As a small business owner stepping into the world of digital marketing, you might have heard about two powerful tools: content marketing and social media marketing. They might seem similar, but they have distinct roles in helping your business grow online. Let’s break down these concepts so you can grasp their unique benefits.

What is Content Marketing?

Imagine you have a treasure trove of useful and interesting information related to your business. Content marketing is all about sharing this treasure with your potential customers. This information could be in the form of blog articles, videos, podcasts, or helpful guides. The goal is to show that you’re an expert in your field and that you care about solving your customers’ problems. This treasure of knowledge lives on your website and can be found by people searching online.

What is Social Media Marketing?

Think of social media marketing as a way to have real-time conversations with your audience. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter give you a stage to share updates and stories and engage with your customers directly. It’s like having a friendly chat with people who are genuinely interested in what you do. You can share quick tips and behind-the-scenes glimpses and interact with comments and messages.

How Are They Different?

The main difference between these two is in their focus and how they work.

Content Marketing:

This is like creating a library of valuable information. It helps people find your business when they search for answers on Google. It builds trust over time, like a reliable friend who knows a lot about your industry.

Social Media Marketing:

This is like mingling at a party. You’re actively engaging with people, sharing interesting bits about your business, and responding to their comments and messages. It’s about building a friendly relationship and creating a sense of community.

How They Work Together

Picture this: your valuable content is like a cake you baked, and social media is the way you present it. You can slice your cake (content) into bite-sized pieces and share them on social media. This helps you catch the attention of people who might not have found your website otherwise. And when they like what they see on social media, they might visit your website to get the whole cake (the detailed content). How to Measure Success When it comes to checking if your efforts are paying off, here’s what you should focus on:

Content Marketing:

Look at things like how many people are visiting your website, how long they stay, and if they’re reading multiple blog articles on your site. Or if it’s a podcast episode, you can look at metrics like episode downloads, new subscribers, etc. And if it’s for Youtube, you can look at things like viewers, watch time, and new subscribers. Imagine it like this: You own a library, and you want to know how many people are coming in every day, what they’re reading, and how long they are staying. If they’re coming in and leaving right away, you might not have the right kind of books in your library. But if they’re staying for a while and reading multiple books, or multiple people are reading the same book, you know the content is good. And then, you can make more content around those topics.

Social Media Marketing:

Check the likes, comments, shares, and how many new people are following you. It’s like counting how many people enjoyed your party and decided to stay connected.

So, are content marketing and social media marketing the same? No, they’re like two different gears in a well-oiled marketing machine. Content marketing helps people find you when they’re searching, while social media marketing lets you connect with them in real-time. And when you use both together, you create a strong online presence that speaks volumes about your business. So go ahead, share your wisdom through content, and have conversations on social media – your business will thank you!

Looking to take your content marketing or social media marketing to the next level? The marketing twins are here to help! We work with small businesses across multiple industries to increase their visibility and create content to help you stand out. Contact us today to learn how we can help your small business.