B2B content creation is much like creating anything else. It takes hard work and time to create something of quality that people will admire and use for years to come.

Think, for a moment, about carpentry. There are hacks who will sell you a product that will inevitably break within a year. But there are also master carpenters that  create a lasting product that you will enjoy for years to come.

Normally, an enduring product cannot be created in the matter of a couple hours. It takes time, skill, and knowledge of industry best practices.

The same can be said about content creation.

A new study from BuzzSumo sheds some light on some of the B2B content marketing best practices we need to know to create everegreen

 

 

 

, top-quality content.

But first, let’s look at why it’s important to create high-quality content in the first place.

Why Content Creation is Worth the Effort

One study from Content Marketing Institute showed that content marketing produces over three times more leads than traditional outbound marketing, and costs around 62% less. To any seasoned content marketer, this comes as no great surprise. That’s why content of all types within our B2B PR agency.

Yet people still grapple with content marketing. What’s the problem?

Digging a little deeper, content creation process is at the heart of the issue. In fact, one study found that around 36% of content marketers struggle to produce engaging content.

If you are among this number, what can you do to up the success of your content? A lot of it comes down to knowing the right B2B content marketing strategies and how to use them.

A New Study Sheds Some Light

The folks over at BuzzSumo came out with a new study that helps us as content creators to boost the quality of our content and provides some much-needed direction.

The team at BuzzSumo used its algorithm to scour over 52,000 pieces of content within the B2B digital landscape. Using social media, they got a bird’s eye view of how people interact with content to see what content types work best.

The study looked at B2B articles with a high engagement rate. On average, the content in this study got 1,029 social interactions — which tips the scales considering that on average content gets a median of 4 social interactions.

So what exactly makes successful content more engaging?

Let’s take a look at how we can improve our content creation to better reach the mark and give us better overall results.

5 Awesome Ways to Create the Best B2B Content

1.  Create the Right Headline

We have long known that headlines make a big difference in the success of content. But what exactly makes one headline better than other? A lot of it boils down to phrasing.

The BuzzSumo study found 6 key phrases that got the best results. Here they are, starting with the one that got the highest engagement:

• “The Future of”
• “How to Use”
• “Need to” (without “Know”)
• “How to Create”
• “Here’s How”
• “You Need to Know”

These phrases can be used as a springboard for upcoming content ideas. Think about what your audience needs to do, or what the future holds for your industry. Then use these headline phrases to give those B2B articles a boost.

You can even use these to give your older posts a leg up. For example, do you have a post with great information that isn’t performing the way you would like? Try refurbishing the title with one of these phrases and see how it does.

2. Focus on the Right Length

The length of your content also plays a huge role in your overall B2B content marketing strategy.

The BuzzSumo study found that the majority of brands are publishing short form content (under 1,000 words), with 39,136 articles in this category. On the other hand, there were 10,688 medium-length articles and only 1,868 long-form articles.

This leaves a great space for your brand to fill the gap with longer form. While short-form content creates a great intro to your brand, it is the longer content that tends to get better results, both in SEO and in social interaction.

Look for areas where you can add your expertise to the mix with longer form content that provides an in-depth look at an issue within your industry. Also look back at your backlog of articles and look for ways to beef them up.

3. Leverage Videos

Videos are universally known as the most engaging content across multiple industries, both B2B and B2C. A study from Hubspot shows that 87% of businesses are currently using video in their content creation — a number that has risen from 63% just two years ago, and 83% of marketers say that video gives them a good ROI.

BuzzSumo’s study reveals video to be the evergreen content star. This means that it holds its value and is shared on social media much longer than other forms of content.

Even with these numbers, though, many small- to medium-sized businesses shy away from video creation. Why? This is partly due to the amount of work usually associated with them. To learn more about good business handling, read this guide on how to deal with your resources.

While there is admittedly work involved, it probably isn’t as much as you would think. There are video tools, such as Lumen5, that will pull all of the content you need. With such programs, you can easily be in and out within an hour, and have a high-quality video to show for it.

4. Use Infographics

The visual nature of infographics, along with the snack-size content they offer, makes them a versatile form for any brand.

Following videos, infographics are the most evergreen content that you can use, according to Buzzsumo.

With tools like Canva, infographics are a resource that any brand can create. It take a fair chunk of time to create, but  you’ll have a timeless resource for people to enjoy.

How can you use infographics within your content strategy? You could use an infographic to visually portray facts, figures, and statistics that your brand has uncovered. You could also use  infographics to help your audience visualize a step-by-step process, such as a guide or how-to subject.

There are so many ways that you can use infographics to portray information — you are really only limited by your imagination.

5. Create Helpful Guides

Backlinks are a solid part of both B2B PR and content marketing best practices. After all, links back to your site is what gives you more authority in the all-mighty Google universe. And this recent study sheds some light on how to get more backlinks from your content.

Out of all the types of content studied, guides in general get more backlinks — on average, they receive 10% more backlinks than other types of content.

But how exactly can you create a guide?

Look for a topic that hasn’t already been written to death — the more unique your guide is, the more likely it will perform well and get you backlinks. Once you’ve chosen your topic, provide in-depth information that people won’t find anywhere else.

Remember, guides should not read like technical manuals. True, you want them to be in-depth, but they also need to be engaging and conversational.

In review…

Creating the best B2B content is absolutely attainable for any brand, no matter the size. All it takes is dedication, consistency, and knowing how to do it. We hope this information gives you the tools to create long-lasting and engaging content for your brand.

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