Content marketing takes many shapes and sizes. As a company builds out its marketing plans, it may be a daunting task to determine what shapes and sizes are the right fit. We recently polled other marketers and chatted with the Twitter community about their winning content formats, so we wanted to share some of the various responses we received with you. We decided to create a list of five content marketing formats you may be overlooking.
Podcasts:
While the popularity of visual content has changed the way online audiences process information, podcasting is finally getting its shine on as a hot resource for connecting with consumers. Why? It's informative and dynamic. Podcasts allow you to elaborate on larger-picture ideas in a way that's more personal and convenient. Ryan Hanley--an industry influencer who you should keep your eyes on--does a great job demonstrating his podcasting chops (recent guests include Jerod Morris and Jay Baer).
Quizzes:
Trends may come and go, but the online quiz has solidified itself in the digital world as an interactive and engaging content tool for marketers. If you're trying to create something fun and shareable or are trying to gather audience information, there's no limit to the data you can collect from a well-thought-out quiz. Just be sure to provide the user with something they value, such as personality test results, knowledgebase scores, an unlocked exclusive deal, or a piece of content.
Slide Shows:
They aren't simply for internal business communications or college presentations. Tools like SlideShare have transformed the way marketers are formatting content by creating easily digestible, shareable, and downloadable content by way of slides. Create a powerful SlideShare that showcases your expertise; upload it to the hosting service; and watch as it gets passed around among others in your field. The ability to embed your SlideShare presentation into a blog post is also incredibly practical, as it provides a visual connection to your content and keeps your audience focused. For inspiration or to share as curated content, MarketingProfs is a trusted resource with more than 80 SlideShare presentations.
Video:
Video marketing is on the up and up. We've all been nodding and grinning about its importance, but if you're not carving out a space for it in your marketing initiatives, you're truly overlooking this content format. Platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, and Vine are dominating online communities. If you establish yourself here early on, the benefits will be immeasurable and constant. Especially because YouTube is the second largest search engine used, other than Google.
Interviews:
There's almost nothing more valuable than getting first-hand knowledge from an industry expert or thought leader. It is the ultimate piece of credible content. It signifies that you recognize key influencers and that you have merit by virtue of scoring their time and input. With that, other influencers will value your position and seek you out as a forum for their fresh perspectives. All of this works together to establish your own authority, opening doors for engagement with your target audience. Add valuable content, and acquire customers. It's the content marketing way.
Are there any overlooked content formats you'd like to see in this list? Add yours in the comments section, or let us know if you've used any of the content formats above with success.