9 Content Marketing Myths that Need to Go

Content marketing is the darling of the marketing world right now and for good reason. It includes anything from blogging to email marketing to social media and resonates well with customers.

In fact, 88% of B2B marketers are participating in content marketing and 76% of B2B marketers say they will produce more content this year. For B2C, the statistics are just as impressive. 76% of marketers use content marketing and social media is the most popular form of content marketing for B2C.

If you’re engaging in content marketing whether that’s through blogging, social media, email marketing or any others, then you’ve likely heard of several content marketing myths and tips. Many of these are valuable but there are plenty of myths out there too. We have compiled 9 content marketing myths that need to go.

Myth 1: Content Marketing is Too Expensive

It is true that quality content marketing does take money but so does every other form of marketing, including social media. Great marketing doesn’t depend on how much money you put into it but where you ultimately put that money. You want to make sure it ends up in the most valuable place and content marketing is that place. Quality content can have a long life especially if it will always be relevant.

Myth 2: Our Audience Won’t Be Interested in Content Marketing

This one is definitely a content marketing myth. In fact, 70% of people would rather learn about a business through articles than ads and it is highly likely that your customer base is among them. You can also provide your audience with valuable information through your content and who wouldn’t be interested in that?

Myth 3: Content Marketing Can’t Work for Our Industry

While this is still false, it does hold more weight than the other myths. Some industries can be tough to create content around but don’t let that discourage you. The trick is finding the type of content marketing that works best for your business. whether that’s social media, email marketing, or traditional blogging etc., there is something out there that will fit. If you are still skeptical, take a look at GE’s (manufacturing) and Maersk’s (shipping) content marketing and see what they have done.

Myth 4: You Can Plan “Viral” Content

Nope, sorry but this one is a myth. You can (and should) put a lot of strategy work into creating great content but there is no guarantee that it will go viral. However, content doesn’t always need to go viral to reach the right audience. Keep this in mind when you are working on your next great piece of content.

Myth 5: We Simply Can’t Create Enough Content

This content marketing myth can be sorta, kinda, possibly true based on your business situation. Some businesses do not have the resources in house to constantly create new content and 64% of marketers say that creating enough content is their biggest challenge. However, 90% of them continue to do so. If you are struggling to create enough content, reach out to others to do it for you. There are several agencies and freelancers that are available to help you develop enough content.

Myth 6: We Can’t Provo ROI

Again, this is false. Companies that blog have 5x more traffic than companies that don’t and companies that update their content marketing often have 97% more leads than those who don’t. You have to know what you are measuring for when you are calculating ROI. Set your goals and then build your content marketing strategy around those goals.

Myth 7: Content Marketing Won’t Last

While it is impossible to know exactly how long content marketing will last, it is incredibly popular right now. Google Trends shows that the very phrase “Content Marketing” continues to grow. In short, the practice of creating good, quality content is not going away and will likely become entrenched in any future marketing trends. Make sure to start creating content before it becomes too late.

Myth 8: Content Marketing: A Quick Way to Success

Whoa, slow down there. This content marketing myth is absolutely untrue. As with all good things, it can take time to see results. In fact, it can take up to 6 months (and sometimes longer) to start seeing results from your content marketing efforts. The idea behind content marketing is to create relationships with your customers rather than throwing a product at them once and telling them to buy it. Instead, content from months or even years ago can still have a considerable impact on generating traffic and leads.

Myth 9: More Content = Better Results

The truth behind this myth is that quality, targeted content gets better results, not just more content in general. The better your content resonates with your customers, the more likely they will return to your business. Make sure that the value to your readers is clear and easy to understand to get the best results possible.

Because creating content is so popular, these content marketing myths were bound to pop up. Make sure to stay away from them when you are creating your own content. (Click here for some of our content creation tips.)

What other content marketing myths have you heard?