30 Content Marketing Ideas to Drive New Customers

Effective content marketing is sometimes perceived as requiring lots of time, creativity and resources, but that doesn’t need to be the case. The following list of content marketing ideas are easy to implement and will have an ROI.

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30 content marketing ideas for business

# 1. Google keyword tool

Go to the Google keyword tool:

1. Investigate what and how your target market is searching for.
2. Also, simply input your website URL and Google will generate a list of keyword ideas for you.

# 2. Headlines

• The task of a headline is to turn internet browsers into readers.
• It’s the first (and possibly only impression) you make on a perspective customer.

Learning how to, and critically, spending the time on, crafting better headlines for your content is easy and the ROI can be enormous.

# 3. Formatting

Online readers discover and read content differently! CopyBlogger, Brian Clark says that “On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest”.

• You must learn how to format your copy so that it properly engages with the online reader.
• Read our ultimate guide on blogging for business to learn how.

# 4. Calls to action

Encourage readers on the journey to becoming customers - by strategically placing and using calls to action.

# 5. Share buttons

Install social share buttons on your blog to make it easy for your readers and customers to share your content with their networks.

# 6. FAQs

Can you think of an easier way to create a high value piece of content for new prospects?

1. Poll your customers.
2. Create a frequent asked questions section/resource.
3. And publish it!

# 7. SlideShare

After you have delivered a presentation:

• Upload it to SlideShare.
• It’s the world’s largest content-sharing community for professionals.

# 8. Facebook Q&As

Host a Q&A with customers on your Facebook page and later turn the conversation into a blog post.

# 9. Twitter chats

Host a chat on Twitter (don’t forget the hashtag) and later turn the conversation into a blog post.

# 10. Case studies

Approach your customers and ask them to allow you to publish some case studies of the work that you’ve carried out.

# 11. New staff

When you hire a new member of staff, make them feel at home and introduce them to customers by publishing an interview on your blog.

# 12. Reviews

It is so easy to create a review - simply pick a product or service that you use and write about your experience.

# 13. Guest posting

1. Find out and discover the popular blogs/ websites in your industry
2. And offer to write a really valuable piece of exclusive content for them.

# 14. Links round up

Content doesn’t always need to be created! Find out who publishes the best content in your sector and publish a weekly/monthly/yearly list of the very best.

# 15. Interviews

Interviews are such an easy way to create great content and build relationships. Text interviews work great, but video interviews are even better!

# 16. Crowd source

Ask your network to answer a question or series of questions around a particular topic and simply turn their answers into a blog post.

# 17. Lists

Want a great way to introduce yourself and your business to the key people in your industry? Create a list of the very best companies, or leaders, or publications, or bloggers (or whatever you like) from your industry.

# 18. Pinterest

Pinterest is a hugely popular visual social network that allows users to manage theme-based picture boards. It’s easy to use and it can be a wonderful source of additional traffic.

# 19. Content Calendar

If you’re serious about your content marketing efforts, you’re going to need to plan and create a content calendar.

# 20. Integrate with traditional marketing

Discover how you can leverage and use your online channels to drive your traditional marketing activities, and vice versa.

# 21. Newsletter

Opt in newsletter marketing is still an incredibly effective way to reach out to new customers, and better again, it also allows you to re-use your content from your blog etc.

# 22. eBooks

Why not create a series of blog posts and then turn them into an ebook for customers?

# 23. YouTube

YouTube is the 2^nd biggest search engine in the world after Google and video has the potential to reach a far bigger audience than other mediums.

# 24. Podcasts

Too shy for video? How about Podcasting instead?

# 25. Infographics

Infographics are a great way to create engaging visual representations of your data for customers.

# 26. Course/talk

Give a free course/talk and invite your prospects/customers to come along and then go create a video/blog to publish.

# 27. White papers/reports

Want to create longer lasting and really high value content to engage your target market? How about creating and publishing white papers/reports? Check out and download the Ahain Group reports (on understanding the digital economy) to get the idea.

# 28. Event/conference

Get some expert speakers and sponsors on-board and organise a new event or conference.

# 29. Awards

People love recognition! How about organizing new awards? See how my friend and mentor, Anita Campbell, uses awards to engage with small business influencers in the US.

# 30. Mobile apps

Build a mobile application to engage your target audience and help with your lead generation.

There you have it, my 30 content marketing ideas for you to try out and drive lot of new customers with. What content marketing ideas have you found to be successful in the past, and what new ones will you be trying out this year? Please share in the comments below.

Understanding the Digital Economy