Best of B2B marketing: Refine your knowledge with insights from our top 10 content marketing posts
What were our top B2B content marketing articles of the year?Content encompasses nearly everything we read, watch, or listen to, and as our CEO Lee Odden said years ago, it's also represents a significant part of the reason the need for search technology began in the first place.We're proud of the continued content marketing successes our team of marketers at TopRank Marketing have achieved during another challenging year, for a wide-range of major B2B clients. As 2022 draws ever closer, we wanted to take time to share our top content marketing articles of the year נeach filled with insights, best practices, research, examples, and a look towards the future.We're also fortunate to have a wealth of talented B2B marketing professionals contributing to the TopRank B2B Marketing blog נwhich celebrates its 19th year this month.This collection of our top 10 content marketing posts of the year can serve as a valuable resource, filled with practical examples and relevant topics for digital B2B marketing
professionals from CMOs to copywriters.We hope that you'll find these articles useful well into 2022 and far beyond.Now, sit back and join us as we move on to the top 10.Our Most Popular Content Marketing Posts of 2021:1. 6 Eye-Opening B2B Content Marketing Statistics for 2021 נNick NelsonIn our top content marketing post of the year, our senior content marketing manager Nick Nelson looks closely at the state of B2B content marketing and where it's going, with data-backed statistics from a various of sources that help paint an insightful picture of what is coming.Insights include:Businesses are the most trusted institution for information88% of marketers say collecting first-party data is a priorityMobile device usage has risen dramaticallyBrands are using Instagram Stories more than everMost B2B marketers say the pandemic had a meaningful impact on their strategiesTop barriers to creating great B2B content include workload and changing prioritiesYou can check out all of Nick's posts here, and follow him on
Twitter and LinkedIn[bctt tweet="Ӑeople are looking to businesses for credible, clear, and accurate insights and guidance. As marketers, we must harness this opportunity to earn and solidify this trust.ԠנNick Nelson @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"]2. 5 Ways to Humanize Your B2B Content Marketing ֠And Why It Matters נJoshua NiteB2B buyers are people. Is your content written about, by, and for humans?In our second most popular content marketing post of the year, our own senior content marketing manager Joshua Nite shares five powerful ways to better humanize your B2B content, from using key vocabulary elements to co-creation with influencers, and much more.You can check out all of Josh's posts here, and follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn[bctt tweet="Ӊf human beings are buying and using your product or service, they are experiencing emotions and generating stories.ԠנJoshua Nite @NiteWrites" username="toprank"]3. 5 B2C Content Marketing Techniques that B2B Marketers Should Steal (And 5 They ShouldnҴ
Touch) נJoshua NiteCan B2C-style content marketing work for B2B?In our third most popular content marketing article of the year, Joshua Nite says yes, but only up to a point.Josh takes a look at what B2B marketers can borrow from B2C, and what they shouldn't נfrom taking a greater stand and embracing diversity to getting personal, this fascinating article gets to the core of top B2B content marketing tactics.[bctt tweet="Ӕhe central thesis for using B2C techniques in B2B is the realization that thereҳ no such thing as a 'B2B buyer.' TheyҲe not a distinct species. People are people, whether theyҲe at work or at home.ԠנJoshua Nite @nitewrites" username="toprank"]4. 10 Ways to Drive Revenue through Content Marketing by Joe Pulizzi נJoe Pulizzi / Lee OddenHow can content marketing drive revenue for your business?In our fourth most-read B2B content marketing article of the year, the one-and-only Joe Pulizzi of The Tilt shares 10 direct and indirect methods to drive revenue with content marketing, in a
powerful and insightful guest post celebrating his updated and expanded Content Inc. book.Learn content marketing revenue-driving tactics you may be overlooking, including:Advertising/SponsorshipConferences and EventsPremium ContentDonationsAffiliate SalesSubscriptionsProduct SalesServices SalesLoyalty RevenueIncreased Yield on Current Customers[bctt tweet="Ӕhe most successful content creators leverage not one, but multiple streams of revenue. Whether you consider yourself a marketer or part of a media company, we are all publishers.ԠנJoe Pulizzi @JoePulizzi" username="toprank"]5. 5 Things B2B Content Marketers Need to Know About Working with Influencers נLee OddenWhat do B2B content marketers need to know about working with influencers?In our fifth most popular content marketing post of the year, Lee shares five key points to inform and drive a successful B2B influencer content marketing program, from where to start and examples of success to what not to do, including details on:Defining B2B Content
