Creating a Content Marketing Strategy That Works

Do you have a content marketing strategy? Is your content resonating with your target audience?

In this blog we explore how to create a content marketing strategy that works by using SMART goals. Keep reading to discover the essential steps curated by our Dezign Digital team for crafting a winning content strategy that drives results and engages your audience.

1. Define Your Goals

Before diving into creating content, define your content marketing goals. What do you want to achieve? Goals could include increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, generating leads, boosting sales, or improving customer retention. Ascertain your goals are SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

2. Understand Your Audience

Once your goals are set, get to know your target audience inside and out. Develop detailed buyer personas that capture their demographics, preferences, pain points, and behaviors. This critical step helps you tailor your content to meet their specific needs and interests effectively.

3. Conduct a Content Audit

Take a close look at your current content to see what’s hitting the mark and what’s falling short. Analyse the performance of each piece, identifying successful elements and areas for improvement. Pinpoint content gaps that require attention.

4. Research and Plan Your Content

Now that you’ve conducted a content audit, it’s time to research and plan your content. Managing Director of Dezign Digital, Anthony Raspa says, “It’s important to perform keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your target audience uses when searching for topics related to your business. From there you can determine the types of content you’ll create and the channels you’ll use to distribute it.”

Below are the steps you can follow to create a successful content plan.

a. Keyword Research

Before diving into content creation, conduct thorough keyword research to uncover topics your target audience is actively searching for. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to identify relevant keywords and phrases. Analyse search volumes, competition levels, and user intent to prioritise the most valuable topics. This research will guide your content strategy, ensuring you create content that resonates with your audience.

b. Content Types and Channels

Crafting compelling content requires understanding your audience and selecting the most effective content types and distribution channels to reach them. Choose formats like blog posts, videos, or infographics based on your audience’s preferences and the message you want to convey. Distribute your content through channels where your audience is most active, such as your website, social media platforms, or email newsletters.

c. Content Calendar

A well-organised content calendar is the backbone of your content marketing strategy, allowing you to plan, research, and schedule your content effectively. By mapping out your content in advance, you can guarantee a steady flow of relevant, high-quality material that aligns with your marketing goals and target audience’s needs.

5. Create High-Quality Content

One of the most critical aspects of your content marketing strategy is creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience. Focus on crafting valuable, engaging, and relevant content such as videos, infographics and blogs that addresses their needs and pain points. Make sure your content is well-researched, well-written, and visually appealing. We also recommend consistently incorporating your brand’s voice and tone across all content to build a strong identity.

6. Optimise for SEO

Your content’s visibility and ranking depend on how well you optimise it for search engines. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content, craft compelling meta descriptions, and optimise your images. Make sure that your content is mobile-friendly and follows SEO best practices.

7. Promote Your Content

Once you’ve optimised your content for search engines, it’s time to focus on promoting it to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your website. Share your content on social media platforms, send email newsletters, collaborate with influencers, guest post on other websites, and consider using paid advertising to boost visibility. Develop a thorough content promotion strategy to amplify your content’s reach effectively.

8. Measure and Analyse Performance

Measuring and analysing the performance of your content is essential for understanding its impact and identifying areas for improvement. Use analytics tools to track KPIs like traffic, engagement, conversions, and ROI. Regularly monitor this data to gain insights into what’s working and what’s not. Armed with this information, you can refine your content marketing strategy to better achieve your goals.

9. Content Governance

While analytics provide insights into content performance, you also need a strong content governance framework to maintain consistency and quality across all your content efforts. Establish clear standards and policies for content creation, publication, and maintenance. Develop content style guidelines, define your brand’s tone of voice, and set quality criteria. A robust governance model guarantees your content remains on-brand, relevant, and valuable.

10. Iterate and Improve

To continuously refine your content marketing strategy, regularly assess what’s working and what’s not. Analyse your content’s performance, engagement metrics, and audience feedback to identify areas for improvement. Test new ideas, formats, and distribution channels to see what resonates best with your audience.

How Can Dezign Digital Help?

Dezign Digital’s extensive digital marketing services can help you take your content strategy to the next level and achieve your business goals. Our team of certified experts and creative minds will work closely with you to develop a thorough, data-driven content plan tailored to your unique needs. We deliver projects on time, ensuring your content reaches your target audience effectively and efficiently.

You can contact us here or email [email protected] to kick start your content marketing strategy today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Should I Budget for Content Marketing?

Your content marketing budget depends on your goals and resources. Typically, allocate 25-30% of your total marketing budget. Start small and adjust as needed. Focus on creating high-quality, targeted content that resonates with your audience.

What Content Formats Work Best for My Industry?

It depends on your industry, but some effective content formats include blog posts, videos, infographics, case studies, and whitepapers. Consider what resonates with your target audience and aligns with your marketing goals to determine the best approach.

How Often Should I Publish New Content?

Publish new content consistently, whether it’s weekly or monthly. Base your frequency on your audience’s preferences and your resources. Regularly publishing quality content keeps your audience engaged and helps you achieve your marketing goals.

Should I Outsource Content Creation or Do It In-House?

It depends on your resources and goals. Outsourcing can provide expertise and save time, but in-house creation allows for more control and brand consistency. Consider a hybrid approach, outsourcing some content while keeping core pieces in-house.

How Long Does It Take to See Results From Content Marketing?

It depends on various factors, but you can usually start seeing results within 6-12 months or less. Consistency is key – keep creating and promoting high-quality, targeted content, and you’ll gradually build traffic, engagement, and conversions over time.