When you’re starting a small business, the most important resources you have are your time and budget. However, content marketing is not foolproof. There are many common mistakes that small businesses make and they can be disastrous. These five content marketing mistakes will almost guarantee failure. It’s vital that you know how to avoid them. The first mistake involves trusting your gut when choosing a topic. Instead, use data analysis to make the best choice.
The second mistake is to not listen to your customers. Creating content without knowing what they need is an easy way to fail. Many salespeople will use price as a purchase barrier, but the real barriers are much more complex. Ineffective content marketing means that your business isn’t providing value to your audience. And a poorly written or optimized website is a recipe for disaster. Investing time and resources in user-generated content is one of the best ways to improve your content marketing results.
Another common mistake is not offering on-ramps. A content marketing strategy should drive traffic to a site or landing page by providing an easy way for readers to get more information. Don’t try to sell a product or service; rather, provide helpful information and a brief call to action. Don’t be afraid to tell readers how to buy. If they don’t buy, they’ll move on to the next website.
Another content marketing mistake is trying to sell a product or service. While content marketing can generate dollars, you should never try to sell your content. Forcing ads on your target audience will only annoy them and alienate them. You should embed yourself into your audience’s community instead of trying to sell them something. For example, SEO Lead John Frigo at MySupplementStore believes that “content marketing should provide value.”
Most small businesses make these content marketing mistakes. They don’t know what their target audience wants. As a result, they often don’t know what their customers need. In many cases, their company doesn’t understand their customers’ needs. For example, it may be difficult to sell a product if you don’t know the customer’s pain points. This is an example of a content marketing mistake.
The first mistake is to not create a plan. Even if your business doesn’t have a marketing budget, you can’t expect to make money if you don’t have a plan. For instance, small businesses often have a high failure rate and don’t have the budget to advertise effectively. By contrast, big companies have a marketing strategy that is based on their target audience and a clear plan that includes a timeline.