Influencer MarketingHow to Engage B2B Influencers for ContentWhere to Start with Influencer Content MarketingB2B Influencer Content Marketing in ActionWhat Not to Do When Collaborating with B2B Influencers on ContentCheck out all of Leeҳ 2,600+ posts here, and follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn[bctt tweet="Ӄollaborating with influencers on content for B2B marketing efforts is an effective way for B2B brands to optimize their marketing.ԠנLee Odden @LeeOdden" username="toprank"]6. B2B Content Marketing: 10 Tips to Level Up Your Writing Skills נJoshua NiteHow can B2B content marketers elevate writing skills and create a more human connection with readers?From rhythm and revision to spicing up conclusions, in our sixth most popular content marketing article of the year, Josh shares 10 helpful tips to level-up your writing skills, including:Be Aware of RhythmPractice IntroductionsDonҴ Tell the Audience What They Already KnowLet Go of Obsolete RulesRead It Out LoudWrite, Wait, Review, ReviseSpice Up Your
ConclusionsThis inspiring piece includes tips to elevate your B2B content marketing writing, and to make that blank screen less daunting.[bctt tweet="ӗriting and revising require two different mindsets. If youҲe trying to do both at the same time, youҲe likely not doing either as well as you might.ԠנJoshua Nite @NiteWrites" username="toprank"]7. Social First for B2B Content Marketing: What, Why and How נJoshua NiteWhat is social first, and how does it make B2B content marketing distinctively better?In the seventh most read content marketing piece of the year, Josh shares the what, why, and how, combined to create substantial social posts crafted to provoke comments, likes, reactions and shares, including:Hit the Sweet Spot for Word CountStart a ConversationInvolve InfluencersReuse, Recycle, Repurpose[bctt tweet="Ӊn the never-ending struggle to earn attention, B2B marketers have to use every strategy we have. And we have to make sure our goals for each channel line up with that channelsҠstrengths and
weaknesses.ԠנJoshua Nite @NiteWrites" username="toprank"]8. 10 Actionable B2B Content Marketing Insights From New Research נLane R. EllisWhere is B2B content marketing headed in 2022 and beyond?In our eighth most-read content content marketing post of the year, I share 10 actionable insights that marketers can use today, from eye-opening B2B content marketing research, including a look at:More B2B Content Marketing & Greater Success From Defined StrategiesMore Successful B2B Organizations Outsource, Use Content Marketing ToolsMeasurement, Creativity & Consistency Present In Top B2B Content MarketingBolstering Customer Loyalty & Nurturing Audiences Are KeyEmpathy Allows B2B Marketers To Capture Greater AttentionVideo Investment In 2022 & A Different B2B Content Marketing LandscapeLarge & SMB Organizations Benefit From B2B Content MarketingPutting Audience Needs & Journey Stages FirstVirtual Events, Research & Blog Posts Are Primary ElementsContent Marketing Hits Multiple B2B TargetsYou can check out all of
my posts here, and follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn[bctt tweet="ӂ2B content marketing is growing in importance, scope, and adoption by organizations of all sizes, and is poised to see further expansion in 2022 and beyond.ԠנLane R. Ellis @lanerellis" username="toprank"]9. 6 B2B Content Marketing Summertime Sizzlers To Increase Audience Engagement נJoshua NiteHow can B2B marketers make their content more engaging?In our ninth most popular content marketing post of the year, Josh offers up six summertime B2B content marketing sizzlers, from going live and taking people behind the scenes to exploring social-first and interactive content, collaborating with influencers, and measuring engagement metrics.[bctt tweet="Ӊtҳ all about customer engagement. That means connecting with people on a personal level, offering something novel and fascinating, and using that contact to build a meaningful relationship.ԠנJoshua Nite @NiteWrites" username="toprank"]10. Equilibrium: 10 Tips to Balance Creativity and Process
in B2B Content Marketing נJoshua NiteHow can you balance the analytical and creative for greater B2B content marketing success?Rounding our our list of the top content marketing article of the years is another insightful piece by Josh. From involving diverse voices and embracing keyword research to learning your audience and more, Josh shares 10 tips to balance creativity and process in B2B content marketing, including:Embrace Keyword ResearchLearn Your AudienceInvolve Diverse VoicesRelease the EgoRead Other Peopleҳ ContentDonҴ Confuse the Garnish for the MealHave a Clear Next StepGet Invested in ResultsCollaborate with Analytics FolksContinue Your Education[bctt tweet="Ӎarketing content should compel your reader to take specific action. No matter how creative and fun your piece is, at the end there should be a logical, meaningful, and...