When it's time for that conversation to get buy-in on your content marketing ideas and initiatives, how do you proceed? Do you have all of the resources you need? The research and support to justify your programs? We're here to help. Download our "Mastering the Buy-In Conversation on Content Marketing: The Essential Starter Kit" now to help you. We've done the legwork so you can focus on your content marketing. Good luck, and let us know how else we can help.
2. Over the past several years, marketers have made tremendous strides with content marketing
and as a result are better at communicating with their audiences.
CONSIDER THIS:
• 86% of B2B marketers report that their organizations are now using content marketing,
and 70% of them are creating more content than they did one year ago.
• More than two-thirds of the marketing leaders we interviewed as part of Content Marketing
Institute’s Executive Forum research are seeing their entire marketing departments
restructuring to address content marketing needs.
But despite high adoption rates and a commitment to the discipline, not all marketers think their content efforts are as
effective as they could be. While many aspects of content marketing can present challenges, there is one barrier that is
certain to impede progress: lack of executive support. If executive management does not believe in content marketing on
the whole, it will be incredibly difficult to get the right groups involved, get specific tactics approved, or get the permission
to experiment, learn from mistakes, and make essential adjustments that can lead to greater success.
To help you get the support you need, we’ve compiled a starter kit of essential talking points and support statistics you
can use as the basis of your buy-in conversation. Of course, like all statistics, the data points we’ve shared here simply
reflect information at one given point in time. But a library of stats that point to similar trends can help build a pretty
convincing case, so feel free to mix and match the points that are most relevant to your company’s situation.
As you embark on your mission to evangelize content marketing to the C-suite, we hope you will find this book to be an
invaluable resource for building and enhancing your content marketing program.
Yours in content,
Joe
INTRODUCTION
Joe Pulizzi
Founder
Content Marketing Institute
3. To get your executive team’s support you need to help
them understand what content marketing is —
as well as what it isn’t.
For instance, Content Marketing Institute (CMI) uses the
definition at right, which reflects how the discipline
has evolved over time — from the mere “creation and
distribution” of content to a formal business discipline.
While this definition sets the basic parameters, it
does not account for the myriad considerations and
decisions that enable an organization to reach its
business goals through successful content marketing.
CONTENT MARKETING, DEFINED
Content marketing is a
strategic marketing approach
focused on creating and
distributing valuable,
relevant, and consistent
content to attract and retain
a clearly-defined audience —
and, ultimately, to drive
profitable customer action.
SOME KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CONTENT MARKETING ARE:
Audience
identification
targeting
Attainable
goals
Editorial
processes
procedures
Metrics,
analysis
reporting
Branding
4. CONTENT MARKETING, DEFINED
CONTENT MARKETING SUCCESS FACTORS
Getting buy-in is critical, but it’s just one of a number of factors that have been
found to give a content program its best chances for success:
CONTENT MARKETING SUCCESS FACTORS
○ Having executive buy-in/vision
○ Taking a longer-term view
○ Employing a collaborative and integrated approach
○ Assembling a dedicated content marketing team/leadership
○ Having the ability to demonstrate content marketing
○ ROI/value
○ Fostering a culture of change and openness
○ Having the ability to tap into
subject matter expertise
5. With content’s high adoption rates, great potential to provide measurable
business benefits, and enterprise-wide appeal, a strategic content marketing
program is virtually essential to staying competitive in today’s marketplace.
WHY BUSINESSES
NEED CONTENT
MARKETING
6. 70% of B2B marketers are
creating more content than
they did one year ago.
(Content Marketing
Institute, 2015)
CMOs at the largest
technology companies
report that building
out content marketing
as an organizational
competency is a critical
initiative — second only
to measuring ROI.
(IDC, 2014)
Businesses that are not prepared to
deliver quality content will likely be
operating at a competitive disadvantage.
WHY BUSINESSES NEED CONTENT MARKETING
PIECES OF CONTENT
27 MILLION
ARE SHARED EVERY DAY
(AOL/Nielsen, 2013)
7. In 2015, 48% of B2B marketers
have a content marketing strategy,
and 35% of B2B marketers have
documented their strategy.
(Content Marketing Institute, 2015)
Four out of five marketing leaders
have integrated content into their
advertising programs, typically as
part of their brand messaging.
(Content Marketing Institute
Executive Forum Research, 2014)
Brands are learning how content can
strategically be used to unite and support
the efforts of sales, marketing, and other
departments.
WHY BUSINESSES NEED CONTENT MARKETING
48% OF MARKETERS SUPPORT
3 TO 5 BUYING STAGES WITH
DEDICATED CONTENT, AND
52% OF MARKETERS SUPPORT
2 TO 4 ROLES AND BUYER PERSONAS
WITH DEDICATED CONTENT.
