I bet you've been practing content marketing and didn't even know it!

I'm a big believer in content marketing.  I've been an active practitioner for years and didn't even know it until recently.  I bet you have too.  If you use interactive content on your websites, social media or other channels to promote your business, service or message, in general, you're practicing content marketing.  Pretty simple concept huh?  It just took someone to come up with a cool label to give it relevance.

Eric Anderson recently wrote an article in iMedia Connection on the 10 Commandments of Content Marketing.  I think you'll enjoy reading them.

1.  Content shall be shareable
2.  Content shall be malleable

3.  Content shall be collaborative
4.  Content shall be measurable

5.  Content shall be fearless
6.  Content shall invite comment

7.  Content shall start everywhere
8.  Content shall go everywhere\

9.  Content shall be sponsored
10.Content shall be forever

I have found that providing content that stakeholders and prospects will find entertaining, educational, or otherwise valuable is quite simply, the best possible way to generate awareness and loyalty.  It's a simple formula really:  Give them what they want, let them play, and invite them (and their friends) back for more. 

Content marketing gives consumers a reason to engage you and helps build trust, loyalty and retention.  Once you have that, you have a customer that will advocate for you all day long. 

Now insert that into the customer lifecycle model and see where it takes you.  :-)