5 Fatal Content Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

Key aspect of content marketing is about communicating the value of your product or service. It differs from selling, which is just a technique of getting people to exchange their cash for your product and services.  To put it simply, marketing and content marketing is much broader than selling.

It begins way before a company design or conceptualize an idea or design any products or services and should not be considered as a cost; in fact it is an investment, with a clear idea of how and when it will deliver a return on that investment.  There is no secret formula for developing a marketing plan. But of course, we can always avoid the mistakes and we believe a smart marketer learns from his or her mistakes, right?

Here are 5 fatal content marketing mistakes to avoid, at all costs:

Not understanding who your customers is and what they want:

As mentioned above, marketing begins even before a company design any product or service. You need to concentrate on understanding the preferences, attitudes, and behaviors of consumers, before you create a product or services for them. Planning what content to put in your blog and Facebook page? You will still need to understand your customers to find out exactly what content will appeal to them.

It is good to talk to your customers and understand what they prefer. Only your customers can tell you the things that are broken and what they want you to fix. They will also be able to tell you what they want to learn and see from your website and social media pages. Listen to them. Make sure they know you are listening and make them happy. Then give them what they want.

Stop talking about yourself:

The biggest problems small businesses have is focusing way too much on their company and not enough on the needs of your customers. Of course, you do need to speak about what you do plus more importantly, try to pass ideas on new trends, relevant information and topics that will appeal to them too. This way you are giving them a chance to gather more information, each time they visit your website.

Forgetting your current customers:

It is quite common that small business owners often run behind new customers, forgetting the ones they have already. One should know that 80% of your business comes from your existing customers and 20% comes from new customers. Failing to resell to your current customer base could have a detrimental effect on your profits. There are many different ways to stay in touch with current customers after the sale. An example could be making them sign up for your newsletters and keeping in touch with them etc.

Failing to have a USP:

Ask yourself, what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). What makes you stand out from the crowd? Following what has worked for others doesn’t mean that it will work for you too. Be different. Stand out. Be unique, and make others follow you. A good book to read on this is Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant.

Not having the right focus on social media:

As we all know, Social Media marketing can be an inexpensive, effective marketing solution and is a must-have for most businesses of all sizes. At the same time, it is a complex marketing tool, and if used the wrong way can actually harm, rather than help, your business. Adopt a good social media strategy, understand where your customers are online and create a brand presence there. Always share relevant and helpful information to your group and followers.

Avoid these common content marketing mistakes, make smart decisions, and your small business can have a successful marketing strategy! 🙂

 

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