The way marketers think about and talk about content is both changing and being misunderstood. From creating content for social media and webpages to creating engaging infographics and free newsletters, everyone is re-imagining the role of content marketing.

But do they have a plan? In the age of content marketing hype, it is helpful to look at some of the misconceptions some businesses are navigating as they try to take content marketing from an idea to something that works.

1. Social media and content markets are the same

As social media becomes more popular, there is also a growing distrust towards the types of content strategies that were previously associated with branded content, like articles, blogs, newsletters, and e-books. In reality, the two are not synonymous.

Social media marketing extends beyond static, one-way content, and is as varied as the people who use it. Social media content is best for driving traffic and sharing, while content marketing is best for generating leads and growing your brand, not for social. As you think about content marketing and social , it can be useful to think about your overall strategy and consider the different types of content that work best for your company, from infographics to infographics. Think about your core objective and work toward fostering that to help create the best content strategy that serves your business.

2. Content writing is based on premise

While content marketing and social media are both about more than publishing something, they are not without their differences. Content marketing uses information to share information and is an equally valuable tool for every brand.

As the above example, writing interesting, engaging content for social media is the same as writing blogs or infographics for your website. Content writing is about making something engage, interesting, and valuable. The same things are true with social media. Whether you publish tweets, Instagram photos, or blogs, writing for this medium requires your expertise.

3. Social media platforms are the only ways to reach a target audience

Since social media first appeared in the early 2000s, brands have not been shy about rolling out even the most limited or by now full-fledged social media marketing. In fact, in the early days of social media advertising in the U.S., 80% of brands using Facebook focused on just sending traffic to their website.

Since then, social media have become integral to the way people share information and interact online. Still, social media provides a relatively limited window into the world. Therefore, social media engagement does not always translate to marketing results. Unfortunately, a brand that falls into the trap of focusing solely on social media for marketing has already missed their key opportunity.

4. Content marketing needs to be created by someone with a specific skill set

Do not base your content marketing on the people you have on staff. Content marketing is a mix of traditional and social tactics.

As the aforementioned example above, infographics are a great example of social media content, as well as print, web, and web design. Content marketing used to consist of one specific skill set: the writer, but as with so many things in life, creating something new and better is the way forward. A content creator and marketer is like a symphony conductor. They are a musician and make the notes sound different, play for the right audience, and share content in a new way to engage, educate, and inspire a broad audience. A content creator and marketer should be integrated with a website designer and video producer, and have at least a little web design and video experience. And, it is equally important to have someone familiar with social media to guide them.

5. Content marketing exists in some sort of silo

Most marketers understand content marketing is a multi-channel and shared experience. That is why social media platforms are a valuable asset for content marketing and content marketing methods will only expand and evolve as the medium evolves. Social media can be a great way to share content with your target audience. But it can also be a great tool for generating leads and selling. As content marketing expands in adoption over the coming years, the role of social media will only increase.

Social media can easily double as a go-to source for all things content marketing. 2nd edition of Content Marketing Industry Bulletin is available now with comments to help you get started planning your content marketing program. Even with dedicated members of the creative team in place, however, content marketing is a collaborative effort between marketers, journalists, videographers, writers, and other creative professionals. Content marketing requires you to also have the people in place to create and distribute your content. Creating a niche by topic, your content needs to be extremely unique. And if it isn’t, then it will not reach the intended audience.

In some cases, a large content marketing budget can be necessary in order to meet the target audience’s unique content needs. But don’t overlook the benefits of a smaller budget that includes more individualized attention to each piece of content. If you create workable content with the right guidelines and tools, creating quality content can be a career plus for your business. 1st edition of Content Marketing Industry Bulletin is available now with comments to help you get started planning your content marketing program. People are constantly looking for information on websites and social media channels. But what if you could guide them by highlighting the best websites, the best social media channels, and the best content to share? Content creators have a strong need to be informed.

And by knowing what content marketing best practices entail, as well as your demographic, they can refine their content and personalize the content they share, ensuring the audience sees something unique that they wouldn’t have otherwise. Your company has a website, a blog, and a social media account. These assets are invaluable for producing content. These resources will only work if your company promotes them, shares them with your target audience, and delivers them through channels they can find. 2nd edition of Content Marketing Industry Bulletin is available now with comments to help you get started planning your content marketing program. The people who create, share, and consume content are constant change-takers and find new ways to reach their target audiences.

The nature of their work is so varied that some content creators are overwhelmed by the overload and find the motivation to simplify their processes and focus on their single greatest asset: themselves. Social media is a great tool for finding the right people to connect with on social media. More and more individuals are turning to social media platforms as a source of research on new and current events, products, and ideas. Social media offers a flexible platform for creators to work with. Because social media platforms are so deeply embedded in the fabric of our daily lives, especially during the holidays, you can assume your audience is ready to learn, stay, and entertain with content from you. How you can move the needle on your content marketing and produce more content.

If you are a content creator and marketer you have the mindset that content marketing encompasses all aspects of your business. The majority of content marketers and content creators include print, broadcast, online, mobile, and more. 5 Content Marketing Trends. A strong content marketing strategy means that as your business grows, and your content becomes even more specialized, then your social media presence, website, and other means of creative expression can do the heavy lifting of not only being a platform for your content marketing, but being a platform for connecting with a highly receptive audience. Keep in mind that content will always be a part of your business and will continue to evolve over time.

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