5 Content Trends to Know

Did you start your content marketing a few years ago and haven’t looked back since? You may want to start, as content trends change often! It’s not only technology that’s changing but the audience and what they need or want changes too.

If you aren’t changing with the times, your competitors will leave you in the dust. Check out the top 5 content trends everyone should know for 2020.

Video is the Key

Video content marketing started gaining momentum in 2019, especially among millennials. They no longer have an interest in long emails promoting your brands – they want video content because that’s what holds their attention.

What’s so special about video marketing? First, it keeps viewers engaged. But, it’s all in how you deliver it. Your video marketing could be just as drab as your emails if you don’t tell a story and engage the viewers. It’s not about pushing your products – it’s about providing value. Give them reasons to watch.

Live streaming is another key component of video posts. Live streaming is vulnerable and scary, but that’s what viewers want! They want to see the authentic you – what goes on behind the scenes whether it’s your kids screaming in the background or your business bustling behind you. 

Let your videos give insight to your business’s personality, not just the fact that you make products or sell services. Let your audience know what you do, how you do it, and why. Let them see your mission and your core values – it will bring in a lot more business when you let your guard down and get honest with your viewers.

Intimate Conversations are Necessary

How often do you engage with your audience? Not just on a surface level – addressing everyone at once, but on a one-to-one ratio? Social media is a great platform for this – it gives you a way into your customer’s mind better than any other method available today. 

Whether you personally address comments and questions on your social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) or you set up an email that you personally check and respond to each customer – it will increase your customer base. When you give your company a face behind the name, showing your audience that you care and that each and every person that uses your business matters, you’ll earn more loyalty and eventually more sales.

Having conversations on social media is one of the best ways because it shows others your willingness to chat. Responding personally and tagging each person in your response to their comments is free for others to see too. Obviously, if it’s a personal matter, you can go the extra mile and reach out individually via messenger or email, but if it’s something everyone can see – it will carry more strength.

Content with a Purpose Brings in a Larger Audience

The days of creating content just to ‘rank’ are over. Sure you can still do that but you won’t have the same results. The search engines rank not only on keywords today, but on the content’s quality too. Does it provide value? Is there a purpose or is it keyword stuffed? These are the factors search engines look at today.

So how do you create content with a purpose?

• Publish more than content pushing your products. Create content that provides value beyond what you sell or do, but that readers can use.

• Include data-rich research. Readers want to know stats – they want to see the cold, hard facts so they know how your products or services help these stats.

• Explore your audience’s pain points. Why are they your target audience? What problem do you solve for them? Think about how your content can help solve these points.

• Include plenty of images. Don’t just have words – images are the key too. Infographics are a great way to summarize what you wrote for those that don’t want to read but would love to see it visually created.

Podcasts Reach Audiences in a New Way

It’s no secret that everyone is busy today. Many are too busy to stop and read or watch a video, but they can listen while they move, whether walking, driving, or even running. That’s why podcasts are increasing in popularity. They’re yet another way to deliver value without pushing your products.

Use podcasts to deliver a variety of news including:

• Industry-specific news – Is something big happening in your industry? Be one of the first to share the news with your audience in a podcast. Show your expertise and concern for your audience.

• Interviews – Do you have contact with influential people in your industry? Use this opportunity to interview them ‘live’ on a podcast. You share helpful information with your audience, giving them even more value and helping them think of your company when you have a solution to their pain point.

• Entertainment – Don’t think podcasts can only be serious – use them to have some fun. Find a unique aspect that your target audience may enjoy and capitalize on it. It seems ‘off the cuff’ but it gets your audience talking and if you can entertain them, make them laugh, or give them a reason to put their worries behind for a few minutes, it shows your company’s values and naturally increases your audience-base.

Encourage User-Based Content

When’s the last time you asked your audience to contribute to your content? This is great on social media because you can ask for your audience’s help. Whether you create contests, or just have a little fun, encourage your audience to post pictures or videos of their choosing that pertain to your products. 

A few fun ways include:

• Show us your best pose wearing ‘XYZ Company’ clothing
• Show us the best way to use ‘XYZ Company’ products
• Tag a friend in this post that could use ‘XYZ product’ the most

See how you engage the audience getting them to create the content for you? Certain pictures or comments will get the conversation going, which helps you do a few things.

First, you can engage with your audience on a deeper level as you get to know them. Personally responding to the comments makes you more likeable. Second, you may discover other pain points, uses, or other information about your products or services that you didn’t realize and could use for future marketing efforts.

Changing with the times is crucial if you want to beat your competition. Look around you and see what others are doing. Are you on the same wavelength or are you two years behind? Search engines, your audience, and potential customers will blow right past your content if it doesn’t meet today’s content needs. Check out where you stand, make changes and roll with the times – they are ever changing, so have fun with it!