Feel like you’re driving lackluster results with your content marketing efforts?

If so, we’ve got some tips to help you breathe new life into your content. With these eight content marketing hacks, we’ll help your content go from subpar to spectacular.

Keep reading to learn how you can create a more effective content marketing strategy.

P.S. Want to learn more about how you can revamp your marketing strategy to drive better results? Join 150,000 marketers by subscribing to Revenue Weekly!

Content marketing hack #1: Target the right keywords

If you feel like your content drives lackluster results, you might not target the right keywords or any keywords at all. For content to rank in search results, you need to target relevant keywords related to your content.

To get started with this content marketing hack, you need to conduct keyword research. You can use a keyword research tool, like KeywordsFX, to find relevant terms for your content.

So, for example, let’s say you own a fashion apparel company and decide to write a blog about the best fashion magazines. When you search that keyword, you’ll get dozens of great keyword options to include in your content.

Keyword research helps you find relevant terms, so people who search those terms can find your content.

When you look at your options for keywords, focus on long-tail keywords. Long-tail keywords contain three or more words, like “best fashion magazine.”

These keywords are more specific, so they drive more qualified traffic to your site. People who search these keywords have a higher search intent, which means they’re more likely to have an interest in your business.

Once you have your keywords selected, ensure you integrate them into your content. As you integrate them, don’t overuse them as it will lead to keyword stuffing, which Google doesn’t like.

Content marketing hack #2: Optimize your title tag and meta description

Next on our list of content marketing growth hacks involves optimizing your title tag and meta description.

Title tag

Your title tag is the first thing people see when you rank in search engine results pages. People use your title tag to determine what your content is about and if they want to click on your content. If you don’t have a title tag that’s eye-catching and informative, users likely won’t click.

The example from a blog shows you how to create a compelling title tag. Not only does it tell users what to expect on the page, but it creates a sense of urgency to click on the listing by using the phrase “needs to study.”

When you create your title tag, make sure you keep it within 60 characters, so it doesn’t get cut off. You’ll also want to ensure you use your keyword towards the beginning of the title, so your content can rank in the right search results.

By creating a compelling title tag, your content will perform better in search results.

Meta description

The meta description is another core component of your listing in search results. Your audience looks at your meta description to get a sneak preview of your content. It should describe the page’s content so users will feel compelled to click (if it fits their search intent).

When you write your meta description, try to give a short detailed looked at what they can expect if they click. You’ll want to keep it within 155-characters, so it doesn’t get cut off.

Content marketing hack #3: Create compelling headlines

After your title tag and meta description, the next thing you’ll want to look at is your headlines. Your headline is the first thing users see after they click on your listing. Ensure your headline is compelling to encourage users to keep reading.

In addition, don’t be afraid to get creative with your headline! You can use buzzwords that get people excited and eager to learn more, but refrain from using business jargon.

You can test different headlines, too, to see which ones work best. Use A/B testing to test your headlines and find one that will generate the best results!

Content marketing hack #4: Include a call to action (CTA) in your content

Next on our list of hacks for content is to include a call to action (CTA) in your content. When people engage with your content, and want to take the next step in the buyer journey, it’s crucial that you present them with an actionable CTA. If you fail to provide them with a CTA, they won’t know how to proceed and will likely bounce from your site without making a purchase.

You can use both written CTAs in the text or create CTA buttons to tell people how to proceed. If you use a CTA button, use an informative phrase to tell users what happens next. So, for example, instead of saying, “click here,” say, “click here to get your free guide.”

Like headlines, you can A/B test your CTA buttons to ensure you’re creating a button that users click. You can test things like button text or button color.

Content marketing hack #5: Try different content formats

When you think of content marketing, you probably think it solely involves blogging. While blogging is one of the most effective channels for driving leads, it isn’t the only channel for driving valuable leads. There are other mediums, like videos and infographics, that can have a resounding impact too.

As you create content, try these different options:

• Blogs
• Videos
• Infographics
• Ebooks
• Podcasts

Having a mixture of content helps you attract more traffic for your page. You may have people in your audience that don’t like reading blogs but love watching videos. By adding videos into your content marketing rotation, you can attract leads who consume content differently.

Content marketing hack #6: Use a content calendar

One of the best content creation hacks is to use a content calendar. To have an effective content strategy, you must create content often. Creating content often leads to more traffic on your site and better rankings in Google’s search results.

As you create more content, it’s easy to lose track of who’s working on content and when it’s set to publish. Instead of creating and publishing content on a whim, you can create a content calendar.

A content calendar enables you to map out your content marketing plan for the entire month. You can document when content should be created, edited, and published. It will help you stay organized and on top of your content production.

Content marketing hack #7: Share your content

When you create content, you’ll have people discover your content by conducting searches — but you don’t need to rely solely on search to help people find your content. If you have an email marketing or social media marketing plan in place, you can use those mediums to promote content.

Promoting your content through other channels enables you to boost traffic on your blogs. Additionally, you create opportunities for people who already like your brand to share your content with new people, which can further increase traffic on your site.

In addition to sharing content manually, make your content easily shareable so that users can share it on their own. For example, you can integrate social share buttons at the top or bottom of your blog to make it easy for people to share your content to their social sites.

Content marketing hack #8: Update your old content

The last content marketing hack we’ll look at regards updating old content. Your business and industry frequently change. Information changes, too, so it’s critical that you’re delivering the most up-to-date information in your content.

Updating content is one of the most overlooked hacks for content marketing — many businesses take the “set it and forget it” approach. The reality, however, is that blogs with old information will eventually drop in rankings as more blogs provide updated information.

If you want to rank in the search results continuously, you need to update your old content. Make sure the statistics, the process, and the information are accurate. Deliver the most current information to your audience so that when they visit your blog, they stay there.

Updating your content is good for Google, too. You’ll rank better when you have more accurate information because it will better fit the search intent.

Bonus content marketing hack: Partner with a content marketing expert

Content marketing is a strategy that takes time to develop, but the results are worth it. If you don’t have the time to dedicate to creating compelling content, WebFX is here to help.

We have a team of over 250 content experts that can help you create content that drives results for your business. In the past five years alone, we’ve driven over $2.4 billion in sales and over 6.3 million leads for our clients. You can feel confident we’ll create content that helps you grow.

Ready to get started? Contact us online or call us today at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist about our content marketing services!