Best 22+ Content Marketing Myths And Facts In 2022

Introduction

As more and more businesses start to invest in content, the myths and misconceptions about it continue to grow as well. But what is content marketing? Is it a newfangled way to say “advertising”? Sort of, but not really.

Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly-defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.

In this article, we will explore 22+ of the most common content marketing myths and facts, so that you can be better informed about this growing industry.

22+ Content Marketing Myths and Facts

Content Marketing Myths 1: Content marketing is just a new name for advertising

Fact: Content marketing and advertising are two very different things. Advertising is all about getting people to buy your product or service, while content marketing is all about providing valuable, relevant, and consistent information that helps solve your audience’s problems.

Creating content will help you more than an advertising campaign ever will because it establishes you as an expert in your field, builds trust with your audience, and drives more traffic to your website.

Content Marketing Myths 2: Content marketing is only for big companies

Fact: Have you ever heard the saying “you only get one shot”? It’s true. You can’t take any chances with your business; it all boils down to what kind of impression we want people to leave us behind after they’ve gone through our company website or marketing campaign! Whether you are a small business or a burgeoning company, content marketing can be a great way to reach your target market and establish yourself as an authority in your industry. It is a MUST for all businesses of any size.

Content Marketing Myths 3: Content marketing is too expensive

Fact: There are many ways to produce quality content without breaking the bank. You don’t need to hire a professional writer or designer; you can create most of your content yourself if you are well-versed with SEO. Also, if you do outsource, there are plenty of affordable options available, such as Fiverr and 99designs.

Moreover, content marketing is the most affordable type of marketing out there with maximum return on investment (ROI).

Content Marketing Myths 4: I don’t have time for content marketing

Fact: If you don’t have time to produce quality content, then you need to make time. Quality content is the key to success in any online marketing campaign. It is what sets you apart from your competition and helps you build trust with your audience.

Because nobody would want to see a website with only images and no text, right?

Content Marketing Myths 5: I don’t need content marketing; my product/service sells itself

Fact: Even if your product or service is the best in the world, you still need content marketing. Why? Because people want to buy from businesses they know, like, and trust. Content marketing helps you build that relationship of trust with your audience.

Put it this way: Your website has great products and services with interesting images, but nobody knows what goes into this product or how to use it, because you have no content. What would likely happen now?

Not too much, unfortunately. Most likely, a nerve-wracking bounce rate!

But if you have a website with great product descriptions, blog posts explaining how to use the product, and even videos demonstrating its features — now you’re talking!

This is the kind of content that will help people understand your product or service and make them want to buy it.

Content Marketing Myths 6: Content marketing is only for B2C companies

Fact: While it’s true that content marketing is often used in B2C industries, such as fashion and lifestyle, it can be just as effective for B2B companies. In fact, some of the most successful content marketers are B2B companies, such as HubSpot and Salesforce.

Content Marketing Myths 7: The only goal of content marketing is to generate leads

Fact: While generating leads is certainly one of the goals of content marketing, it’s not the only goal. Content marketing can also be used to build brand awareness, establish thought leadership, drive traffic to your website, and much more.

Content Marketing Myths 8: You need to be a great writer to succeed in content marketing

Fact: Not all content marketers are great writers. In fact, some of the most successful content marketers are not even native English speakers. The important thing is that you are able to produce quality, relevant, and engaging content that resonates with your target audience. Also, you know how to rank your content on Google.

If you’re not a great writer, that’s okay! You can always hire a freelance writer or use a content writing service to produce quality content for you and have an SEO do the magic on the platform of your choice!

Content Marketing Myths 9: Content marketing is only for companies in the United States

Fact: While the majority of content marketers are based in the United States, there is a growing number of content marketers in other countries, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and more.

Because why not? The internet is a global marketplace, and content marketing can be used by companies in any country to reach a global audience.

Content Marketing Myths 10: You need a large team to succeed in content marketing

Fact: You don’t need a large team to produce quality content. Many of the most successful content marketers are solopreneurs. All you need is one or two passionate and dedicated people to create and promote your content.

Content Marketing Myths 11: Content marketing is only for online businesses

Fact: While content marketing is often used by online businesses, it can also be used by brick-and-mortar businesses. For example, a local grocery store could use content marketing to promote new products, share recipes, and provide tips for healthy living. Content is everywhere for those who know to look.

Content Marketing Myths 12: All you need is great content; the rest will take care of itself

Fact: Great content can only take you far. If you want your content to be successful, you need to promote it. There are a number of ways to promote your content, such as through social media, email marketing, paid advertising, and more.

Content Marketing Myths13: Content marketing is a new phenomenon

Fact: While the term “content marketing” is relatively new, the concept is not. In fact, content marketing has been around for centuries. Some of the first examples of content marketing can be traced back to the 18th century when Benjamin Franklin used his newspaper to promote his printing business.

