Our world is full of messages and short on attention, and there is no better demonstration of this than in the business world. Building brands and growing meaningful audiences is tough.
Most who are savvy enough know that content is the answer. When done properly, content plays a pivotal role in shaping your brand, improving discoverability, and ultimately driving business leads and conversions. Seems important enough, doesn’t it?
But–creating content that achieves these aims is easier said than done. Between conducting a deep dive into your ideal customer profile(s), understanding your customer journey, determining focus topics, identifying focus distribution channels, and then going through the process of creating content–including creating briefs and finding great freelance writers–the work of winning with content is not easy.
That’s where content strategy consulting comes into play. In this article, we’ll examine why content strategy consulting is not just a game-changer but a necessity, and how working with the right content strategy service can significantly amplify your online presence, attract customers, close deals, build credibility and your brand.
Understanding Content Strategy Consulting
So, what exactly is content strategy consulting? Working with a content strategy consultant is like having a seasoned coach in your corner, guiding you through the intricate world of content selection, creation and distribution. Content strategy consultants are the experts in developing a tailored content plan that aligns with your business goals. They’re the ones who help you figure out which topics to focus on, what to say, where to say it, and how to get the most bang for your buck.
Why Your Business Needs Content Strategy Consulting
As Steve Jobs once said, “(It’s a) very noisy world, so we have to be very clear about what we want (customers) to know about us”. Your competitors are just a click away, and customers are bombarded with content from every direction. Meanwhile, your marketing budget–and your time–is finite. You need to keep customer acquisition costs low and find marketing approaches with high ROI. Content marketing (particularly that which leads to the right organic search and social traffic) is an extremely cost-effective way to generate leads and retain valuable customers. The challenge? Content strategy done incorrectly (or not all) can lead to a waste of money and resources–and potentially generate no audience or audiences that have no real interest in your product or service.
This is where content strategy consulting becomes a game-changer. Content strategists know that the answer to discovery lies with your customer. They will look to develop customer personas and have an in-depth understanding of your ideal customer profiles. They will also look for ways to capture valuable leads through content, and then nurture those leads to eventually become customers. They will consider the importance of existing customers and the types of information and messaging that strengthen retention and Lifetime Value (LTV). Content strategy consultants understand the nexus between content, its distribution channels, the customer and the business in a way that allows them to ensure your content aligns perfectly with your business objectives and get the best return on your content investment.
The Benefits of Content Strategy Consulting
Words matter–and the online presence of your business is important, but beyond this, it’s important to understand that content marketing is a cost-effective, reach-building activity. It is not just about creating content for your existing audiences, but rather developing new audiences through content. It is an important part of your overall marketing strategy, and a content strategy consultant helps you allocate your resources effectively. Some of the benefits of working with a content strategy consultant include:
- Improved Content Quality and Relevance: Content consultants help you create content that’s not only high-quality but also relevant to your target audience (No more shooting in the dark).
- Enhanced Audience Engagement: They know the secrets to capturing your audience’s attention and keeping them coming back for more.
- Cost-effective Content Production: Content strategy consulting can actually save you money in the long run by streamlining your content creation process.
- Data-driven Decision-making: Consultants use data to fine-tune your strategy, ensuring it’s always on point.
- Scalability and Adaptability: They help you scale your content efforts as your business grows and adapts to ever-changing market trends.
The Consultation Process
Wondering how it all works? Processes may vary from consultant to consultant but at Bread and Circuses. We follow a four-step process that comes from decades of experience in digital publishing, SEO and lead generation.
1. Initial Assessment, Context Gathering and Goal Setting: In this phase, our team sits down with you to understand your business and what you want to achieve. We gather helpful context following the 3C’s model (Customers, Competitors and your Company) that helps inform the planning phase.
