5 Content Marketing Tactics Every B2B Marketer Should Employ in 2021

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Ryan Robinson of ryrob.com

It’s already well-established by now that content marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools to build brands.

B2B content doesn’t have to be dry, serious, and too technical.

There has been a radical shift in storytelling techniques in recent years and how content is consumed and distributed in B2B marketing.

However, what’s constant is that quality content is (and will always be) the key to success. 

From starting a blog and being active on social media to video marketing, producing podcasts, infographic creation, email marketing, and hosting webinars—content marketing enables you to spread awareness, generate leads, build loyalty and strengthen your relationship with your customers, giving brands every reason to embrace it.  

As we get ready to step into 2021, let me take you through five content marketing tactics every savvy B2B marketer should employ. 

Long-form content refers to any blog post that has a word count of more than 1,000 words.

The optimal length for a blog post is in the 2,250 – 2,500 words range as per HubSpot. 

Now, what makes long-form content the most effective type of blog content?

When you write long-form content, you cover a more comprehensive range of topics in depth, getting the opportunity to reach more people.

It also builds credibility and positions your brand as a subject matter expert. 

Long-form content is also a good boost for your SEO because you get to strategically place more keywords and insert more quality backlinks linking to your blog and other credible websites.

Moreover, if a piece of long-form content is considered valuable, it also increases visitors’ time spent on the site and encourages more social shares. 

The infographic below is a good example of a visual paired with a long-form written content. The good news is you don’t have to make visuals from scratch. You can either use infographic templates or hire experienced infographic designers.

It’s the age of video and a great way to increase engagement on your blog is to pair YouTube videos with long-form written content. 

You might write a lengthy blog post, but what’s the guarantee that people will sit through the entire article?

This is where tutorial-style videos can help bring your blog content to life and make it more appealing. 

Here’s an example of a tutorial video I embedded in one of my blog posts on starting a blog. 

Today, content is being consumed in various formats and across multiple devices. As a B2B marketer, you need to appeal to a broader audience by offering different types of content.

One such format that is considered to be a massive value-add to your content strategy is podcasts.

Their easy-to-consume, immersive, and engaging format has contributed to their popularity, which is only believed to grow further.

Personally, I find podcasting to be extremely fun and fulfilling. Through my podcast, The Side Hustle Project, I interview some of the world’s top entrepreneurs, which mirrors what my blog is predominantly about.

Hasn’t it been around for the longest time?

Yes, it has, but it’s time to be clever about it and adopt a strategic approach once you’ve got your fair share of experience in guest blogging.

Once the article gets published (with their link), you can reach out to them and encourage them to share it on their social media platforms.

Depending on their responsiveness, you can also consider pitching a guest post to their blog. 

Finally, if you’ve managed to write for leading blogs and publications, you must make it a point to show it off in a prominent location such as your email signature or homepage, as it strengthens your reputation and credibility.

If you want to deliver thought leadership content or conduct a live Q&A, ditch that blog post, and host a webinar instead. 

A particularly good idea for B2B brands, webinars are a surefire way to stand out from your competitors, engage with potential clients, generate high-quality leads, drive value and position your brand as an industry expert in an interactive manner. 

When you plan to host a webinar, make sure you make ample noise about it by posting about it on social media, placing sign-up forms on your website, and sending emails to your database to maximize attendance. 

The idea is to deliver value and address the attendees’ challenges, giving them a reason to consider your brand when the time comes. 

Content marketing is constantly evolving, and as marketers, it’s important to stay updated, experiment, track performance, and measure success. 

Regardless of the medium or format, always create relevant and high-quality content that resonates with your audience and compels them to take the desired action. 

These are certainly exciting times for content marketers, so as 2021 approaches—let’s get ready to embrace these crucial tactics for greater B2B marketing success. 

Ryan Robinson is a blogger, podcaster and side project aficionado that teaches 500,000 monthly readers how to start a blog and grow a profitable side business at ryrob.com