Six Must-Have Content Marketing Tools for 2021
Similar to an all-you-can-eat buffet, more is not necessarily better in terms of content creation. One of the most pervasive myths is that a successful marketing campaign is all about volume; that generating swathes of text will automatically lead to success within the digital domain. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Mediocre, incorrectly targeted and otherwise generic material will inevitably fall through the cracks of even the most well-intentioned marketing strategies. Furthermore, a great deal of time can be wasted only to experience disappointing results.
This is why most business owners choose to utilise cloud-based software and similar tools to focus their efforts in the right direction. Choosing the right utilities for the task at hand is obviously important and yet, a problem will often begin to rear its ugly head. There are literally hundreds of content marketing bundles on the market, and each of these claims to provide the most targeted and malleable solutions. How is it possible to know which ones deserve a closer look?
The team at Textbroker appreciates this situation and this is why we have taken the time to analyse the top six utilities currently available and to highlight what each package has to offer. Whether you are looking to slightly tweak your marketing strategy in the coming months or a top-down renovation is in order, the details below will undoubtedly come in handy.
Grammarly
Even the most impressive arch would quickly tumble to the ground if its central keystone was to be removed. In terms of quality content marketing, this keystone equates to eliminating any grammar or spelling errors that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Scientific research has backed up this observation. Recent studies illustrate that language errors within the context of an article often negatively impact the perception of the brand in question. After all, would you take your car to a mechanic if or or she was unable to spell words such as “transmission” or “spark plug”?
The good news is that you no longer have to be a savant in order to create error-free content thanks to Grammarly.com. Here are some of the benefits associated with this tool:
- It identifies both common and uncommon spelling mistakes.
- Users are provided with alternative suggestions based off of the context.
- Texts can be scanned in order to ensure that no plagiarism has occurred.
To put these advantages into perspective, many Textbroker writers utilise Grammarly on a regular basis and the basic version of this bundle is free.
Piktochart
Were you aware that the average individual is able to recall up to 80 per cent of what he or she sees? What is perhaps even more surprising is that this figure falls to a paltry 20 per cent when referring to textual content. In other words, seeing is believing in a very real way.
This is why it makes a great deal of sense to embed visual aids into your existing content. Thankfully, Piktochart provides you with the ability to create seamlessly stunning material without having to possess a background in graphic design. This is especially useful if you wish to add infographics in order to better augment the impact of a post. Another massive benefit involves the fact that search engines such as Google look favourably upon content that embeds different forms of media.
On a final note, we need to remember that a growing number of users will be accessing websites via portable devices such as tablets and smartphones. Infographics are much easier to view and comprehend when compared to reading a long block of text. If you wish to add a bit of visual flair to your material, Piktochart is a great way to begin. While a free introductory version is available, it is also possible to access professional tools from only £21 pounds per month (at the time that this article was written).
BuzzSumo
One of the secrets behind curating quality content involves appreciating what your closest competitors may be up to. This can take a great deal of time and effort when employing traditional in-house methods. Why not instead outsource such analytics to the third-party platform BuzzSumo?
BuzzSumo is unique in the fact that it focuses heavily upon niche sectors while simultaneously analysing what type of content is shared the most often. This is excellent if you hope to keep abreast of the latest trends or should you wish to imbue a touch of freshness within existing material.
This platform is also highly intuitive and it has been engineered for the average business owner as opposed to the publicity expert. All reports are presented in a clear fashion and it is even possible to develop keyword-optimised questions with a single click. Here are some other useful features:
- The basic version is free to use.
- Users will be able to understand which types of content formats generate the most interest.
- An excellent way to keep up to date with the most trending and relevant keywords.
On a final note, paid subscriptions allow users to perform an unlimited number of searches every month.
Feedly
One of the most overlooked (and powerful) facets of effective content marketing involves appreciating what is happening within your niche sector. After all, you always want to be able to present visitors and customers with relevant news in order to maintain their interest. The only problem here is that unless you have two heads and four eyes, it is nearly impossible to keep abreast of the latest industry information. This is when the power of Feedly comes into play.