(LinkedIn Technology
Marketing Community, 2014)
8. Consumers today expect content that is useful, is customized to their needs and
interests, and adds value to their online experience. If your business doesn’t provide it,
they’ll seek out your competitors that do. Given this insatiable appetite, producing
the right information — and delivering it at the right time — is a critical step in
ensuring that your brand makes it to consumers’ consideration sets and helps them
take action.
HOW CONTENT MARKETING
ADDRESSES CONSUMER
GOALS
9. Content is integral to supporting loyal,
trusting relationships between brands
and consumers.
HOW CONTENT MARKETING ADDRESSES CONSUMER GOALS
ABOUT A COMPANY AFTER READING
CUSTOM CONTENT, AND 90% FIND
FEEL MORE POSITIVE
CUSTOM CONTENT USEFUL
82% OF CONSUMERS
(Demand Metric, 2014)
60% of people are inspired
to seek out a product after
reading content about it.
(Demand Metric, 2014)
10. HOW CONTENT MARKETING ADDRESSES CONSUMER GOALS
MILLENNIALS ACTUALLY EXPECT BRANDS TO DEVELOP
CONTENT FOR THEM, WITH 80% WANTING TO BE
DIRECTLY ENTERTAINED THROUGH CONTENT MARKETING
(Edelman, 2012)
Content is becoming increasingly
essential for targeting younger
demographics.
Interesting content is one of the main reasons
people follow brands on social media.
(Demand Metric, 2014)
61% of consumers say they feel better about,
and are more likely to buy from, a company
that delivers custom content.
(The Content Council, 2011)
11. Companies that implement a strategic content marketing program can have more
effective lead generation, SEO efforts, and internal teams and processes. And, as
the discipline continues to evolve, enterprising businesses have an opportunity
to experiment, distinguish themselves, and help set the best practices that other
businesses will follow for years to come.
HOW CONTENT MARKETING
IMPACTS ORGANIZATIONAL
GOALS
12. Over 50% of marketers that
curate content indicate
that it has increased their
brand visibility, thought
leadership, SEO, web traffic,
and buyer engagement,
and 41% indicate that it
has increased the number
and/or quality of their
sales-ready leads.
(Curata, 2014)
CONTENT MARKETING ADOPTERS
THAN NON-ADOPTERS (2.9% VS. 0.5%)
IS NEARLY 6X HIGHER FOR
WEBSITE CONVERSION RATE
(Aberdeen Group, 2014)
Content marketing techniques are
helping businesses achieve
measurable marketing results.
HOW CONTENT MARKETING IMPACTS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
13. Some major brands are even
starting to prioritize content
marketing over their paid
advertising initiatives.
HOW CONTENT MARKETING IMPACTS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS
KRAFT ESTIMATES THAT IT GENERATES THE EQUIVALENT
OF 1.1 BILLION AD IMPRESSIONS A YEAR AND FOUR TIMES
AS MUCH ROI THROUGH CONTENT MARKETING
THAN THROUGH EVEN TARGETED ADVERTISING
(AdAge, 2014)
14. Content marketing can be implemented at nearly any budget point.
However, allocating sufficient resources and developing a documented strategy
are paramount to achieving optimal success.
HOW MUCH SHOULD
YOU BUDGET FOR CONTENT
MARKETING?
15. The B2B marketers who rate
themselves to be most effective
at content marketing allocate an
average of 37% of their budget to
content, while those who feel they
are least effective only allocate 16%.
(Content Marketing Institute, 2015)
Spends are rising as content
marketing continues to approach
its tipping point.
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BUDGET FOR CONTENT MARKETING?
THE AVERAGE B2B ORGANIZATION SPENDS
28% OF ITS MARKETING BUDGET
ON CONTENT, AND THE AVERAGE
B2C ORGANIZATION SPENDS 25%
(Content Marketing Institute, 2015)
16. There seems to be a correlation
between content marketing
effectiveness and the amount of
budget allocated to the discipline.
HOW ARE COMPANIES ALLOCATING THEIR
CONTENT MARKETING BUDGETS?
There are three “buckets” into which spending generally falls:
1CONTENT CREATION: People, processes, and technology to
create and produce the content and materials
2CONTENT DISTRIBUTION AND MANAGEMENT: Social channels,
software, and agency costs around distributing content
3CONTENT PROMOTION: PR, ads, and other paid channels used
to promote the content being created
On average, organizations allocate 50% of budgets to creation,
25% to management and distribution, and 25% to promotion.
(Content Marketing Institute Executive Forum Research, 2014)
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU BUDGET FOR CONTENT MARKETING?
