What do you do if you're having trouble staying up-to-date in Content Marketing?

Your knowledge will only be limited by your experience. That is why it is critical whether it is content marketing, or any other marketing-related field, that you are constantly seeking out sources of truth that you can rely on for relevant and authoritative information to stay up-to-date. These include: - conferences (Content Marketing World, et. al.) - podcasts (search for "content marketing" and subscribe to a few that resonate with you) - books (there are always books being written on content marketing so make sure you are up-to-date) - websites/blogs (I recommend that you use a tool like Inoreader to aggregate the RSS feeds of several sites that often blog about content marketing) It sounds like a lot of work, but it will reward you!

Follow the relevant sources for up to date information which are reliable. Research and be current in following the current trends in the niche you are to share contents on. Set a notification buzz on the platform you read and check up important updates which may expand your view on a topic of choice which you may want to share as contents in the coming time.

Staying up to date with the latest trends can be a bit challenging but make or break your game at the same time. In today's digital society where you're bombarded with all kinds of information from every corner, it's easy to get lost. Therefore, you should pick a few reputable sources that you trust and follow them. Do the research to see what type of sources work the best for you, whether the authors fit you and if the information they provide is what you're looking for. This way, you won't get overwhelmed, will receive the information you need and can constantly stay up in the game.

GREAT Q! The marketing space is changing SO rapidly today that it can feel overwhelming. Start by realising that it's not just you. We're all in the same boat here. However, here are some tips: (1) Be open to learning: if you think you know it all, you're getting left behind. Instead, appreciate that things change and so can you. (2) Go to every event possible: I'm a content specialist and I still go to as many events as possible to learn from colleagues. You'll pick up real gems that you can take away. (3) Podcasts!!! Listen and feature on them. These discussions are fantastic ways to keep up to date while on the go. (4) Articles: pick an article a week and have a good read. There are insights everywhere. I hope that helped! Chris

There are abundant resources available for information, but persistence is key. Allocate dedicated time daily to stay informed. - Social Media: Join relevant social media platforms and follow influential figures in your field. Platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn provide real-time updates and insights. - Newsletters:Subscribe to newsletters from reputable websites and organizations. They deliver curated content to your inbox, keeping you updated on trends & news. - Websites:Explore websites related to your interests or industry. Thier Daily updates, articles, and analysis, help you stay informed. - Diversify Sources:Don't rely on a single source. Explore a variety of platforms, websites, and influencers to get a well-rounded understanding.

With the plethora of social media platforms to choose from comes an endless number of groups, societies and communities you can join. Similarly, as above, pick those that fit your needs. You can start by going to your preferred social media channel and from there, browse its communities. Whether you're looking for new customers, want to network with industry professionals or simply have fun. Options are limitless so explore, browse and engage. Don't forget to be active there so that you can achieve your desired actions.

Engage with online communities on platforms like LinkedIn, Reddit (e.g., r/content_marketing), and specialized forums. These communities are valuable for sharing insights, asking questions, and staying abreast of emerging trends. Participating in discussions and networking with peers can provide real-time perspectives on effective content marketing strategies.

→ One thing I find helpful is actively participating in discussions, asking questions, and sharing insights to establish connections and gain valuable knowledge. → Actually, I disagree with solely joining communities for self-promotion; genuine engagement fosters meaningful relationships and mutual support. → An example I have seen is joining specialized forums like Reddit's r/marketing, where professionals share industry updates and collaborate on strategies.

Lone Wolf Syndrome Will Kill Your Marketing Game ?? Believing you can conquer the content marketing world solo is a fool's errand. The real magic happens when you immerse yourself in the collective wisdom of online communities. Platforms like LinkedIn or Reddit aren’t just for scrolling; they're your arenas for engagement, learning, and growth. By participating in discussions and connecting with peers, you're tapping into a reservoir of knowledge and experience that can't be found in any textbook. It's about leveraging collective intelligence to fill the gaps in your understanding and stay ahead of the curve.

Participa activamente en grupos de redes sociales y foros especializados en Marketing de Contenidos. Comparte tus experiencias, haz preguntas y contribuye con tus conocimientos. Establece conexiones significativas con profesionales de la industria. La interacción constante te permitirá estar al tanto de las tendencias y novedades.

