9 Field-Tested Content Marketing Tactics

In this guide, we’re diving into nine content marketing tactics we’ve tested and continue to use with some decent results. We know they work, and we’re excited to show you the proof.

Target Low-Competition Keywords to Rank Faster

Generally speaking, low-competition keywords are search terms where you likely don’t need many backlinks to rank on the first page of Google (backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors).

By focusing on these less competitive terms, you can achieve higher search engine rankings faster and with less effort, and the higher the rankings, generally, the more traffic lands on your site. This makes low-competition keywords a perfect SEO tactic for new sites and sites without a strong backlink profile. To illustrate our results, here’s a heatmap showing the relationship between keyword difficulty and Google rankings for nearly 200 pages from our SEO glossary content project.

We were able to rank in the top ten with few links and a templated content approach. But that wasn’t enough for mid to high KD keywords; these would require more comprehensive content and additional backlinks.

How to Get Started

Use a tool like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to find keywords that need fewer backlinks to rank quickly.

1. Enter one or more seed keywords.
2. Go to the Matching Terms report. Use the Keyword Difficulty (KD) metric to display keywords with up to 20 KD. This will display easy keywords based on the backlink profile.
3. Select a suitable search and open the SERP panel to check which pages rank. If you notice popular companies dominating, those keywords may be difficult to rank despite their low KD. SERPs without such branding should be easier to target.
4. Repeat step #3 for every relevant keyword on the list.

Tip

To gain an extra point of confidence that a keyword is well within your reach, use the lowest Domain Rating (DR) filter. If you set the filter to your site’s DR or slightly higher, it will display only those keywords where a site with your DR or lower already ranks.

Connect with your Audience through a Well-Built Network

Building a network involves creating and nurturing relationships that can amplify your message and expand your reach. These connections can be made through social media, online communities, forums, meetups, and conferences.

When other people share and engage with your content, you’ve got a higher chance of cutting through the noise of today’s information-saturated world, making your content noticed and valued.

Publish Original Studies to Boost SEO and Topical Authority

Publishing original research is a proven method to boost your SEO through backlinks (links from other sites) and becoming a thought leader in your niche through references to your work.

When you create original studies, like data analyses, case studies, or industry surveys, other authors will often use them as sources, which means more backlinks for you. These backlinks increase your site’s website’s authority, which can help other important pages on your site rank better too.

Besides improving your SEO, original research makes you a thought leader in your field. When other sites mention your research, it boosts your reputation, making you a trusted and respected brand.

How to Get Started

Coming up with research ideas doesn’t have to be hard.

• Look at popular topics in your field and see if you can add something new.
• Challenge the usual thinking with fresh data.
• Find gaps in existing research that you can fill.

For example, to find relevant research about SEO, we use Ahrefs’ Content Explorer to look for content that has “study” in the title and at least 200 referring domains (to weed out some less popular ones).

Partner with Influencers to Reach Niche Markets

Partnering with influencers involves paid collaboration with content creators who have a significant following (e.g., on social media or through an email list) in your target market.

Influencer partnerships are effective because they leverage the trust and loyalty that influencers have built with their audience. This authentic endorsement can introduce your brand to niche markets, sometimes more effectively than traditional advertising.

Last but not least, as a sponsor, you get to feature your brand in some really unique, quality content.

How to Get Started

There are a few steps you need to take to find the right influencer.

• Define your goals. Clearly define your goals for influencer marketing, such as raising brand awareness, driving engagement, or increasing sign-ups.
• Figure out your budget. You can use average influencer earnings data like this one to estimate the budget.
• Identify potential influencers. Here are a few ideas: 
  • Start by considering your own employees and customers who might already be fans of your brand and have a following.
  • Use social media platforms and specialized tools to find relevant influencers based on your niche and keywords.
  • Seek recommendations from your audience.
• Evaluate influencers. Ensure that the influencers align with your brand values and have genuine engagement. Look beyond follower counts to assess their influence and audience interaction.
• Monitor and measure. Ask the creator to share reports with you (including content output and engagement metrics).

Create a Content Hub for an SEO Boost

A content hub is a centralized collection of related content organized around specific themes or topics. Its structure comprises a pillar page (high-level guide about a broad topic with links to other pages), cluster content (pages on specific subtopics), and links between the pages.

