There are hundreds of statistics analyzing the value of content marketing in 2013, but one constant remains: Content is king.
It not only triumphs other marketing strategies in producing high-quality leads while keeping costs low, but also reigns supreme in creating long-term brand loyalty — which can help a brand rule any industry.
Content marketing has surged to the forefront as marketers’ new favorite branding medium and lead generator, and thought leaders in all industries are realizing the power it has in boosting their personal brands.
But though plenty of studies attest to its influence in helping brands grow, the following statistics provide a more detailed outlook on the changing marketing landscape and the challenges for brands exploring this valuable tool.
10 Facts About Content Marketing In 2013
1. Only 13 percent of brands don’t currently have a content marketing strategy (Inbound Marketing Agents). If you were to say brands made up the population of the U.S., only California and Connecticut would be without a content marketing strategy.
2. The conversion rate for the 87 percent of brands that employ a content marketing strategy is six to seven times higher than those who use traditional marketing tools (Aberdeen Group).
3. Content marketing provides a unique layer of authenticity that other marketing methods can’t replicate. Seventy-eight percent of consumers believe that organizations providing custom content have a vested interest in building meaningful relationships with them, which translates into brand trust and loyalty. (TMG Custom Media)
4. When budgeting for content marketing, companies aren’t burdened by the high costs of traditional advertising campaigns either. It costs 62 percent less than traditional marketing and generates about three times as many leads (Demand Metric).
5. Content marketing also influences the quality of leads a campaign generates, which translates to a higher sales rate. Organic search leads have a 14.6 percent close rate, while outbound marketing leads have a 1.7 percent close rate (Hubspot). That means you are 858 percent more likely to generate revenue from an inbound lead than an outbound one.
6. Writing relevant and engaging blogs on a regular basis provide businesses an advantage over their competition. B2B companies that blog generate 67 percent more leads per month than those who don’t (Social Media B2B).
7. Forty-three percent of marketers generated a customer via their blog this year (Hubspot).
8. However, the three biggest challenges to creating content are lack of time (30 percent), inability to create enough content (11 percent), and inability to create engaging content (11 percent) (Robert Rose).
9. Each day, Internet users share 27 million pieces of content (AOL and Nielsen). In 260 days, more pieces of content will be shared than there are people in the world.
10. Content is important, but with 27 million pieces of content floating around the Internet each day, your content distribution method will be key to making your content stand out among the noise.
Post by Joshua Johnson.