Content Marketing Myths 14: You need a large budget to succeed in content marketing

Fact: While a large budget can certainly help you produce and promote high-quality content, it’s not a requirement for success. There are several ways to produce quality content on a shoestring budget. To know more check out our other blogs on content marketing in our blogs section.

Content Marketing Myths15: Worrying about SEO is a waste of time

Fact: SEO is a literal business. Without SEO, your amazing content would have a very less chance to be appreciated.

If you want your content to be found online, you need to optimize it for search engines. This process is known as SEO, or search engine optimization. While it’s true that some SEO tactics can be time-consuming, such as keyword research and link building, it’s important to invest the time and effort if you want your content to be seen by your target audience.

Content Marketing Myths 16: You need to produce a lot of content to be successful

Fact: While it’s important to produce quality content regularly, you don’t need to publish a new blog post or article every day to be successful. Many of the most successful content marketers focus on producing fewer, but higher-quality pieces of content.

It would only be tagged spam if you are irrelevant and not providing any value to the users.

Content Marketing Myths 17: Saturation is not a concern for content marketers

Fact: Saturation is a concern for content marketers. With so much content being published online every day, it’s important to make sure that your content stands out from the rest. One way to do this is to focus on producing evergreen content, or content that will remain relevant and useful for months or even years to come.

Content Marketing Myths 18: Focusing on one platform is the best way to succeed

Fact: While it’s important to have a presence on social media, you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Many of the most successful content marketers use a variety of platforms to promote their content, such as email newsletters, podcasts, and even print publications.

Content Marketing Myths 19: My customers don’t read/care about my content

Fact: This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, customers are more likely to purchase from a company that produces quality content because it establishes trust and credibility.

Consider this: when was the last time you purchased something from a company without doing any research first? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably never.

Content Marketing Myths 20: Rented attention is not as valuable as owned attention

Fact: While it’s true that rented attention, such as from social media or paid advertising, can be less valuable than owned attention, such as from an email list or website visitors, rented attention can still be valuable. In fact, many content marketers use a mix of both rented and owned attention to promote their content.

Content Marketing Myths 21: Content marketing is a one-time thing

Fact: Creating content is only half the battle; you also need to promote it and make sure it reaches your target audience. This means that content marketing is an ongoing process, not a one-time effort.

Content Marketing Myths 22: All you need is a blog

Fact: A blog is a great way to showcase your company’s voice and personality, but it’s not the only type of content you should be creating. In addition to blog posts, you should also be creating infographics, eBooks, whitepapers, case studies, webinars, and more.

Let’s take it this way: You are a carpenter. Would you only use a saw to build a house? Of course not. You would use a variety of tools to get the job done. The same goes for content marketing. You need to use a variety of content types to reach your target audience.

Content Marketing Myths 23: Writers are cheap and easy to find

Fact: While it’s true that there are a number of places where you can find cheap or even free content, such as on sites like Fiverr, the quality of this content is often not very good. Many businesses have found that it’s cheaper and easier to hire a professional writer than it is to try to produce quality content on their own.

Content Marketing Myths 24: You don’t need writers, anyone can create content

Fact: While anyone can technically create content, not everyone is a good writer. Many businesses have found that it’s actually cheaper and easier to hire a professional writer than it is to try to produce quality content on their own.

There are a lot of things that could go wrong if you are just a writer and not a content creator.

You could:

• Not have a clear understanding of your target audience
• Not know what topics to write about that would be interesting or valuable to your target audience
• Write about topics that have already been covered extensively by other writers, making it difficult for your content to stand out
• Not have a strong understanding of SEO, which is essential for getting your content seen by your target audience
• Not have a strong understanding of social media, which is essential for promoting your content

So, making sure you hire the right person will reduce your time and resources. It will also lessen the burden of extra work or not getting the right exposure. You wouldn’t want a poet to design your website because, while they are great to be found on books and social media, your customers would not have the patience or time to read a poem instead of a product description.

Content Marketing Myths 25: Content marketing produces overnight success

Fact: Content marketing is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. It can take months or even years to see the results of your content marketing efforts. However, if you’re patient and consistent with your content marketing, you will eventually start to see the results you’re looking for.

Conclusion

Knowing myths can help you understand better what content marketing is and how it can be used for your business. As the industry changes and grows, so do the myths. Be sure to stay updated on the latest facts and information about content marketing so that you can separate the myths from the facts.

And hiring an agency to help with content marketing can save you time, and money and produce better results! 12 Channels is an experienced agency, with a team of professionals who can help you create and execute a content marketing strategy that will help you achieve your business goals. Contact us today to learn more!

What are your thoughts on these content marketing myths and facts? Do you have any to add? Let us know in the comments below!