If your company tends to stick to the same content types, it might be time to break free from the one-trick routine. Good news – over 100 content types are waiting for you. Each has its superpower, purpose, and target audience.
Let's talk about why sprinkling in different content types can level up your content marketing strategy. Buckle up as we dive into the world of content variety—what content types to leverage, and how to rock them.
What are the different content types?
- Blog posts
- Whitepapers
- E-books
- Social media posts
- Webinars
- Video content
- Podcasts
- Landing pages
- Press releases
- Infographics
- Images and photos
- Memes and GIFs
- Quizzes and surveys
- Polls and opinion pieces
- Calculators and tools
- Live videos and stories
- User-generated content
- Audiobooks
- Interviews and discussions
Let's explore how you can utilize each type of content to boost brand visibility, increase website visitors, generate leads, or achieve other objectives.
1. Blog posts
Blog posts are a staple of content marketing. They are informative, engaging, and easily shareable. Blog posts allow you to provide valuable insights, share industry news, and establish your brand's voice. They are typically shorter than articles and offer a more casual and conversational tone.
- Improves SEO and organic traffic.
- Informative, engaging, and easily shareable.
- Establishes brand voice and shares industry insights.
💡 Reading tip: How to Write a Standout Blog Post
2. Email
Email is a powerful content type for direct communication with your audience. It allows you to deliver personalized messages, nurture leads, and maintain customer relationships. Email content can include newsletters, product updates, promotional offers, or educational content delivered directly to subscribers' inboxes.
- Powerful for direct communication, personalized messages, and lead nurturing.
- Includes newsletters, product updates, promotional offers.
3. Whitepapers
Whitepapers are authoritative reports that dive deep into a specific industry issue or problem. They provide in-depth analysis, research, and data to educate and inform readers. Whitepapers are commonly used in B2B marketing to demonstrate expertise, showcase solutions, and generate leads.
- Authoritative reports providing in-depth industry analysis.
- Ideal for B2B marketing, showcasing expertise, and generating leads.
💡 Reading tip: White Paper: What Is It & How To Write One [With Examples]
4. E-books
E-books are comprehensive, long-form written content pieces that offer valuable information packaged in a downloadable format. Use them as lead magnets or as educational resources. E-books allow for detailed topic exploration and can be repurposed into blog posts or articles.
- Comprehensive, long-form content for lead magnets or educational resources.
- Allows detailed exploration of topics, repurposable into blog posts.
5. Social media posts
Social media posts encompass a wide range of content types, including text, images, videos, and links. They are concise, eye-catching, and tailored for specific social media platforms. Use social media posts to share updates, promote blog posts or articles, and engage with your audience.
All you need is to regularly review the performance of your social media posts to make sure they resonate with your target audience and make changes when needed. To do so, you can use social media analytics tools which will allow you to gather valuable data and insights on various metrics, including engagement, reach, impressions, click-through rates, and audience demographics.
- Concise, eye-catching, tailored for specific platforms.
- Use analytics tools for performance review.
💡Reading tip: Everything you need to know about social media
6. Webinars
Webinars are live or pre-recorded interactive presentations or workshops delivered online. They allow for real-time engagement, Q&A sessions, and in-depth discussions on specific topics. Webinars are highly effective for educating and engaging audiences, establishing authority, and generating leads. Using services such as Zoom, pretty much anyone can host an engaging webinar and accept live questions from attendees.
- Live or pre-recorded interactive presentations for real-time engagement.
- Effective for education, lead generation, and authority building.
7. Videos
Videos are dynamic and engaging content types that can convey information, tell stories, and entertain viewers. They can be used for various purposes, including product demonstrations, tutorials, interviews, or brand storytelling. Stock videos can be shared on websites, social media platforms, or video hosting platforms like YouTube.
- Dynamic content for conveying information, storytelling, and entertainment.
- Ideal for product demonstrations, tutorials, and interviews.
8. Podcasts
Podcasts have gained immense popularity, providing an audio platform to share knowledge, interviews, discussions, and storytelling. They can be used to establish thought leadership, entertain and educate the audience, and build a loyal following. They offer flexibility for listeners to consume content on the go and at their convenience. Podcasts can feature industry experts, provide insights into specific topics, or showcase engaging stories and narratives.
- Audio platform for knowledge sharing, discussions, and storytelling.
- Flexibility for on-the-go consumption.
💡 Reading Tip: Why are podcasts so popular?
9. Landing pages
Landing pages are created to convert visitors into leads or customers by providing a clear call-to-action and capturing their contact information. They are often used in conjunction with paid ads, email marketing, or social media campaigns to drive targeted traffic and achieve specific objectives.
- Standalone web pages for marketing or advertising campaigns.
