If you’re struggling with your content strategy and feeling unsure about what to do next, a content marketing consultant provides the insight, expertise, guidance, and strategies that could help you turn things around.
Content marketing helps businesses to build a strong online presence, attract and retain customers, and drive conversions. However, creating effective content can be a daunting task!
It can be difficult to know where to begin or how to improve. This is where a content marketing consultant or coach can provide significant benefits.
Maybe you don’t know what to write about or even if content marketing is right for your business. Or, perhaps you haven’t seen the return on investment (ROI) that you had hoped for from your content.
Instead of wasting time and money trying to figure it out alone, why not seek the advice of an experienced professional?
After all, there are many benefits to hiring a content marketing consultant! So, let’s talk about some of them below.
But first…
What is a Content Marketing Consultant?
A content marketing consultant is an experienced professional who provides guidance, support, and training to businesses and individuals to help them develop and execute effective content marketing strategies or campaigns.
Every content marketing consultant has their own approach, areas of expertise, and strengths. For instance, some may focus on certain content types, such as blogging or email. Others may focus on certain aspects of content marketing, like strategy or content creation.
In general, a content marketing consultant helps B2C businesses or B2B businesses identify their target audience, determine the best content topics to focus on, and formulate a content plan based on a strategic analysis. Since content marketing for small businesses is a lot of work, you can save a lot of time and headache by getting help from an expert.
What is the Difference Between a Content Marketing Consultant and a Content Marketing Coach?
A content marketing consultant may guide businesses or individuals on strategy, or a specific task or project but not implement it. Once the consultant is done with the project they were hired for, they move on.
On the other hand, a content marketing coach may do similar things but include teaching as a part of their services. For example, a coach may spend time on helping you to understand concepts, identify more about your business, set goals, and carry out strategies and tasks. This interaction could be longer term, depending on what you need help with.
In other words, a content marketing consultant can solve your content problems whereas a coach may help you develop the abilities to solve the problems yourself. However, this is a distinction that may differ based on each professional’s services and style.
As for me, I serve in both capacities! Although I consider myself a content marketing consultant, I have clients who hire me for strategy work only and others who hire me to implement the strategy and create content as well. Sometimes, this is ongoing work.
So, I use the terms interchangeably.
Now let’s talk about some of the benefits you get when you work with a content marketing consultant (or coach!).
1) Gain New Insight to Improve Your ROI
How are your current blogging and content marketing supporting your business goals?
Is your content improving your search engine ranking or generating qualified leads?
A consultant offers valuable insights regarding your content marketing results, goals, and current strategies (or lack thereof!). They review the data to determine what’s working and what needs improvement. Also, they assess your business blog, blog topics, and your website’s performance.
The insight that I provide as a part of my strategy service is often one of the most eye-opening, appreciated, and valued benefits of my content marketing consulting. My content audit and related assessments often surprise clients since they mostly don’t analyze their own efforts.
Additionally, a consultant provides direction as to what content you need and methods to reach your desired outcomes faster.
Ultimately, with the help of a knowledgeable consultant, you can refine your approach to your content based on solid research, data, and analysis. This process makes it easier to achieve your goals, such as better lead generation or higher search ranking.
2) Attract More Qualified Leads Through an Effective Content Strategy
Is your current content strategy working to attract qualified leads? What changes are needed to improve your results?
Another benefit of working with a content marketing consultant is that they can help you develop a strong content strategy that improves lead generation and supports your business blogging goals.
It’s not always obvious what content will interest your target market AND help generate more leads. You need strategic content that moves prospects through the customer journey. And, this content must align with your products and services. Plus, it should be optimized for search as well if you want more visibility.
If you’re not on the right path headed in the most optimal direction, then you will waste time. An effective strategy connects the dots between content, business goals, and customers’ needs with the ultimate goal of generating more leads and sales.
Your content guides people to the solutions they need as well as to the products and services you offer. And, it’s not by chance; it’s strategy that makes the difference!
A content marketing consultant assesses your current state and desired goals to plan an effective strategy to move forward.
You’ll avoid wasting time and resources on ineffective strategies. Instead, you’ll receive the guidance you need to focus on creating content that engages and converts your target audience.
3) Manage Your Time Better and Be More Productive
Are you struggling to keep up with the demands of content marketing?
Planning, research, writing, editing, optimizing for search…there are many steps involved. Plus, the effort is ongoing and never-ending!
One of the biggest benefits of hiring a content marketing consultant is that they can help you plan your content. You can manage your workload better by following a content calendar. And, the calendar makes developing and implementing a more efficient workflow possible.
Overall, you’ll find it much easier to outsource some or all of the tasks when you have a plan laid out.
Your consultant may look at your current process to see where inefficiencies lie, then work with you to identify improvement opportunities and find new, successful methods. This can provide the structure you need to take on more projects faster and maximize ROI from each piece of content.
Instead of sitting down at your desk and wasting time wondering what content to create, you can get right to work instead. No endless web searches and self-doubt to stand in your way of knocking out that content marketing to-do list! And, that’s a huge win for your time management and productivity.