Understandably, with more and more people working remotely and spending a lot of time online, you might even forget about "old good" physical events. Don't get me wrong, both have their positives and negatives but changing things once in a while by engaging in person might be a welcomed refreshment. Depending on your preferences, goals and options, research what's going on around you. There might be a networking event, meetup about a specific topic or simply, catch up for fun. So don't be afraid to get out there and spice things up!

→ One thing I find helpful is researching events relevant to your interests or industry, and actively engaging with fellow attendees to network and exchange insights. → Actually, I disagree with attending events solely for collecting business cards; meaningful connections are built through genuine conversations and follow-ups. → An example I have seen is attending industry conferences like SXSW, where professionals gather to share ideas and forge valuable connections.

Engage directly with your sales team. They hold valuable insights into customer needs and real-time market dynamics. Collaborating closely ensures firsthand information that can shape your content strategy effectively. Sales feedback provides a practical perspective that no amount of research can replace. Incorporating these insights, your content not only stays current but becomes highly relevant to your audience, creating a powerful synergy between staying informed and aligning with your sales team.

Conferences, workshops, and meetups offer opportunities to learn from leading experts and network with other professionals in the field. Events like Content Marketing World and inbound marketing conferences provide immersive experiences with sessions on the latest tools, strategies, and innovations in content marketing.

Planifica tu asistencia a eventos, conferencias y seminarios relacionados con Marketing de Contenidos. Antes del evento, investiga sobre los oradores y temas a tratar. Durante el evento, participa activamente en sesiones de preguntas y networking. Conecta con otros asistentes y mantén el contacto después del evento para seguir compartiendo ideas.

People often fall into the trap of doing the same things over and over while forgetting to innovate. It's understandable, if everything is working the way it is, why would I change? On the other hand, if you don't change you won't find out if it can be done better. You might discover something groundbreaking, learn a new idea, come up with better tactics and more. Keep this in mind and once in a while, do some research to see whether there are ways how to improve existing procedures. Because you never know what you might discover.

The best way to stay updated is to test content on your own profile. If you are struggling to see what works on each platform, start by observing: Scroll through, read, and see what gets people engaged. Posts' engagements are public. Then, give it a shot yourself. Monitor how your content is doing (i.e. if it is impacting others), and evaluate your findings after AT LEAST three months. While there is no golden approach for every platform or every content type... ... there is a golden approach for YOU. Want to know what it is? Create content and post yourself.

→ One thing I find helpful is conducting A/B tests to compare different strategies or approaches, allowing for data-driven decision-making and optimization. → Actually, I disagree with solely relying on intuition; experimentation provides valuable insights and helps refine tactics. → An example I have seen is testing various email subject lines to determine which ones resonate best with the audience, leading to increased open rates and engagement.

Apply new tactics and tools to your content marketing efforts to see what works best for your audience. Experimentation can lead to discoveries about effective content formats, distribution channels, and engagement techniques. Use analytics to monitor the performance of your experiments and adjust your strategies based on data-driven insights.

While marketing is about efficiency, virality is often about innovation. Make sure your content marketing strategy leaves room for innovation that allows you to capitalize on attention. What can you tweak to make it a bit different than what everyone else is doing? What new feature of social media platforms can you utilize so you're the first to take advantage of it? Creativity is a process with many dead-end streets, yet it's the only way to big success, which many business owners ignore.

Have a growth mindset. This has helped my career the most. Continuous learning from everywhere - you never know how it contributes in various aspects of your marketing career. Be a T-shaped marketer → Learn in-depth for things you want to specialize in → Learn in-breadth about other aspects, to have a more rounded, holistic understanding of marketing.

The Content Marketing Institute has been my go-to resource for the past 15+ years as I've learned and mastered Content Marketing. Their annual event and up-to-date information have helped me stay on top of my expertise.

Adopting new abilities is similar to adding cool tools to your creative arsenal in the field of content marketing. It's more important to acquire little, practical talents that boost your content game than to try to master everything at once. Consider it like gathering colors to create a more colorful picture. Taking baby steps up a creative staircase, learning new abilities can be as easy as watching a lesson or practicing a little each day. It's not just about doing more on this never-ending learning path; it's also about doing better, which will keep your material interesting and engaging. Learning new talents is therefore like adding magic to your content marketing journey, increasing its engagement and guaranteeing.

