more sales.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44627\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Buyers-Journey-Stages.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1170\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Buyers-Journey-Stages.png 1170w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Buyers-Journey-Stages-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Buyers-Journey-Stages-768x227.png 768w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Buyers-Journey-Stages-50x15.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>However, content marketing is rarely used on its own. The development of our content is important, but so is the way you promote it. This is why content marketing is often closely paired with social media marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).<\/p>\n<p>While the pursuit of content marketing excellence does require businesses to commit time and resources, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/01\/content-marketing-strategy\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">benefits of content marketing make it well worth the investment.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"benefits-of-content-marketing\">Benefits of Content Marketing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/01\/why-content-marketing-is-a-commitment-not-a-campaign\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Digital marketing is all about making connections<\/a> with your target audience, and there are few better ways to do this than with content marketing.<\/p>\n<p>In short, content marketing helps:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Drive website traffic<\/li>\n<li>Generate leads<\/li>\n<li>Build trust<\/li>\n<li>Establish your brand as an authority<\/li>\n<li>Increase sales<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-34037 \" title=\"why-you-need-content-marketing\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing.jpg\" alt=\"why-you-need-content-marketing\" width=\"599\" height=\"788\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing-768x1011.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing-38x50.jpg 38w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Why-You-Need-Content-Marketing-640x842.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"how-to-use-content-marketing\">How to Use Content Marketing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Companies use content marketing in a number of different ways. From the blogs on their website to the videos they share on social media, content marketing is all over the place.<\/p>\n<p>Many companies focus primarily on their blog or website when creating content. However, there are many other ways you can diversify your content marketing mix. Using different forms of content in your marketing strategy can help you attract even more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/08\/cta-tips\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high-quality leads<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Always pay close attention to the way your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/target-audience\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">target audience<\/a> is engaging with your pieces. Through accepting their feedback, shifting your strategy, and continuously researching topics, you can create an awesome content marketing plan that helps your business reach new heights.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #d0dce4;\"><script>(function() {\n\twindow.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || {\n\t\tlisteners: [],\n\t\tforms: {\n\t\t\ton: function(evt, cb) {\n\t\t\t\twindow.mc4wp.listeners.push(\n\t\t\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\t\t\tevent   : evt,\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcallback: cb\n\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t);\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t}\n})();\n<\/script><!-- Mailchimp for WordPress v4.8.3 - https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/mailchimp-for-wp\/ --><form id=\"mc4wp-form-1\" class=\"mc4wp-form mc4wp-form-17463 mc4wp-form-theme mc4wp-form-theme-blue\" method=\"post\" data-id=\"17463\" data-name=\"Stay up-to-date\" ><div class=\"mc4wp-form-fields\"><div style=\"text-align:left;font-family:'Proxima Nova W01 Regular', sans-serif;\">\r\n <h5 style=\"padding-top:0;color:white;\"><span id=\"get-a-weekly-dose-of-our-best-content-marketing-tips-trends-and-insights\">Get a weekly dose of our best content marketing tips, trends, and insights.<\/span><\/h5>\r\n  <div style=\"display:flex;\">\r\n   <p style=\"width:75%;\"><input style=\"color:#555;font-size:18px;height:50px;width:99.5%;border:0;padding:5px 15px;border-radius:4px;\" type=\"email\" name=\"EMAIL\" placeholder=\"Email address\" required \/><\/p>\r\n   <p style=\"width:25%;\"><input class=\"newSubmit\" style=\"font-size:18px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;background-color:#3ce3ae;border-radius:4px;color:#2a3955;\" value=\"Subscribe\" type=\"submit\"><\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.newSubmit {cursor:pointer;}\r\n.newSubmit:hover {background-color:#59f3c2;}\r\n<\/style><\/div><label style=\"display: none !important;\">Leave this field empty if you're human: <input type=\"text\" name=\"_mc4wp_honeypot\" value=\"\" tabindex=\"-1\" autocomplete=\"off\" \/><\/label><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_mc4wp_timestamp\" value=\"1775408620\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_mc4wp_form_id\" value=\"17463\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_mc4wp_form_element_id\" value=\"mc4wp-form-1\" \/><div class=\"mc4wp-response\"><\/div><\/form><!-- \/ Mailchimp for WordPress Plugin --><\/div>\n<h3><span id=\"optimize-your-website-for-seo\">Optimize Your Website for SEO<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-49347\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote.png\" alt=\"SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote\" width=\"1000\" height=\"349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote.png 1000w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote-300x105.png 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote-768x268.png 768w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/SMB-Content-Marketing-Quote-50x17.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to get your website right, because it&#8217;s often the first impression people get about your business.<\/p>\n<p>First, make sure your content is optimized for search engines, because if your content is difficult to find, you&#8217;ll have no visitors to convert!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/08\/keyword-optimization\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">keyword-rich<\/a> content and product descriptions.<\/li>\n<li>Optimize your website for mobile.<\/li>\n<li>Ensure web pages load quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Make your site easy to navigate.<\/li>\n<li>Insert relevant metadata.