Never underestimate the importance of content planning. You’ll suffer less wasted time and stress by investing in a strategy and planning ahead.
Also, unless you’re an experienced marketer yourself, you could end up investing in unnecessary tasks and tools that consume your time and money. A content marketing consultant will identify your actual needs and recommend improvements that could save you money, time, and hassle. They’ll also steer you away from common mistakes that can further waste your energy.
4) Avoid Delay and Take Action Pronto Since You Know the Next Step
Have you been putting off some of your marketing because you’re not sure what to do next? As Bushra Azhar always says, money loves speed. If you’re waiting around to take action, then you’re at risk of losing time and money.
If you’re not a marketer, you may lack the clarity and confidence to move forward with content marketing. The outcome is delayed action since you don’t want to guess what your next step should be.
A good content marketing consultant listens to you. It’s important to understand your current situation and your desired future state. Since the path forward may not be obvious or clear to you, they will identify the next steps and create a road map for you to follow.
Believe it or not, that custom road map is like having your own content GPS! You’ll have peace of mind and relief since you have a strategic plan to follow.
Next steps may include things like:
- Content creation or updates
- SEO fixes
- Improved messaging
- Better content distribution
- Modify strategy or tactic
- Re-allocate resources
Whatever action items you need to take, you’ll have the options before you so that you can create your to-do list and get to work.
5) Improve SEO and Visibility
These days, content marketing goes hand-in-hand with search engine optimization (SEO). If you’re going to blog, vlog, or podcast, you may as well optimize the content so that more people find you when they search online.
SEO drives traffic to your website and improves your online visibility. In turn, higher ranking in search increases your lead generation and attracts more qualified prospects. After all, people who are searching online are frequently looking for solutions and answers, and you should be there to help!
Unfortunately, small business owners and entrepreneurs who aren’t experts in SEO miss out on opportunities.
A content marketing consultant or coach can help you develop SEO content strategy that includes targeted keywords, meta descriptions, and optimized content. They can assess your current performance in search engines and guide you to the actions you need to take to improve your ranking.
By improving your website traffic and search engine rankings, it will be easier for potential customers to find you online.
6) Learn How to Build Your Authority
Another benefit of working with a content marketing consultant is that they can fill in the content gaps and show you how to become an authority in your industry.
For some, content marketing and creation isn’t just about SEO and the customer journey. Sure, those are important aspects that most businesses prioritize. However, in the crowded online marketplace, one thing that is certain to help you stand out and that is authority.
Content focused thought leadership and communicating your original insight or beliefs will show your target audience why you’re different. This is especially true as AI tools get more popular and produce a lot of uninspired, common-looking content.
Y.O.U. (your original uniqueness) will differentiate your brand.
So, what’s a consultant’s role in all of this? They will be able to look at your brand from the outside and identify opportunities for unique content. Sometimes you’re too close to your own business to see gaps in your content and the areas of expertise that should be explored.
Tools can help, but don’t undervalue the creativity and experience of a consultant who looks at your brand, website, and content from an entirely different perspective than you do.
Influence and authority sell. So, it’s critical to highlight your expertise and position yourself as a legitimate, trustworthy leader in your industry. In the eyes of newcomers, prospects, and existing customers, this content can make all of the difference between a sale and a click away from your site.
7) Stay Up to Date with Trends and Best Practices
The digital landscape is constantly evolving. Staying ahead of the curve with the latest trends and best practices is essential to maintaining a competitive edge. And that’s another benefit of content marketing consultants and coaches.
They stay up to date with the latest trends in marketing and SEO, which means you’ll stay up to date too. They’ll provide guidance and insight based on what’s working right now rather than relying on methods that are no longer effective.
Don’t feel like reading blogs, watching videos, and listening to podcasts to stay on top of all of the content marketing things? I don’t blame you!
While I love content, I know very few business owners and entrepreneurs (outside of professional marketers) that live, eat, and breathe content marketing. Luckily, consultants and coaches take that burden off of you. Phew!
Consultants have in-depth knowledge of both established and emerging tactics, enabling them to better understand content marketing best practices. By keeping up with trends in their field, they can provide valuable insights into where the industry is headed. As a result, you can make smarter decisions for your business.
When it Comes to the Benefits of Working With a Content Marketing Consultant, Here’s What You Need to Know
Can you approach content marketing yourself? Of course! But if you want to fast track your results and save yourself time, then it’s worth investing in content marketing consulting.
Probably the most significant benefit to hiring a content marketing consultant is that their experience, expertise, and perspective not only saves you time and money but also transforms mediocre marketing into a valuable asset for your business.
If you’re looking for business growth and a content marketing expert to help you, I’m here!
I work closely with clients to develop customized content strategies based on where they are now and where they want to be with their business blog. This can include feedback on more than just content and SEO!
Often I work with clients to improve their messaging, identify goals, and define a target market since all three of these things are essential pre-steps before creating a content strategy.
Please contact me if you’re interested in setting up a free consultation call.