Why Every Startup Needs a Content Marketing Plan and Strategy

It’s a no brainer that an international startup might lack in budget for marketing purposes and might also be short on resources as well, especially in a country like Japan. Both these factors hold them back and stop them from competing against their bigger competitors in the game. They only have two things to rely upon: big ideas and hard work. Additionally, they have to jostle for space in a sector like the Japanese market where new players get introduced on a daily basis.

More so, startups also take into account the constantly changing behavior and preferences of customers. Without doing this, it would not be possible to deliver what is exactly needed by the target audience. Therefore, having a shoe-string budget will no longer come in the way of realizing business objectives as there is the internet.

So, when planning a strategy for a startup, it is advisable to understand how important content marketing is. Not only is content marketing affordable, but it is one of the most effective ways to reach both your primary and secondary target audience among the 117.6 million internet users in Japan.

What is Content Marketing?

Content marketing is the process of using web-content to communicate about your business to your potential clients without direct sales. It uses elements of story-telling as opposed to direct marketing to create an image that any consumer can relate to. Successful content marketing often encourages consumers to share their experience and product relevant information. Often, the web-content created by your company simply acts as the fuel needed to generate a direct market response.

So What Does This Mean For You?

1.   Building Your Brand Equity and Awareness

The first thing that comes to your prospective client the moment they come across you online is what sets you apart from the competition. This is why you need to create a top-notch content for your business that will proffer you as an industry expert and leader.

2.   Increasing Trust

Your content marketing plan will be the one to explain who you are and what your company has to offer. This is why you need to include everything about your business like your industry knowledge, company culture, beliefs, personality, and your ability to address your client’s needs effectively — this will help you build trust with your consumers.

3.   Building Customer Relationships and Increase Customer Engagement

Which one will you rather go for if you are looking for a product or service: the service that talks more about how your problems can be solved or the one that is a sales heavy blog post? This is why your content marketing plan must consist of content that adds value to your preferred audience rather than unfavorable advertisements.

4.   Expanding Your Reach

And lastly, this is one of the most beneficial part of adopting online marketing as a startup: it helps you meet your clients’ prospective from things you might not even think of. 

Networking and having strong connections play a vital role in Japan’s online world. If you have good links with content marketing giants, you can link their content to your posts or you can ask them to include your content in their posts to offer more value to the readers.