20 Random Thoughts on Content Marketing for 2012

As we move into 2012, I thought I’d share these 20 random thoughts on content marketing truths. If you ever lose your content marketing mindset to a more traditional marketing mindset, read through them. No guarantees, but they might help.

1. “Content marketing is all the marketing that’s left.” Seth Godin.
2. Your blog should be a core part of communicating with and marketing to your customers.
3. In content marketing, you can’t fake it, so you have no choice but to be real.
4. Your brand is a relationship; it’s not a tag line. Your competition can copy everything you have, except your brand.
5. Focusing on what your customers want and need is more important than focusing on what you have to sell.
6. If you make something that solves the consumers’ problems, they’ll talk about it and tell others.
7. If it’s not already, the blogging community will soon become more important than traditional media.
8. Without content, building an online community is impossible.
9. Hiring an editor is no longer a want; it’s a must for any organization.
10. Successful search engine optimization is driven by consistent, relevant and fresh content on your company’s blog or website.
11. Your content is more important than your offer.
12. Most corporate websites talk about how great the company or product is, forgetting about wants and needs of the customer. For this reason, most corporate websites are ineffective.
13. Teach your customers and give them the resources to believe you. They’ll become fans of you because you’ve given them something that improves their lives.
14. Create your own content that gets people talking about you.
15. Content marketing is difficult because you actually have to listen to your customers and know what their challenges are.
16. Today’s marketers need to be publishers as well as marketers.
17. Today buying advertising space won’t solve your marketing woes. You need to make a connection to your existing customers.
18. Find information your target audience needs (books, blog, research, surveys, etc.) and give it to them.
19. Write stuff that people want to read instead of dictating to them.
20. Your customers are waiting for you to inspire them. What are you waiting for?

Tags: branding, building your brand, content marketing