Is Content Marketing Really Worth It?

Exploring the True Worth of Content Marketing: Beyond Simplistic Narratives

In the dynamic landscape of marketing, one question consistently resurfaces: Is content marketing truly worth the investment? The process appears straightforward – crafting an article, engaging readers, and potentially sparking interest. However, does this translate into an army of devoted brand enthusiasts sporting your logo as tattoos or a flood of open wallets? The truth, as often is the case, is more intricate than it seems.

Challenging Conventional Wisdom: Unraveling the Value of Content

Content marketing, undoubtedly, holds promise, but perhaps its role in driving the expected hard return on investment (ROI) is overstated. This is especially pertinent when examining the popular concept of lead generation, a key pursuit of content marketing. Yet, a critical flaw lies within this concept – the misinterpretation of what constitutes a “lead.”

It’s important to recognize that a mere content download doesn’t equate to a lead. The act of someone completing a form and accessing a report doesn’t guarantee their immediate or future product purchase. This raises doubts about the effectiveness of email nurturing, which often falls short of its hyped potential. My experience suggests that exposure to email nurturing rarely culminates in prospects scheduling meetings.

While at GumGum, we celebrate the thousands of monthly downloads as indicators of content marketing success, we go beyond the surface. Our analysis delves into sales prospects, ROI, and the lifetime value of these interactions. Additionally, an alternative way emerges to gauge the significance of content marketing – its power to elevate a brand’s presence and reshape brand perceptions.

The Subtle Impact of Content: Elevating Brand Attitudes

Harnessing content marketing need not be labyrinthine, yet the discourse around content marketing’s ROI has veered into unrealistic terrain. An astounding 55 percent of marketers, as reported by Content Marketing Institute’s 2016 Benchmarks report, remain uncertain about the benchmarks of content marketing success. This perplexing statistic assumes greater gravity when considering the substantial marketing budgets at stake.

The question arises: what fuels this disconnect? The answer likely lies in impractical expectations. Many marketers stumble at the outset by failing to establish appropriate goals and strategies before commencing content creation. Consequently, when sales opportunities fall short of executive expectations, a frantic scramble to decipher the missteps ensues. Sadly, this realization surfaces when the damage is already done – a recipe for content failure.

Enduring Relevance of Your Content

Converting a prospect into a loyal customer demands patience and a deliberate cultivation of trust. It entails nurturing a relationship instead of prematurely soliciting personal information like email addresses, phone numbers, or job titles, which corporations often clamor for.

A recent GumGum survey involving 33 marketers found unanimous agreement – content wields the power to reshape brand perceptions. Moreover, when contemplating a purchase, over 75 percent of respondents engaged with at least five pieces of content, with 40 percent immersing themselves in 10 or more.

This isn’t to undermine the significance of leads, downloads, and revenue, but rather to shift the focus. These factors warrant consideration down the line. Transforming content into sales opportunities takes time, often spanning months or even years. Immediate impact emerges in the form of altered brand perception – an intangible phenomenon compared to the familiar metrics. While surveys enable marketers to gauge uplift, softer indicators such as feedback from sales can be equally enlightening.

Harnessing Quality Content for Lasting Impact

Regardless of the yardstick employed to measure its influence, quality content retains its primacy. Our survey illuminated a profound revelation: brands failing to produce meaningful content were labeled as “out of touch,” “slimy,” “dated,” and “lost.” In stark contrast, the creation of insightful content elevates your brand as a wellspring of knowledge. With a consistent supply of such content, your brand transitions into a trusted resource, earning respect in the process.

Repeated interactions with your content establish you as a reliable source, cementing your brand’s association with their needs. In the realm of complexity, the simplest approach often prevails – if your content resonates and satisfies their requirements, you become the logical choice.

Conclusion: The Multi-faceted Value of Content Marketing

Diving beyond surface-level impressions of content marketing’s worth reveals a complex interplay of factors. While immediate ROI might not be the defining measure, the power of content marketing lies in its ability to subtly shape brand perception and attitudes. Unattainable expectations and misaligned goals often mar content marketing‘s true potential, emphasizing the need for a strategic and patient approach. In the end, the influence of quality content endures, constructing a brand narrative that resonates and triumphs in the competitive arena.