Ever since I first heard of content marketing, I understood it conceptually. Content marketing is providing interesting and useful information to our audience without trying to sell them anything. But I didn’t comprehend what it meant in practice. I was unable to connect theory with reality.
I think my confusion resulted because I was reading about content marketing from a marketer’s perspective. They made it hard, perhaps because they didn’t really get it either. But now, thanks to Rachelle Gardner’s recent post Use Content Marketing to Grow Your Following I understand. All her posts are good, but this one was brilliant—simply because she explained content marketing in a practical way for writers.
My two key takeaways from her great post are:
- Content marketing is writing. As writers, we write, so content marketing should be easy for us.
- Blogging is a great format for content marketing.
I write; I blog; therefore, I am a content marketer. I would have never guessed that if not for Rachelle.
Now for the embarrassing part. I have a couple of freelance clients I write blog posts for. I thought I was providing a blogging service, but now I know I am providing a content marketing service.
Do you know what else? Not only do I enjoy writing content marketing material, but I’m good at it, too. Ironically, I do a better job at content marketing for my clients than I do for myself.
My next step is to take what they pay me to do and apply it to my own work. Thank you, Rachelle.
You love words, so now build a writing life that lasts. Successful Author FAQs answers the questions new and growing writers ask most, with clear advice on craft, publishing, and staying encouraged.
It’s time to start calling yourself a writer. Unleash your writing potential with Successful Author FAQs.
Peter Lyle DeHaan, PhD, is a full-time, career author. He’s published scores of books, hundreds of articles, and thousands of blog posts, with experience as a publisher, editor, and commercial freelance writer. A passionate wordsmith, his goal is to change the world one word at a time. Learn more at PeterLyleDeHaan.com.
Get your copy of Successful Author FAQs today!