So you’ve heard that content marketing is great for increasing organic traffic to your website. Perhaps you know that you’re likely to convert more site visitors to quality leads? But how do you go about shifting your marketing focus to content?

Here at Wizard of Content, we’re pretty adept at rustling up a rock-solid content strategy. But we do more than wave our magic wands to get there. We base all our work on five content marketing principles that you just can’t afford to ignore.

Why Is Content Marketing Important?

Put simply, content marketing allows you to connect emotionally with people visiting your website. It helps you showcase your values, build trust and authority, and, consequently, turn those site visitors into customers.

It also helps Google know who you are. High-quality, authoritative content helps you rank higher on the Google SERPS, driving increased organic traffic. Do it well, and content marketing can be a huge business boost. Research led by Aberdeen has shown year-on-year increases in unique website visitors are 7.8 times higher for content pros than for those just dabbling in a content plan. It’s cost-effective too.

Content marketing costs, on average, 62% less than traditional marketing while generating three times the number of customer leads.

So, how do you make sure your content strategy is working for you?

The Five Key Principles To Shore Up Your Digital Content Strategy

1. Understand Your Audience

We’re all pretty good at talking about ourselves. But what about talking about your customers? Understanding your prospective customer’s pain points and what content they want to read, watch, or hear before you put pen to paper, is vital

2. Address A Need

Great content addresses an unmet customer need, emotional or practical, or answers a customer question. Consider the purpose of each type of content when developing your strategy, and ask yourself if it is useful beyond simply describing the products and services you offer.

3. Be Consistent 

Consistency, both in terms of content frequency and brand tone of voice, breeds trust and recognition. It’s also the cornerstone of an omnichannel marketing approach. A seamless customer experience across all touchpoints can drive a 287% higher purchase rate than single-channel marketing campaigns.

4. Find Your Voice

Who are you? What does your brand stand for? Use your content to show the human voice of your brand. It doesn’t have to be quirky if you’re not. Just consistently, originally, you. If you haven’t already created a verbal identity, now is the time to write one.

5. Add Value 

Whether offering practical tips or industry insights, each piece of content should add value for your audience. That sounds all kinds of vague, we know. But, value comes in a myriad of forms. Think practical tips, product reviews, expert Q&As or industry insights. Anything your customers might find helpful in their journey to your products or services. Value can be emotional too, so draw on powerful storytelling to generate heartfelt customer connections.

Are Professional Content Marketing Services The Answer?

Are you unsure about your writing skills? Or, perhaps you simply don’t have the time to commit to a regular content schedule on top of your other work?

Professional content marketing services can be a cost-effective solution. You’ll only pay for content when you need it and have the guidance of expert writers with up-to-date SEO knowledge. We’ve written in more depth about this here.

Need More Content Marketing Tips?

Well, you’re in luck. When we’re not weaving content magic for our clients, we’re here to offer our expert insights, tips, and ideas on making content work for your business. We offer website audits and strategy overhaul advice too, so get in touch to see how we can wave our magic wand for you.