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Check out our detailed guide: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/11\/seo-content-optimization\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Content Optimization: How to Optimize Content for SEO<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While it takes some effort and strategy to play the SEO game, you don\u2019t necessarily need a big budget to get big results. What you do need to do is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Create <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/place-a-request\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh, quality content<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Build backlinks to that content<\/li>\n<li>Create locally relevant content<\/li>\n<li>Use social media to provide search signals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"1-create-fresh-quality-content\">1. Create Fresh, Quality Content<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The saying \u201ccontent is king\u201d has become a tired clich\u00e9, but there\u2019s a lot of truth to it.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing is better for SEO than a steady stream of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fresh, engaging, valuable content<\/a> on your website.<\/p>\n<p>Think about it: the goal of any search engine is to provide the most relevant information for every search. When your website is regularly updated with new and useful content, that content is assumed to be more relevant by search engines. You end up with bonus points in the ranking game and better spots in the search results.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"2-build-backlinks\">2. Build Backlinks<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>In some ways, SEO is a lot like life: you can get ahead with good connections.<\/p>\n<p>While fresh and relevant content should be the cornerstone of your SEO strategy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/link-building\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">link building<\/a> is another essential tactic.<\/p>\n<p>It may seem tempting, but don\u2019t take the shortcut of buying big batches of links. Search engines don\u2019t favor these purchased links and you risk being penalized. Take the slow and steady approach by reaching out to relevant bloggers and organizations with an inquiry or press release.<\/p>\n<p>Backlink building is a lot of work but is a key signal for Google.<\/p>\n<p>Related Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/link-building\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Complete Guide to Link Building<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"3-create-locally-relevant-content\">3. Create Locally Relevant Content<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>People get most of their information about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/11\/local-seo\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local businesses from online searches<\/a>, so it\u2019s important to send the right \u201csignals\u201d to search engines to get your business good visibility in your community. Adding local keywords to each of your pages is a good start, but it\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n<p>You should also:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claim a page for your company on Google My Business. If you already have one, confirm that your contact information and business hours are correct.<\/li>\n<li>Include your business contact information on each page of your website.<\/li>\n<li>Ask customers to leave reviews. Customer reviews on sites like TripAdvisor and Yelp can make a big difference in your search ranking, so it\u2019s worth the effort to reach out to your existing customers and encourage them to provide a review.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span id=\"4-the-power-of-social-media\">4. The Power of Social Media<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/03\/social-media-content-strategy\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Social media<\/a> has a bigger effect on your SEO than you may realize.<\/p>\n<p>When your content is liked, shared, tweeted and commented on, the search engines take notice. This engagement signals that your content is relevant and important. As a result, you\u2019ll receive a nice boost in your rankings.<\/p>\n<p>So, take the time to cultivate a strong social media presence on at least one platform: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are all good choices, but some platforms are better suited for certain industries.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"optimize-your-website-for-conversions\">Optimize Your Website for Conversions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Next, optimize your site for humans. What is the next step you&#8217;d like visitors to take? Would you like them to subscribe to your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/10\/effective-email-newsletter\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">email newsletter<\/a>, visit a product page, or sign up for a free trial? To improve conversions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure your unique value proposition is clear on your homepage or landing page, highlighting the benefits of your business and why visitors should choose you over the competition.<\/li>\n<li>Provide clear site navigation.<\/li>\n<li>Include large buttons and anchor text with clear calls-to-action.<\/li>\n<li>Make your sign-up forms short.<\/li>\n<li>Display social proof and testimonials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Optimizing your website for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2019\/01\/blog-bounce-rate\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">traffic and conversions<\/a> lays the groundwork for lead generation.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"keep-your-website-up-to-date\">Keep your Website Up to Date<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When Google and other search engines rank your web pages, they don&#8217;t just look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/place-a-request\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">content quality<\/a> and relevancy; they also look at content freshness. To measure this, they consider various factors, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>When content was created.<\/li>\n<li>How often content is updated.<\/li>\n<li>The number of new inbound links to content.<\/li>\n<li>The number of website visitors.<\/li>\n<li>How visitors engage with your website, including bounce rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By regularly creating fresh, original content, search engines can see that you&#8217;re a reliable source for information and are therefore more likely to rank your content higher.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately though, the most important aspect of branded content is the value it provides. This is why quality content matters so much.