A Content Marketing Journey Through Middle Earth
As has become time-honored tradition for the Burton family (or at least two of us, anyway), my dad and I are once more gearing up for a holiday journey through Middle Earth, this time to see the third installment of the Hobbit trilogy. My dad and I take great pleasure in joining the hobbits and their comrades as they battle the forces of evil and discover themselves along the way, and nothing can stop us from doing so: not illness, nor injury, nor the last drool-soaked moments of tonsillectomy recovery can keep us from relishing in these cinematic adventures. My mom doesn’t share the same fervor for fighting and fantasy, but I digress.
As we fuel up on Lambas bread (read: popcorn) and prepare to fight through the hordes of Orcs and Wargs at the theater, I find myself reflecting on my own unexpected journeys as a content marketer. Setting out from college with a degree in English and that oh-so-familiar drive every writer feels to pen the next Great American Novel–a drive that still holds a flame in my heart, mind you–I never thought I would find myself writing for businesses, diving into Analytics and working to promote companies’ images within the digital world.
In a much broader sense that speaks to all of us, whether we consider ourselves content marketers by profession or we simply send out a business blog or email on occasion, content marketing mirrors the growth and changes that reluctantly heroic Hobbit experienced. That’s not to say we all begrudgingly churn out post after post before returning home to our books; rather, here are just a few of the ways we’ve all embarked upon an unexpected journey:
- We have to see the world beyond our Hobbit holes in order to grow. Before Bilbo was goaded into adventure by Gandalf and the dwarves, he knew next to nothing about the world beyond the Shire. If we stay glued to our laptops all day, how are we to have anything to write about? Content marketing forces us to go out and experience the world, to find new subjects and gain inspiration from places we had never before considered.
- We have to push beyond our comfort zones. Before that fateful day, Bilbo never thought he’d be stealing jewels from dragons or fighting Uruk-hai with an Elven blade. As content marketers, it is our duty for ourselves and our clients to think outside the box. Sure, another blog about the importance of changing your air filter is relevant and helpful for an air conditioning company, but does it make them stand out from the crowd? Find new avenues for your content and take a few risks, and you may just reap some great rewards.
- We have to understand our own value. Throughout the trilogy, Bilbo struggles to understand how he, a simple Hobbit, is valuable to the dwarves’ mission; but in the end, his actions precipitate some major events. Though blogging, imaging, and posting to social may seem like small tasks, in the end, they can all make huge things happen.
As we prepare for 2015, I’m excited for all the unexpected journeys that await. In the new year, make it your resolution to do great things in your content marketing efforts and beyond. Take a few chances, explore the world around you, and understand just how important you are. To get started on a great social and content marketing campaign, call Elephant Ear today at (321) 537-2649.