07 Dec, 2022
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Content Marketing: How to get started

You need to be all-in if you have a small business and are looking to start online marketing for your brand. There’s no such thing as dabbling in content marketing and being successful. You need to be all skill, all talent, all the time. If being creative freaks you out, no fear; that’s why Ivana Creative Agency is here to guide you.

What skills does a content marketer need?

This should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway: if you want to be a content marketer, you need to be a great writer. Content marketing is about creating quality content that engages and informs your audience. And the only way to do that is to write well. Perfection is not the goal—but close to it should be.
Your audience is bombarded with content from all sides, so your copy must be able to cut through the noise and grab their attention. This means writing headlines that pack a punch and body copy that’s both informative and entertaining. We’ve got you covered if you need help honing your copywriting skills.

An Understanding of SEO

You need to understand how SEO works to create content that ranks well on search engines. This means knowing which keywords to target, where to place those keywords, and how to use other ranking factors like backlinks and meta tags to your advantage.

If you’re unfamiliar with SEO, now’s the time to get acquainted. Search engine optimisation is essential for any content marketer who wants their work to be seen by their target audience.

After all, what good is great content if nobody ever sees it? Optimising your headlines, using keywords throughout your piece, and employing other best practices can ensure that your work rises to the top of the search engine results pages—where it belongs.

The ability to tell a story

A great piece of content isn’t just a regurgitation of facts; it’s a story that engages the reader and leaves them wanting more. An excellent way to practice this skill is by reading (and re-reading) some of your favourite fiction pieces.

Not only will this help improve your storytelling skills, but it will also give you a better understanding of what makes a story truly great through content creation.

Graphic Design Skills

They say a picture is worth a thousand words—and when it comes to content marketing, that couldn’t be truer. A quality graphic can take your content from good to great and help you tell your brand’s story better.

We live in a highly visual world, so your content must be able to take advantage of that fact. This means incorporating the following into your social media posts where possible.

  • Images
  • Infographics
  • Videos/Reels

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn

Social media platforms are a valuable asset for any business—but they’re essential for content marketers. Why? Because social media is an effective way to disseminate your content and ensure that it reaches as many people as possible. To maximise your social media impact, you need to understand each platform and how to use it.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
This includes understanding which types of content perform well on each platform and which strategies will help you gain (and keep) followers.

The Ability to Analyse Data

No self-respecting content marketer would make decisions without first consulting data.

After all, numbers don’t lie—they provide empirical evidence that can help (or hinder) your campaigns. That’s why analytical skills are so crucial for anyone in the content marketing field. Without them, it would be impossible to measure your successes (or failures), learn from your mistakes, or adjust your strategy as needed.

Fortunately, most analytics tools like Google Analytics and Kissmetrics are designed for users of all levels of expertise. Even if you’re starting from scratch, you can quickly learn to understand your data by taking some time to familiarise yourself with how it all works.    

To see if your content is truly resonating with your audience, you need to be able to analyse the data surrounding it. This includes things like:

  • Pageviews
  • Time on page
  • Social shares
  • Bounce rate.

By closely examining your analytics, you’ll be able to identify which pieces of content are performing well and which need some improvement.

Being a great content marketer requires hustle, dedication, and mad skills. Fortunately, none of these skills is unattainable. With enough practice (and maybe a little help from those already killing it in the content marketing world), anyone can develop the skills necessary for success. So what are you waiting for? Start honing those skills on your small business today—your audience is waiting.

If you’re a business owner looking for a team to take care of your marketing ICA is the creative support to showcase your goods or services online.

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