One of the most important things to keep in mind. Never stop learning. This is especially relevant in today's fast-paced digital world where things change more rapidly than before. The lesson for you is to keep a growth mindset and keep learning, exploring, discovering and having an open mind. No one wants to stay irrelevant, outdated and forgotten so it's necessary to keep up with the competition. What's more, not only to keep up but even outpace them. Be one step ahead, become an innovator and make others look up to you.

→ One thing I find helpful is breaking down complex skills into smaller, manageable tasks, and dedicating regular time for practice and improvement. → Actually, I disagree with expecting immediate mastery; learning is a gradual process that requires patience and persistence. → An example I have seen is using online platforms like Coursera or Udemy to acquire coding skills, with consistent practice leading to proficiency over time.

Seeking feedback from peers, colleagues, and industry experts can provide valuable insights to improve your content marketing efforts. Online platforms like GrowthHackers and Quora offer opportunities to connect with experienced professionals who can offer guidance and critique. Additionally, mentorship programs such as SCORE or the Marketing Mentor Network provide access to seasoned professionals who can offer personalized advice and direction. By actively seeking feedback and mentorship, marketers can gain fresh perspectives, refine their skills, and stay abreast of the latest trends in the ever-evolving world of content marketing.

It might be tempting to think we know the best, especially when everything seems to work. After all, why would I change things or ask for feedback if we're doing well? Don't let the ego get in the way. What might be working today, might become irrelevant tomorrow. Or it might be working well but at the same time, can work even better. So the lesson is to ask for feedback, regularly. Not only does it help you to improve things but keeps you grounded as well. Whether it's from your peers, customers, followers or someone else, reach out to become even better than you are now.

Staying "on trend" isn't the best advice out there. I'd recommend keeping up with what your ICP (ideal customer profile) is struggling with. Is your ICP having trouble creating content? Solve that problem. Is your ICP struggling with clarity? Help them out. Tie your solutions to your ICP problems instead of always trying to hop on new "Trends". Over 28k creators get my exclusive content each week to create content, build products, and write emails that sell in 2024. Grab it here: alexcolhoun.com

- Get a membership in an institution that provides educational content on the latest trends in various forms such as video, articles, infographics and cheat sheets. That’ll save you time invested on researching and allow you to find the info you need in one place. - Use “Really Simple Syndication (RSS)”. It provides a quick way to read the latest updates from your favorite websites. Many websites offer RSS Feeds so that when a news article or a summary of an article is posted, it's also sent to your RSS Feed folder in Outlook. - Finally, use AI! It’s a great tool to either ask for info about what you’re looking for, or perhaps copy a long article into so it summarises the key findings on your behalf.

Constructive feedback from peers, supervisors, or mentors can provide insights into your content marketing strategies and help identify areas for improvement. A mentor with experience in content marketing can offer guidance, share knowledge, and help navigate challenges in the field.

If you’re having trouble staying up to date in content marketing, consider studying old content marketing from about 2001, then launch a campaign called “retro content marketing” or “back to basics” and go viral for sharing old ideas.

Keeping up with endless LinkedIn posts, newsletters, and communities can feel exhausting. I like to focus my energy on deep, 1:1 chats with other content marketers. I pencil in at least one “coffee chat” per month with someone in the industry. Sometimes, these are folks I already know and have connected with, and sometimes, it’s someone new through LinkedIn or a community. I love taking the time to get to know other marketers and hear about their experiences first-hand. I highly recommend this approach if you’re overwhelmed with the sheer volume of content available and want to focus on a relationship-driven approach.

Don't be afraid to take a break. It might become a bit too much when trying to stay up to date with what's going on, constantly looking for ways to innovate and being bombarded with content from everywhere. If you don't feel like it, just pause for the moment and recharge. Not only you come back stronger and motivated again, but it might also help you to cultivate new ideas. It might sound cliche but it's still very true and something that shouldn't be forgotten.

In short, find your factors that make your content stand out -> I think it's way more important to find certain factors and parameters that make content really interesting for people and then roll it out on a big scale, using high-quality automation. As an example, take MrBeast - there are a couple of clear reasons why they are so viral: 1. Giving away money to people that need it 2. They focus on crazy, unique ideas. -> They get 50 Million new Subscribers yearly.

Stay adaptable and open to change, as the content marketing landscape is constantly evolving. Also, consider how adjacent fields like social media marketing, email marketing, and influencer marketing intersect with content marketing, as cross-disciplinary knowledge can enhance your overall marketing strategies. Remember, maintaining a balance between learning and applying new knowledge is key to staying current and effective in content marketing.