- Designed to convert visitors into leads or customers.
- Used with paid ads, email marketing, or social media campaigns.
💡 Reading tip: How to Create High-converting Landing Pages
10. Press releases
Press releases are official announcements issued by a company or organization to the media. They are used to share news, updates, or important information with journalists and the public. Press releases can help generate media coverage, build brand awareness, and attract attention from potential customers or investors.
- Generates media coverage and builds brand awareness.
- Attracts attention from potential customers or investors.
💡 Reading tip: Get Noticed, Writing a Compelling Press Release
Tired of juggling multiple tools for content marketing? Join 5,000 marketers who manage website content, social posts, videos, webinars, podcasts, and whitepapers - all from one central content marketing calendar.
11. Infographics
Infographics are visual representations of information or data. They combine text, icons, and graphics to present complex concepts in a visually appealing and easily understandable format. Infographics are highly shareable and can be used to simplify complex data or processes.
- Visual representation of information for easy understanding.
- Highly shareable and simplifies complex concepts.
💡 Reading tip: The Impact of Visual Content
12. Images and photos
Images and photos are powerful visual assets that can enhance engagement and convey messages quickly. They can be used to illustrate blog posts, articles, and social media content, evoking emotions and capturing attention.
- Powerful visual assets enhancing engagement.
- Used to illustrate blog posts, articles, and social media content.
13. Memes and GIFs
Memes and GIFs are popular forms of visual content that leverage humor and cultural references to engage and entertain audiences. They are often used on social media platforms to convey messages in a relatable and lighthearted way.
- Humorous visual content for engagement on social media.
💡 Reading tip: Can B2B Really Use Memes In Content Marketing?
14. Quizzes and surveys
Quizzes and surveys are interactive content types that allow audiences to participate actively. Surveys gather valuable insights and feedback from the audience, while quizzes can be used to test knowledge or provide personalized recommendations.
- Interactive content for active audience participation.
15. Polls and opinion pieces
Polls and opinion pieces invite audiences to share their opinions on specific topics. They foster engagement, encourage discussions, and provide valuable insights into audience preferences and perspectives.
- Invites audience opinions to foster engagement.
- Provides insights into preferences and perspectives.
16. Calculators and tools
Calculators and interactive tools provide practical value to the audience. They can range from mortgage calculators and ROI calculators to interactive budgeting tools. These content types help users solve specific problems or make informed decisions.
- Practical content providing value and solving specific problems.
- Range from mortgage calculators to interactive budgeting tools.
17. Live videos and stories
Live videos and stories provide real-time, unedited content that fosters authenticity and engagement. They can be used to host Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or product launches, allowing direct interaction with the audience.
- Real-time, unedited content fostering authenticity.
- Ideal for Q&A sessions, product launches, and behind-the-scenes.
18. User-generated content
User-generated content (UGC) involves leveraging content created by your audience. It can be in the form of testimonials, reviews, or social media posts. UGC not only builds brand advocacy but also encourages engagement and fosters a sense of community.
- Leverage content created by your audience for brand advocacy.
- Includes testimonials, reviews, and social media posts.
💡 Reading Tip: The Ultimate Guide to User-Generated Content in 2023
19. Audiobooks
Audiobooks are narrated versions of written content, allowing users to listen to books or educational materials. They offer a convenient and immersive way to consume information, especially for busy individuals or those who prefer audio formats. Audiobooks can be used to repurpose existing written content, provide in-depth knowledge, or deliver valuable storytelling experiences.
- Narrated versions for on-the-go consumption.
- Repurpose existing written content for immersive experiences.
20. Interviews and discussions
Audio content can include recorded interviews and discussions with industry experts, thought leaders, or influencers. These interviews offer valuable insights, diverse perspectives, and engaging conversations for the audience. They can be conducted in a podcast format or as standalone audio pieces.
- Audio content featuring industry experts for valuable insights.
- Conducted in podcast format or standalone audio pieces.
One place to manage all content types and deadlines
By harnessing the power of diverse content types, you can unleash the true potential of your marketing efforts. With StoryChief, you can engage your team in the creation of website content, newsletters, videos, webinars, podcasts and whitepapers.
- One place to manage content: Collaborate on blog posts, social media content, webinars, landing pages, and more.
- Align all stakeholders: Create, collaborate, optimize, and approve content in real-time.
- Schedule and publish to channels that matter: Direct connections with various platforms ensure optimal content delivery every time.
- Drive your strategy with actionable insights: Measure engagement, analyze ROI, and identify performing channels.
Tired of juggling multiple tools for content marketing? Join 5,000 marketers who manage website content, social posts, videos, webinars, podcasts, and whitepapers - all from one central content marketing calendar.