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"what-is-quality-content\">What is Quality Content?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You might have heard a lot of content marketing and SEO experts talk about the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">creating quality content<\/a>. But what does &#8220;quality content&#8221; really mean? Here&#8217;s a brief checklist:<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"_\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"1-original\">1. Original<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>You probably know by now that Google penalizes websites with duplicate content. You can&#8217;t copy content from other sources and expect it to have any positive impact on your SEO. Use your own writers or outsource your content creation to professional freelance writers.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"_\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"2-informative\">2. Informative<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Make sure your readers learn something new and try not to be boring. Avoid technical jargon, show your personality, and tell a story. Keep in mind your ideal customer and talk to them like a friend.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"_\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"3-honest\">3. Honest<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If you make up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/11\/storytelling-in-content-marketing\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stories about your business<\/a>, products, or services, you&#8217;ll soon be found out. Consumers today value transparency. If you show data, link to the source. If you make a mistake, own it.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"_\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"4-thought-provoking\">4. Thought-Provoking<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Great content is interesting and makes readers see something from a new perspective. Share your opinions. Give people something to think about.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"_\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span id=\"5-actionable\">5. Actionable<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The most successful content encourages people to take a specific action. Decide what you want readers to do, explain how this will benefit them, and then tell them to do it!<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"examples-of-small-business-content-marketing-done-right\">Examples of Small Business Content Marketing Done Right<\/span><\/h2>\n<h4><span id=\"1-coschedule\">1. CoSchedule<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>CoSchedule is a content collaboration and social scheduling tool &#8211; and they are an awesome example of how to use a blog to generate leads and drive sales.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44657\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.31.24-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.31.24-AM.png 1153w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.31.24-AM-300x95.png 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.31.24-AM-768x244.png 768w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.31.24-AM-50x16.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Not only do they regularly post high-quality content that&#8217;s related to their business, but they&#8217;ve done an excellent job of creating both top-of-funnel content and bottom-of-funnel content. For example, the &#8220;How to Overcome Makeshift Marketing&#8221; article is a hypothetical but relatable story that is tailored to their target audience.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-44667\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.32.11-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"599\" height=\"245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.32.11-AM.png 677w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.32.11-AM-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screen-Shot-2018-12-05-at-10.32.11-AM-50x20.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"2-saving-lincoln\">2. Saving Lincoln<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Saving Lincoln was an independently made movie, that needed to gain a following and generate interest without the a huge budget.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44647\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/5bb415ed210000e700c7ec54.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/5bb415ed210000e700c7ec54.jpeg 510w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/5bb415ed210000e700c7ec54-275x300.jpeg 275w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/5bb415ed210000e700c7ec54-46x50.jpeg 46w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>What they did was pretty genius. They created a Twitter account and slowly dripped out snippets of the story and related information to generate interest and discussion.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44677\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screenshot-88-e1448324421580.png\" alt=\"content-marketing-for-small-business-lincoln\" width=\"550\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screenshot-88-e1448324421580.png 550w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screenshot-88-e1448324421580-300x70.png 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Screenshot-88-e1448324421580-50x12.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Every Friday they would Tweet out a cliff hanger and then pick up the story the following Monday.<\/p>\n<p>This is an excellent example of how you can repurpose content by taking something long form and break it up into small snippets.<\/p>\n<h4><span id=\"3-pics-really-good-peanut-butter\">3. Pic&#8217;s Really Good Peanut Butter<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>As we mentioned, social media is an important part of your content marketing. Pic&#8217;s Really Good Peanut Butter is an awesome example of how small businesses can use social media to support their content marketing.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44687\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/sujan42.png\" alt=\"peanut-content-marketing-small-business\" width=\"438\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/sujan42.png 438w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/sujan42-222x300.png 222w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/sujan42-37x50.png 37w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"how-to-develop-a-content-strategy\">How to Develop a Content Strategy<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For every piece of content you create, you need to determine the topic, the format, and the publishing channel. This all depends on your audience. To learn more about your target market:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Listen to conversations on social media.