Feedly is what is known as a news aggregator. Feedly can be envisioned as a digital “front page” which collates all of the news and public updates associated with your specific market. This is arguably one of the best ways to uncover quality links without experiencing information overload. Feedly is easy to work with and it provides regular updates; ensuring that the content is always fresh.
As Search Engine Journal points out, the importance of authoritative links is critical in this day and age. Not only will these references illustrate that your business is remaining one step ahead of the curve, but they imbue your website with a sense of transparency that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. Let’s also not fail to mention that backlinking to these very same sites will help to increase your online exposure as well as your SERP (search engine results page) rankings. Feedly provides these options and it is absolutely free to use.
Wistia
Take a moment to think about how many streaming videos you view on a daily basis. Now, imagine that you are looking for a specific online product. One website provides only static text while another is equipped with a high-quality embedded video. Assuming that all other variables remain equal, which provider would you choose? Video marketing solutions have represented some of the most powerful tools in 2020. Here are a handful of statistics uncovered by Biteable which will reinforce this point:
- 81 per cent of all online businesses currently employ video marketing.
- 60 per cent of consumers currently prefer online videos to television.
- Mobile video consumption has risen by more than 100 per cent on an annual basis.
- 59 per cent of survey participants stated that they would prefer to watch a video as opposed to read a block of text.
This is why Wistia is your go-to video marketing tool if you are looking for a quick and simplified solution. Wistia offers a plethora of user-friendly video customisation options, so there is no need to download additional third-party software. You can also leverage the power of in-depth analytics in order to better appreciate if your efforts are headed in the right direction. Some other unique amenities include:
- It is possible to create three videos without paying for a subscription.
- Analytical data can be shared with CRM platforms including Pardot and Marketo.
- Lead generation tracking is included.
- The video player can be customised depending upon your unique branding requirements.
If you currently lack video content throughout your website, it is always a good idea to take a closer look at what Wistia has in store.
Hootsuite
A final concept which is important to mention involves the process of content seeding. This process is associated with embedding high-quality material across multiple social media channels. This can be viewed similarly to ploughing numerous fields in order to enjoy higher crop yields. However, it can often be difficult to track the efficacy of numerous campaigns if you are governed by time restraints.
Founded in 2008, Hootsuite is still one of the best ways to proactively follow your social media content from within a centralised portal. This platform currently supports major platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Foursquare, WordPress, LinkedIn, and Myspace (yes, Myspace has not faded away just yet). One-click functionality ensures that you will be able to monitor every campaign within a real-time scenario. This is a great way to better understand which posts are garnering the most attention as well as any material that might no longer be viable.
Hootsuite is also an excellent online tool if you have been experiencing scheduling difficulties with your ongoing campaign. This platform provides reminders of when you should create a social media post, so you will no longer miss a beat within the fast and furious world of content marketing. While there is no free version of Hootsuite, you can choose from a host of bespoke pricing plans.
Making the Right Decision
Now that we have thoroughly examined some undoubtedly amazing content marketing platforms, it is finally prudent to address how you can make the best choice. Although pricing is obviously a concern, here are four additional questions to answer which have been highlighted by Digiperform:
- What are the short-and long-term goals of your venture?
- How fast and far is your business expected to grow in the coming years?
- Can the tools and utilities be quickly integrated into your current content management strategies?
- What types of customer support solutions are available if you happen to have a question?
2021 is set to reinvent the ways in which online businesses tackle content marketing and it only stands to reason that you should be equipped with the most advanced tools. Of course, this is when the professionals at Textbroker can prove to be invaluable assets. Regardless of your venture, our team is always here to help. Please feel free to bookmark this article for future reference and a representative is always standing by if you wish to reinvent the definition of online success.
About our author
Ron first arrived in Barcelona, Spain in 2007. Although initially pursuing a career in wealth management and finance, he learned that the content writing community provided the highest level of personal satisfaction while still being able to personally help clients. He has been a full-time professional writer since 2011. Some of his other interests include martial arts and bodybuilding.
No comments available