2. Content Audit and Analysis: Leveraging the information collected from you and research we conduct, we analyze your existing content to identify strengths and weaknesses. We look for topic gaps in relation to the competition or conceptual gaps not being addressed in the market at all–these are topic areas that are of importance to your customer that no competitor is currently addressing.
3. Strategy Development and Planning: Based on the audit, they create a tailored content strategy, which we call a Content Blueprint. This outlines the “broad strokes” plan for achieving your objectives and covers things like target topic areas and key distribution channels. This is followed by a Content Plan, which is effectively a content calendar that lists what content will be produced and when–with the specific intention for each piece of content and how it plays into the broader content strategy.
4. Implementation and Ongoing Optimization: We help upload and optimize your content, making sure all relevant topic areas are interlinked. We monitor the performance of content over time and update it as necessary. We also provide reporting to make sure relevant team members are kept up to date on progress.
Finding the Right Content Strategy Consultant
Not all content strategy consultants are created equal. Here are some key things to look for:
- Experience and expertise: the consultant you choose should have substantial experience with content marketing, with a well-rounded understanding of content formats relevant to your business, SEO and social media distribution. It helps if they are a well-rounded marketer with a comprehensive understanding of inbound marketing.
- Proven track record: ideally, your consultant should have experience within your industry or ones similar, with some examples of clients they have worked with, testimonials or referrals.
- Alignment with your budget: You will need different things depending on your company’s growth stage. Make sure the consultancy you engage has pricing plans that align with your needs.
Elevate Your Content Strategy with Consulting Expertise
Content strategy consulting is the secret sauce to turbocharge your online presence. Whether you’re a small business looking to establish a foothold or a corporate giant wanting to revamp your content game, finding the right consulting or content agency can be the key to your digital success.
Bread and Circuses is a content strategy consultancy and agency dedicated to helping clients achieve results with content. We help B2B companies stand out in a tough competitive landscape by developing effective content strategies and content plans and through high-quality content production. If you are looking for help with your business, book a call with our team today to discuss how we can help.
Content Strategy Consulting-FAQ’s
What is content strategy consulting, and why is it important?
Content strategy consulting involves analyzing, planning, and implementing strategies to create and distribute content effectively across various platforms. It helps businesses align their content with their goals, target audience, and marketing efforts to maximize results. This is crucial in today’s digital landscape where quality content can significantly impact search engine rankings, audience engagement, and overall brand visibility.
How does content strategy consulting improve search engine visibility?
Content strategy consulting focuses on optimizing content for search engines (SEO) by researching relevant keywords, creating high-quality blog posts, and developing comprehensive content plans. By implementing SEO best practices, such as optimizing meta tags, improving site structure, and creating valuable content, businesses can increase their chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and attracting organic traffic.
What role do blog posts play in an effective content strategy?
Blog posts can be an essential component of content strategy as they provide opportunities to engage with audiences, demonstrate expertise, and improve search engine rankings. Content strategists help businesses develop blog post ideas, create engaging content, and optimize posts for SEO to attract organic traffic and enhance brand authority.
How do content strategy consultants help to generate organic traffic?
Content strategy consultants help businesses generate organic traffic by creating high-quality content that appeals to their target audience and aligns with their interests and needs. By focusing on SEO, keyword research, and content optimization, businesses can improve their search engine rankings, increase visibility, and attract relevant organic traffic to their website or blog.
How does content strategy consulting integrate with other marketing channels?
Content strategy consulting integrates with other marketing channels by aligning content creation, distribution, and promotion efforts across various platforms, such as social media, email marketing, and paid advertising. By coordinating content strategies across multiple channels, businesses can amplify their marketing efforts, reach broader audiences, and maximize ROI.
What is the role of a content manager in content strategy consulting?
A content manager plays a crucial role in content strategy consulting by overseeing the planning, creation, and distribution of content to ensure alignment with business goals and objectives. They collaborate with content creators, designers, and marketers to develop and execute content strategies that drive results, engage audiences, and support overall marketing efforts.
