Relying on a single content type could lead to you missing out on opportunities. Variety is the spice of marketing, which is why you need to use all of these types of content on your website.
You probably already have a content marketing strategy.
It makes sense to. When compared to traditional forms of marketing, content marketing costs 62% less. And if done well, it can generate three times the leads.
So, you’re posting articles to your blog every week to keep that fresh flow of content going.
But there’s a problem.
You’re not seeing the return that you expected on the time and money you’re investing into the content.
The culprit may not be the content itself.
It could be that you’re not offering enough variety in the type of content that you’re sharing.
Why Differentiate Your Content?
If you asked a bunch of people how they prefer to learn, you’d get several answers.
Some people like to read a good article or textbook. Others prefer visual stimulation as it helps them to connect the dots better. Yet others may want to see proof of the concept before they dedicate their time to learning about it.
The point is that we all take in content in different ways.
That’s something that your website needs to account for.
You can also look at how different types of customers consume content.
For example, a B2B buyer is much more likely to engage with an industry-related whitepaper than a B2C one. The latter isn’t interested in how the industry works.
Of course, that same B2B buyer may not care about how-to articles and tip sheets. They probably already know everything that you’re covering so why would they want to check that content out?
Then, we come to the subject of trends.
According to a Contently & Libris survey, 33% of marketers believe that video is best for engagement.
And as more people than ever access content via mobile devices, that number’s likely to rise. That means there’s another content type that you have to consider.
The point is that you need to differentiate content types to account for different visitors and the devices they use.
You also need to do it so that you can squeeze every drop out of the content that you create. An article can become an infographic, which can become a video, which can form the basis of an interview.
By taking advantage of different content types, you’re appealing to people on a range of fronts.
All that’s left is to figure out which content types your website needs to have. We’ve touched on a few here, but let’s dig into some details.
Content Type #1 – Blog Posts
The humble blog has existed for almost as long as content marketing has. Almost every website has one and they all use them to post articles.
You likely have one yourself.
A blog is a must for driving organic traffic to your website. Search engines still love well-written content so a blog filled with great articles can boost your rankings.
You can even build variety into the articles that you share. A good mix of news, how-to articles, and tip sheets give visitors several reasons to come back to your site.
Automation Agency can even help you to schedule your blog posts and create feature images for them. Just send a task to the Concierge Service to get started.
The great thing about blog posts is that they can also act as the launching pad for some of the other types of content on this list.
Content Type #2 – Checklists
You may go into a lot of detail about the steps to take to complete a task in a blog post.
However, a checklist can strip away the detail and give the reader the essential steps. For example, your website may offer car parts. In this case, a useful checklist could tell the user about several things to check before they drive in snow.
It’s content that’s related to the service. However, it also provides something useful to the visitor. They can print the checklist and follow it when they need it. And if you brand it appropriately, yours is the company they’ll see if something stops them from completing the steps.
That raises the chances of them calling you for the solution.
Again, Automation Agency can help you with the design work for any imagery you want to incorporate into a checklist.
Content Type #3 – Infographics
We’ve already mentioned that some people learn visually. We’ve also mentioned that you can use your articles as the launchpad for other types of content.
An infographic is a type of content that leverages both of those facts.
For example, you may have a step-by-step article on how to do something. With an infographic, you create a visual flow for that information that many find easier to follow.
The other great thing about infographics is that they’re very shareable pieces of content.
But here’s the clincher.
A visitor is 30 times more likely to read all of the content in an infographic than they are to read all of the content in an article.
They’re great for data visualization and they’re something that you can apply your brand to. That means your brand gets in front of more people when it gets shared.
Again, Automation Agency can help you to design some of the imagery that you may use in this content type.
Content Type #4 – Case Studies
Website visitors want so much more than your sales content.
They want proof that your product works like you says it does. And for that, they’re going to look for social proof. They’ll check out your testimonials and may head to review sites to find out more about what you offer.
Case studies are valuable pieces of content because they allow you to provide this information on your site. Instead of focusing on product features, a case study tells a real-life story about how somebody benefitted from the service. It’s an opportunity for you to show people what’s great about your product.
And because it’s all about genuine customers, a case study allows you to create more trust than a simple article on the same subject.
Content Type #5 – Videos
Videos are fast becoming one of the most valuable types of content.
They allow you to physically demonstrate things that are often difficult to put into text. Take our car parts supplier example from earlier. You could write a bunch of tutorials on how to install various car parts.
Or, you could create a series of videos that show people how to do it.
You could then share those videos on social media and create a YouTube channel to host them.
Much like infographics, videos appeal to visual learners. They’re also better suited for appealing to mobile users than articles. Someone’s much more likely to watch a video on their phone than they are to read a 2,000-word article.
We’ve examined how you can create great videos in this article.
Content Type #6 – Podcasts
What makes podcasts so valuable?
For one, 80% of the people who listen to them listen for the entire episode. This means they’re ideal for getting complex points across that you can’t turn into a consumable article.
They’re also a great way to reach mobile users. The majority of podcast listeners use their smartphones to tune in. It’s content that they can listen to on the go without having to engage themselves visually.
That has benefits for you because it means someone can listen to your content when they’re in the car or out for a walk. In other words, you can deliver content even when that person isn’t looking at your website.
Podcasts also offer more freedom in terms of the subject matter that you cover. For example, you can host a one-hour interview on a podcast and people will listen to it. But if you try to transcribe that entire interview, many will refuse to read it.
Take Advantage of All Content Types
Content marketing has moved beyond posting to a blog.
There are more avenues than ever before for delivering content to your website visitors. If you’re sticking to writing alone, you’re missing the chance to capture customers.
Each of these content types has its own benefits. They also each appeal to a slightly different segment of your audience. That’s why it’s so important to use all of them if you want to boost website conversions.
Automation Agency can help you with several tasks related to content marketing. These include blog posting and design work. Send a task to the Concierge Service to find out more.
And don’t worry if you’re not a member yet. A quick conversation with our Right Fit Chatbot will tell you if we’re the right people to help you.