They’re an effective content marketing tactic for four reasons:

• Topical authority: Connecting your hub page and subpages with relevant internal links helps establish your site as an authority on a particular topic in Google’s eyes. Internal anchor text provides additional context for Google regarding the page content.
• Link authority: Strategically linking pages within a hub allows them to benefit from each other’s backlinks. This enhances the overall link authority of the hub, which can positively impact search rankings.
• Engagement: Hubs encourage visitors to explore multiple pages of content.
• Perceived value: Well-organized, comprehensive resources on a topic increase perceived value for visitors, often resulting in more backlinks as people prefer to link to the best, most useful resources.

How to Get Started

To find opportunities for new content hubs, the process involves three steps:

1. Identify the hub topic. Choose a broad topic with informational intent, search traffic potential, and enough subtopics. Use tools like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer to brainstorm ideas.
2. Create subpages. Develop detailed guides on subtopics related to the main topic. Ensure each subpage links back to the hub page, which links to all subpages.
3. Internal linking. Use hyperlinks to connect the hub page with subpages, building a cohesive structure. This boosts topical and link authority and enhances user engagement.

Optimize Existing Website Content for Quick Traffic Gains

Website content optimization involves enhancing the quality and relevance of information to rank higher in search results, engage target audiences, and achieve business goals.

This tactic allows you to leverage your existing content to reach more people, often with little work involved. This can be updating old information, including a missing subtopic, making a guide more beginner-friendly, etc.

Honestly, the results can be quite amazing. For example, an article we’ve recently updated got 20 times more traffic after just a few hours of work.

How to Get Started

The easiest way to spot content that needs optimization is to use Ahrefs’ Opportunities report.

1. Enter your site into Ahrefs’ Site Explorer.
2. Open the Opportunities report.
3. Click on the Low-hanging fruit keywords to see keywords that potentially need a relatively small update to rank higher.
4. Or click on the Content with declining traffic to see all pages that could use a revamp.

Repurpose Content to Reach a Wider Audience

Repurposing content involves transforming existing content into different formats. For instance, a blog post can become a video shared on YouTube or a transcript of a video can be published as a blog post.

This tactic works because it helps you reach a wider audience who prefers different content formats and different platforms.

How to Get Started

You can repurpose any piece of content, but the best results you’ll likely get with:

• Content that has already performed well on social media. For instance, a well-received tweet thread can be expanded into a detailed article or a video script.
• Content on topics with search potential. Use a tool like Ahrefs’s Keywords Explorer to gauge traffic potential for topics you already covered.
• Evergreen topics. For example, a topic like “how to lose weight” will get attention no matter the time, platform, and format.

Translate your Best Content to Reach New Markets

There are three key reasons why you need translations if you’re thinking about making your business international:

• Search engines like Google and YouTube personalize search results based on language.
• Most people simply prefer content in their native language, regardless of how well they speak other languages.
• Content localization works like content repurposing — it gives you more mileage from the same content.

Experiment with New Topics and Formats

The idea behind this tactic is super simple — if you keep doing the same things, you’ll keep getting the same results.

Trying out new approaches to content is important at every stage of your strategy’s maturity. In the early stages, it helps you discover what works for your business and your audience. But once your strategy is established, experimenting with new content is crucial to avoid hitting a performance plateau.

How to Get Started

Here are some tips that can help you spark some new ideas and get them into production.

1. Organize regular brainstorming sessions with a few people. These sessions should encourage open, uninhibited discussions where everyone can contribute their thoughts and suggestions.
2. Try a few courses. Enroll in courses that focus on content creation, digital marketing, or any specific area relevant to your field. These courses can provide fresh perspectives, new skills, and innovative techniques that you can incorporate into your content strategy.
3. Book a consultation with a pro. Seek assistance from successful professionals or mentors in your desired field.
4. Use new tools to source ideas. Try tools like Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, Sparktoro, Buzzsumo, or Glimpse.
5. Embrace a mindset of experimentation. Trying out new content formats and topics involves taking risks but big rewards too.

Final Thoughts

In digital marketing, it’s not really about how many tactics you use or how smart, creative, or unique they are. What matters is how you execute them. You can have a thriving business by employing just a few tactics but doing them well enough to bring you visitors, on a constant basis.

So feel free to try all of the ideas we shared in this article, but Rebel Design Solution encourages you to double down on the things that work.