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Content Marketing Strategy Crucial for ROI New Research Shows

The 3rd annual Content Marketing in Australia: 2015 Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends report was released today showing Australian content marketing is becoming a full-blown discipline. What’s also apparent is we’re in a creative phase of experimentation, embracing strategy but floundering on execution.

Nearly 90% of respondents to the Content Marketing Institute’s survey said they’re using content marketing. More than 80% said they have a content marketing strategy, even though 46% said it isn’t documented. It’s incredibly encouraging to know we’re past the dip-a-toe-in-the-water approach with content marketing in Australia.

Australians getting creative with content marketing

Joe Pulizzi, the global face of content marketing and founder of the Content Marketing Institute, observes,

headshot of Joe PulizziThe initiatives they’re working on demonstrate that Australian marketers are focused on better understanding their audiences so that they can provide valuable content. 

“They’re also experimenting with how they use specific tactics to reach those audiences.

“In particular, we saw a decrease in blog usage this year and increases with infographics, in-person events, and microsites,” Pulizzi explains.

From a tactics standpoint, that surprises me. Blogging continues to be an inexpensive and effective way of profiling your internal subject matter experts, demonstrating your authority and organically building a subscriber list. But it does require commitment along with a dedication to consistency.  Most of us writing blog posts already have full-time jobs; and it can be a grind to keep a blog going. (I include myself in this description.)

bar chart showing content marketing tactics in Australia

The crucial importance of strategy

What didn’t surprise me is the positive impact of a documented strategy. Having one ensures consistency in your marketing. Following the strategy is the only way you can measure effectiveness. If you’re not going to measure, you can never be sure of whether your marketing is working or worth the investment.

Bar chart showing percentage of Australian business with content marketing strategy

There are two critical factors that differentiate effective content marketers over the rest of the pack – having a documented content marketing strategy and following it very closely. Those two things make all the difference,” says Pulizzi.

What you should be measuring

While we’re discussing metrics, it’s interesting to note how content marketers in Australia are measuring success. Website traffic topped the list, but I would argue that’s not the most effective measurement. I’m a firm believer all marketing should be based on some sort of conversion. Higher conversion rates and sales (the mother lode of all conversions) tied for second place. Even then, not even half the marketers surveyed listed either one.

bar chart showing Australian content marketing metrics for success

I’m encouraged by the results of this survey that also shows Australian marketers plan to increase their content marketing budget over the next year. We enjoy a nimble approach to marketing in Australia with two-thirds of the workforce employed in small businesses. We may not have mega-budgets for marketing but we often have greater autonomy than our North American and European counterparts. This breeds an environment of creativity, which is great for marketing and even better for the consumer.

If you want to know more about content marketing and how to achieve better results, make sure to attend Content Marketing World Sydney this year. It’s absolutely the best conference around and the amount of information shared is phenomenal. I promise you’ll come back with more ideas than you know what to do with and a clear understanding of how to improve your day-to-day activities.

Lastly, if you’re serious about creating a content marketing strategy for your organisation, get in touch. I’m happy to help you explore how you can improve the effectiveness of your content marketing efforts.