When it comes to outsourcing content creation, many of the reports, statistics, and the resulting data that we hear about come from much larger companies. I want to point out some data today that pertains to smaller companies as well. As a bonus, much of the really interesting data has been assembled into the excellent infographic below. Have a look at it first and then we’ll touch on a few points before we go.
Wow, 60% of small companies outsourced their content marketing in 2011, up from 42% in 2010. We find this trend particularly exciting. Only a small part of this excitement comes from the fact that we at TrustWorkz, Inc. provide marketing services that include content creation for small businesses. What really excites us is that these forward thinking and pro-active companies are securing continued growth and success into the future as opposed to those that refuse to embrace these tactics.
“Content marketing is an umbrella term encompassing all marketing formats that involve the creation and sharing of content in order to engage current and potential consumer bases. Content marketing subscribes to the notion that delivering high-quality, relevant and valuable information to prospects and customers drives profitable consumer action. Content marketing has benefits in terms of retaining reader attention and improving brand loyalty.” – Wikipedia
It is important to understand is that we’re not creating content just for the sake of having it. While it is true that to have a considerable body of work can help to establish yourself and your business as an authority in your niche, loftier motivations do exist. Namely, search engine optimization (SEO) and being found online.
*Search engines dictate more and more each day that our web presence must be populated with fresh and relevant content for it to be considered in search results.
*We need inbound links to send a signal to the search engines that our content is valuable to others. Populating our websites with great content and pushing this content out to our audience through social media channels generates interest and awareness…and inbound links!
*SEO is no longer something that is “event based”…a set it and forget it mentality. SEO requires great content and effective sharing to yield a positive result.
“The three most important things for SEO are content, content, and content.” – Joe Brockmeier
Actually, and this is rare, I want to include a second infographic today. I think that the information contained in this one dovetails nicely with our topic and I think it will help to establish a better understanding of how content creation and SEO are actually the likeliest of bedfellows anymore. Click on the graphic to enlarge.
We are all participants and witnesses to the largest revolutionary shift of an era. Search, social, local, mobile, privacy, relevance…all of it converging to serve up a real-time and semantic web that will have a depth and relevance that few have even dared to imagine. Failure to acknowledge and understand this shift and where we all need to fit in will not make it any less true and it won’t spare us the impact. Don’t make the mistake of believing that this will all pass and/or blow over somehow. Your complacency and ignorance about what’s going on in the digital realm will only seal a most undesirable fate for your business.
Right now, today…take some time and investigate what is happening around you. Identify and follow along with what your progressive peers and competitors are doing in this space. There’s no time like the present to set a course that will ultimately ensure the survival of your business.
Today’s first infographic certainly establishes that we’re not the only ones who think that something this important should definitely be left to the professionals. If you are ready to take a pro-active step in the right direction and want to explore the possibilities that exist by partnering with TrustWorkz, Inc., please contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
