Content marketing has become the center of the universe in SEO and digital marketing services. It deserves that status for the simple fact that content is the entire basis of the internet. Without content, there is no internet worth visiting. We know this, which is why digital marketing firms place so much emphasis on content marketing.
Unfortunately, its prominence in the digital marketing world has led content marketing to be terribly misunderstood. Myths abound, with some of them being highly destructive to a company’s digital marketing strategy. They are to be avoided at all costs.
Content marketing is an especially important piece of the puzzle at Salt Lake City’s Webtek Digital Marketing. According to Webtek, here are the top five content marketing myths you should stop believing:
1. Content Has to Be Text-Based
The first myth is that content has to be text-based to be discoverable. Not true. Sure, Google and its competitors write algorithms that focus heavily on text, but their algorithms are sophisticated enough to account for images, videos, and even comments on a web page.
Text-based content still rules the roast. There is no disputing that. But images, videos, and infographics can all be made discoverable. Sometimes, these alternative forms of content are more powerful than the written word.
2. Long Form Content Is Best
The next myth states that long form (written) content is best. One SEO expert after another insists that a 2,000-word post will perform better than a 500-word post simply because of length. Not true. Google has never said that it gives ranking preference based on word count. They have never proposed an ideal word count for written content.
Google is interested in value. If a piece of content adds value to the user’s experience, it gets a good reception. The opposite is also true. So writing a 2,000-word piece that prattles on but offers no value is a waste of time.
3. Anyone Can Produce It
Myth number three is that anyone can produce good content. If only that were true. Ask yourself this: can you produce a pro-level video with your smartphone and thirty minutes of your time? No. Your videos will never be as good as the pros because you are not a professional. That is nothing to be ashamed of.
Anyone can write a blog post. But that does not mean the end product will be a quality product. It doesn’t mean the post will stay true to the basic principles of SEO. If you want quality content, it needs to be produced by someone who knows what they are doing.
4. Link Building Is the Goal
A lot of people mistakenly believe that the primary goal of content marketing is link building. It’s not. Link building is a separate SEO strategy that may or may not overlap with content marketing. But the two disciplines are entirely different. Content marketing is designed to inform and build brand loyalty. Link building is designed to increase traffic. Two different things.
5. Content Doesn’t Need Distribution
Finally, the last myth says that if you produce it, people will consume it. That is only true if they can find it. Content absolutely needs distribution. That’s why digital marketers are constantly encouraging clients to share content at every opportunity.
Content marketing is not rocket science. But it is also not as simple as posting a blog on your site. If you want content marketing to work, it’s best to avoid the myths and deal only in the facts. Better yet, hiring a professional to do it for you should yield the best possible results.