<\/li>\n<li>Look at the content topics, formats, and channels of your competition.<\/li>\n<li>Find out which types of content your audience are already sharing.<\/li>\n<li>Find out which platforms get the most audience engagement.<\/li>\n<li>Discover the questions your customers are already asking.<\/li>\n<li>Conduct surveys with existing customers via email.<\/li>\n<li>Use Twitter surveys to find out what your audience think about a specific topic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Try to learn as much as you can about your audience, their interests, and their beliefs. You can use analytics tools to track engagement and sharing statistics, but sometimes asking your customers directly gives you the best insights.<\/p>\n<p>Related Reading: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/01\/content-marketing-strategy\/\">How to Build a Content Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-44617\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/contenttactics.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"738\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/contenttactics.jpg 738w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/contenttactics-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/contenttactics-50x28.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"are-you-struggling-to-create-content\">Are You Struggling to Create Content?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As a small business owner, you might struggle to find enough time to create enough content week after week. Here are a few ways to boost content output:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Outsource content to freelance writers. Around <a href=\"https:\/\/contentmarketinginstitute.com\/2016\/08\/content-marketing-stats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">73 percent<\/a> of brands now hire someone to help manage their content strategy. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/freelance-content-writers\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professional writers<\/a> often specialize in writing for specific industries, and can provide a steady stream of high-quality, error-free content.<\/li>\n<li>Refresh and repurpose existing content. For example, turn a how-to guide into an infographic, a white paper into a social media series, or transcribe a video interview into a blog post.<\/li>\n<li>Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/11\/storytelling-in-content-marketing\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">customer stories<\/a>. User-generated content helps to build brand credibility and shows how your products fit into the lives of consumers. Ask your customers for stories, testimonials, and images.<\/li>\n<li>Take advantage of free content marketing tools. For some examples, visit our post: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/09\/content-creation-process\/?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Develop a Great Content Creation Process<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"dont-give-up\">Don&#8217;t Give Up<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Content marketing may take time and planning, but it&#8217;s one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies and can make a huge difference to your business. When you consistently give your audience quality content, it will increase trust in your brand and generate traffic and leads for years to come. Don&#8217;t be afraid to experiment. Learn from your mistakes, and build on your successes.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re a small business looking to take your content marketing to the next level, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/area\/for_self_serve.htm?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Constant Content<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/area\/for_self_serve.htm?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/area\/for_self_serve.htm?utm_source=44607&amp;utm_medium=organic&amp;utm_campaign=cblog noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"890\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Blog-Banner-Content-Writers-New.jpg\" alt=\"Need content for your blog or website? \nOur content writers specialize in creating quality content for your website, blog, or online store.\" class=\"wp-image-48167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Blog-Banner-Content-Writers-New.jpg 890w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Blog-Banner-Content-Writers-New-300x85.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Blog-Banner-Content-Writers-New-768x217.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Blog-Banner-Content-Writers-New-50x14.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 890px) 100vw, 890px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You know by now that publishing a diverse mix of content is the best way to build brand awareness, drive website traffic, and increase conversions. But what if you don&#8217;t have a huge content marketing budget like many larger brands do? Fortunately, content marketing doesn&#8217;t have to break the bank&#8230;. <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/\">Continue Reading <span class=\"icon icon-circle-chevron-right\"><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":7391,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[195,305],"tags":[196,279,1757,285,1747],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Content Marketing for Small Businesses: The End-to-End Guide - Constant Content<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Use this guide to learn how to build a content marketing strategy that will help your small business succeed with the right strategies.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Content Marketing for Small Businesses: The End-to-End Guide - Constant Content\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Use this guide to learn how to build a content marketing strategy that will help your small business succeed with the right strategies.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Constant Content\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2018-12-06T15:01:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-07-20T23:59:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2017\/11\/content-marketing-the-basics.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\">\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/\",\"name\":\"Constant Content\",\"description\":\"The Constant Content Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cc-west-blog-assets.s3.amazonaws.com\/uploads\/2017\/11\/content-marketing-the-basics.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":600,\"caption\":\"content-marketing-the-basics\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.constant-content.com\/content-writing-service\/2018\/12\/content-marketing-for-small-businesses\/\",\"name\":\"Content Marketing for Small Businesses: The End-to-End Guide - 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