Content Marketing Pioneers: The Dawn of a New Era

"Content Marketing" is the Buzz-du-Jour among marketers everywhere, both on and offline. But it really isn't anything new.

Smart marketers have been using these "new" writing techniques and content strategies for decades. Direct marketers, in their long sales letters, are expert at this. The "advertorial" has been around and used on the Internet for more than a decade. Aren't we just renaming copywriting techniques?

Why the big hullabaloo now? Why are so many experts rushing to get a Content Marketing book published? (5 Content Marketing Books You Need to Read) Why all the blog posts and Twitter Tweets ... Content Marketing Top Blogs, Content Marketing sites?

Something's a-foot!

...I've always had a nose for shifts and major upheavals. Here's what I think is happening on a big picture level:

Communications have just come out of the Dark Ages. What we are experiencing on the Web is equivalent to Cave Men who've just invented the wheel. Think about it for a minute...

First there were hand-written books. There was the printing press...newspapers and printed books, then mail delivery...then telephones.The advent of easy publication and instant access to information and to people over the Internet is having a much bigger impact than all these inventions combined. It impacts huge numbers of people world-wide (1.5 billion people on the Internet).

Because Web publishing is available to every one for almost free, and it's global, we are able to get up on our soap boxes and broadcast to anyone interested.

The Opportunity...and the Challenge

The advent of the Internet and Web 2.0 tools make it super easy for non-geeks to publish anything they have to say. But this raises a new challenge to marketers, because readers and listeners have a choice as to what they will pay attention to.

Instead of publishing marketing hype, companies have to start acting like human beings. They have to start listening to their customers. They have to look at the perspectives of their readers and deliver content that's interesting to them, solves problems for them, or at least entertains them.

This is huge. This is rewriting the rule books for copywriters and marketers everywhere.

If you're an individual professional in charge of writing your own marketing, you're probably already tuned into this. You're probably writing content that engages your readers on your blog, web pages, and Twitter messages.

Content Marketing Done Right

Or are you? Are you doing it right? How would you know? Since none of us learned this is in school, how do you learn to "do content marketing?" You could rely on instinct. You could buy the few books out on the topic.

The thing is, the field of "content marketing" isn't a precise science nor is it clearly defined. What works for one niche or industry might not work for yours.

Right now, there are several content marketing experts online who are doing a pretty good job of encouraging professionals and companies to undertake the change from advertising and marketing hype to content marketing approaches.

For the most part, you're going to have to study this on your own, and find your own path.

Until more is written about this, here are my favorite Content Marketing Pioneers to pay attention to. These people are breaking away from the pack, seeking to do marketing, and writing, in a new and different way. The people on this list want to see you write content that does a better job for your business. May I suggest you subscribe to their blogs?

My Content Marketing Faves (in no particular order)

• Joe Pulizzi, Junta42 Blog, (custom publishing, custom content)
• Newt Barrett, Content Marketing Today (company case studies)
• Jon Wuebben, Content Rich (SEO copywriting, custom copywriting)
• Denise Wakeman, Biz Tips Blog (social media trends, massive visibility)
• David Meerman Scott, Web Ink Now (new media, PR trends)
• John Blossom, Content Nation (social media, new book)
• Michael Stelzner, Writing White Papers (white papers, social media survey)
• Rohit Barghava, Influential Marketing blog, Personality Not Included book
• Brian Clark, Copyblogger
• Chris Brogan, ChrisBrogan.com

And I'm sure I'm forgetting some very important resources that I've been learning from. Forgive me if I've left your name off this list, and hit the comment link to remind me.

Who are you learning from? Feel free to nominate the content marketing pioneers who are blazing the trail for you.

Comments

[Joe Pulizzi]

Patsi...I'm honored that you mention me. What a wonderful list of teachers. I would add Chris Brogan and Brian Clark to the list as well.

Thanks so much
Joe

[Patsi aka The Blog Squad]

Zoot! How could I miss those geniuses! I knew this would happen. Quick, back to editing page...

[Sara F.]

Due to their low cost, flexible designs and quick production time, email marketing has become a more effective marketing tool for businesses of every size. But as stated above, content is more important than ever today. Some helpful hints on how to effectively write emails are: write a meaningful subject line to catch customer's attention, keep articles brief -- Online readers are typically looking for information that is quick and easy to read, and don't overdo it -- Only send out an email when you have something valuable to share.
,

[Jon Wuebben]

I concur with my friend Joe Pulizzi in expressing that I am honored as well Patsi! Thank you for this wonderful post and for your evangelizing the movement. It all comes from a strong sense of wanting to help companies connect with their target market and from a reservoir of passion and energy! I have tremendous respect for all these incredible content teachers..I learn from them.

[Jenny Pilley]

I agree with Sara. People don't want long jargon. They want to be able to read what they need quickly and easily. Of course people find this hard to do and need advice on the best way to go around it. Great blog list, it's refreshing to read something from people who clearly know what they are talking about.