17. Content marketing can help your organization be more proactive in how it
addresses both consumer and business needs, and be more responsive to
behavioral shifts and emerging trends. With encouraging signs of growth across
the industry and bullish attitudes from marketing leaders, there’s never been a
better time to enable your owned media channels to start working harder for your
business with a strategic content marketing program.
FUTURE
EXPECTATIONS
18. 78% OF CMOs SEE
CONTENT AS THE
FUTURE OF MARKETING
(Demand Metric, 2014)
The future of
content marketing
looks bright, and
encouraging signs of
continued industry
growth abound.
56% of leading business bloggers are planning
to hire additional resources within the next year.
(Curata, 2014)
93% of companies surveyed plan to maintain or
increase their investment in content creation in
the upcoming year
(Economist, 2014)
FUTURE EXPECTATIONS
19. Increasingly, brands
are demonstrating a
commitment to enhancing
the quality and value of
the content they provide
to consumers.
84% of B2B marketers and 85% of B2C
marketers are actively looking to gain a better
understanding of their audience, or plan to
do so in the coming year.
(Content Marketing Institute, 2015)
FUTURE EXPECTATIONS
88% OF B2B MARKETERS AND 89% OF
B2C MARKETERS ARE EITHER CURRENTLY
FOCUSING ON CREATING MORE ENGAGING/
HIGHER-QUALITY CONTENT, OR PLAN TO
DO SO IN THE COMING YEAR.
(Content Marketing Institute, 2015)
20. CHECKLIST: THE BUY-IN CONVERSATION
CONTENT MARKETING PRINCIPLES
AND TECHNIQUES
○ I have a solid understanding of what content
marketing is — and what it isn’t — and can
clearly explain the factors that are required to
make our program successful.
AUDIENCE IMPACT
○ I am aware of relevant consumer behaviors and
preferences when it comes to content — both in
general and specific to our industry.
○ I have spoken with our consumer-facing teams
to gain an understanding of who our target
consumers are, what their pain points are, and
what types of content might help us address
their needs and interests.
○ I understand our typical buyer cycle and am
prepared to map the content we create to the
stages of the funnel where it can provide the
greatest impact.
Along with the stats presented here, the following checklist can help you determine how prepared you are to
make a compelling case and convince stakeholders that you have positioned your content marketing strategy
for optimal success.
You may not be able to get every element in place before you ask executives for their support, but the more
boxes you can check off, the more effective your content marketing program is likely to be:
21. CHECKLIST: THE BUY-IN CONVERSATION
BUSINESS BENEFITS
○ I am aware of our company’s key business
and marketing goals (in terms of sales, brand
awareness, lead generation, web traffic,
engagement, or other KPIs) and am prepared
to document a strategic plan for using
content to impact these goals.
○ I am prepared to discuss specific ways content
can be used to unite and support the efforts
of our company’s sales, marketing, and other
functional teams.
○ I am aware of our competitors’ content
initiatives, and can discuss where
opportunities may lie to fill an unmet need
or gain a competitive advantage with
our own content program.
BUDGET AND RESOURCE USAGE
○ I have compiled estimates on the budget and
other resources we will need for efficient content
creation and management and can discuss this
information in detail, when required.
○ I am prepared to put workflow processes in
place to ensure the most efficient and effective
use of the resources we allocate to content
marketing.
○ I have a plan for benchmarking our content
efforts and measuring their impact so we can
optimize them on an ongoing basis.
○ I am aware of the ROI we would need to
achieve in order for our program to be
considered successful.
22. NEED MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR BUY-IN CONVERSATION?
Check out our post, How to Win Your Battle for Content Marketing Buy-in
for additional stats and talking points.
And sign up here to subscribe to Content Marketing Institute and get first-hand access to
the tools, techniques, and tricks that will help you be more successful with content marketing.
Once your key stakeholders are on
board, the next step is to develop and
document your content marketing
strategy. Download our guide,
The Essentials of a Documented
Content Marketing Strategy:
36 Questions to Answer.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
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23. About Content Marketing Institute
Content Marketing Institute (CMI) is the leading global content marketing education and training
organization. CMI teaches enterprise brands how to attract and retain customers through compelling,
multi-channel storytelling. CMI’s Content Marketing World event, the largest content marketing-focused
event, is held every September, and Content Marketing World Sydney, every March. CMI also produces
the quarterly magazine Chief Content Officer, and provides strategic consulting and content marketing
research for some of the best-known brands in the world. CMI is a 2012, 2013, and 2014 Inc. 500
company.
To see all of CMI’s original content marketing research, visit our Research Page. Learn how to create
a documented content marketing strategy, a key component for improving overall content marketing
effectiveness.