Content marketing is a vital part of any digital marketing strategy. Whether it’s to drive traffic, boost sales, or raise brand awareness, quality content has huge potential and can play a massive role in helping entrepreneurs reach their business goals.

But before creating a content strategy, knowing what the top content marketing challenges are can help to guide your efforts and ensure a seamless implementation. Here’s a look at the five biggest challenges of content marketing that companies face.

Start selling online now with Shopify

Start your free trial

Top five content marketing challenges

Content marketing challenge

Percentage of content marketers who face the following challenge

Finding ideas for new content

16%

Creating content that receives high levels of online engagement

16%

Creating content that attracts more traffic to your website

15%

Reaching your target audience

15%

Creating content that generates leads

14%

1. Finding ideas for new content (16%)

According to a recent report studying the challenges of content marketing, finding fresh and compelling ideas for new content is an issue for 16% of content marketers. As the demand for unique and engaging content grows, consistently generating new topics that resonate with your audience can be daunting.

To address this issue, brands must stay attuned to their audience’s interests and pain points. Conducting regular audience surveys, analyzing social media trends, and monitoring industry news can provide valuable insights. Additionally, leveraging tools like Google Trends and content idea generators can help identify popular topics and emerging trends.

→ Click Here to Launch Your Online Business with Shopify

2. Creating content that receives high levels of online engagement (16%)

Creating content that garners high levels of online engagement is another major hurdle for 16% of marketers. Engagement is crucial for building a loyal audience and driving meaningful interactions, but achieving it requires a deep understanding of what your audience finds valuable and interesting.

High-engagement content requires a deep understanding of your audience’s preferences and behaviors. Use analytical tools to determine what types of content have performed well in the past and replicate those elements. Engaging content often includes storytelling, interactive elements, and multimedia such as videos and infographics. Tailoring your content to the different stages of the buyer's journey also helps to keep it relevant and compelling.

3. Creating content that attracts more traffic to your website (15%)

Generating sufficient traffic via content is also among the top content marketing challenges, faced by 15% of companies. With the digital landscape becoming increasingly crowded, standing out and driving traffic to your site requires strategic planning and execution.

Driving traffic to your website via content involves optimizing it for the world’s most popular search engines, starting with Google. Focus on creating high-quality, keyword-rich content that addresses the needs and queries of your audience. Additionally, promoting your content through social media, email marketing, and partnerships with influencers can amplify your reach and drive more traffic.

4. Reaching your target audience (15%)

Reaching the intended target audience is a challenge faced by 15% of content marketers. Effective targeting involves not only identifying the right audience but also delivering content in the right places at the right times.

Effective audience targeting starts with creating detailed buyer personas that represent your ideal customers. These personas should include demographics, interests, pain points, and online behaviors. 

5. Creating content that generates leads (14%)

Rounding out the list of the top content marketing challenges is generating leads, a struggle for 14% of marketers. Lead generation requires content that not only attracts attention but also convinces potential customers to take the next step in the sales funnel.

To create effective lead-generating content, brands need to provide value and build trust with their audience. Ways to do this include offering free resources such as eBooks, whitepapers, and webinars in exchange for contact information. Ensure that your content addresses common pain points and provides actionable solutions to position your brand as a trusted advisor.

Overcoming top content marketing challenges: conclusion

In conclusion, overcoming content marketing challenges requires a strategic approach and a deep understanding of your audience. By implementing these tactics and continuously refining your strategies, you can enhance your content marketing efforts and achieve your business goals.

Start selling online now with Shopify

Start your free trial

Want to learn more?