No excuses: 5 requirements for content marketing success

A new year is coming, which means it’s time for re-evaluation. Many of us are thinking about improving our diets, starting an exercise routine or learning a new language.

But the end of the year is also a time to reassess our business strategies. It is a time to take a look at what worked and what didn’t over the past year, to get organized and decide what new tactics you want to employ in 2016.

As you think about content marketing in the coming year, don’t miss out on these 5 no-excuse items for success.

5 requirements for content marketing success

1. Responsive web design (RWD)

With Google taking an official stand in 2015 on which websites will be given priority based on their mobile capabilities, it’s time to get serious about RWD. How your customers and clients perceive you online–on their phones–is very much a determining factor of whether or not they will do business with you. And with 60% of online traffic is generated by mobile devices, you need your site to be mobile friendly. No excuses.

2. Mobile-friendly emails and social posts

Embracing mobile goes beyond having a responsive website; the majority of people are also using mobile devices to access email and social media. Here are a few tips for making email and status updates more mobile friendly:

How to make email mobile-friendly:

• Use a responsive template
• Use teasers – Don’t include full articles in your e-newsletter; instead, use headlines and blurbs to attract readers and then link to the rest of the article on your blog or website.

How to make social media mobile-friendly:

• Use visuals
• Keep it short on Facebook –  Get your message out in less than 250 characters because people rarely click “read more.”
• Keep it short on Twitter – The tweets get retweeted the most contain 71-100 characters.

3. Consistency and patience

Remaining consistent and patient are two of the greatest content marketing challenges. Whether it is due to a lack of time, resources or ideas, many people give up on content marketing before it has time to work. We usually tell clients it takes at least 3-6 months before you will start to see any significant ROI. So while it may seem like you are writing and creating content for an insignificant amount of people sometimes, be patient. All that content is helping you build up credibility and form a relationship with your audience. To reduce the challenges, create a content calendar at the beginning of each month.

4. ROI tracking and analytics

The information you gain from Google Analytics should be more than passively looked at or logged; it should be used to improve your marketing plan. The amount of information Google provides is above and beyond what you may need (or have time for) in the beginning. Start small and work your way up to additional analytics. Check out these 5 key elements that you should pay close attention to when it comes to your website analytics; they can have an major impact on your marketing plan and business development.

5. Solid branding

Your brand is more than a logo. It’s your personality. Your value. The human aspect you bring to your organization. And now, more than ever, it’s important to have a strong handle on what your brand represents—from your visual identity to your online conversations and in-person interactions. To help you build your brand in 2016, check out our CEO’s 5 steps for successful branding.

If your business is struggling with any of the above topics, explore our blog and publications for advice or give us a call. We are happy to provide free proposals and talk through any marketing or training services you many need. All of our services are customized for your organization’s needs.