The Four Phases Of A Successful Content Marketing Funnel
​

Guest Post

​You've probably noticed that the majority of the information you discover online is created with a particular goal in mind — to encourage you to buy things, subscribe to a newsletter, or, at the absolute least, try to make people familiar with a brand or business.
 
"If you ask your friend for a recommendation for a nice restaurant, they will almost certainly recommend their favourite. While you may have gone there on the advice of a friend, it is not by chance that you came upon such a spot. It's a marketing funnel—a marketer's deliberate approach," connotes marketing head and SEO content strategist Christian Green of Write Fuel.
 
Undoubtedly, the overwhelming majority of the stuff you come across is part of a massive marketing funnel. But, exactly, how does this function? What role does your content play in the client journey? Read on to learn about Angel Blue Marketing professionals' four stages of the content marketing funnel.
​
What Is A Content Marketing Funnel?
A content marketing funnel represents the steps a consumer goes through from their initial content encounter (e.g., making a purchase, signing up for a free trial, or subscribing) to conversion. The content marketing funnel, like the sales funnel, tracks the buyer's path from awareness to purchase.
 
The content marketing funnel has four phases. Each phase has various names according to different professionals, but they're all identified by their relative location in the funnel.
 
1st Phase: Awareness
The awareness phase happens when customers are initially introduced to your product or service. Your content should be interesting and educational to create a good first impression. It should pique prospective clients' curiosity to know more about your company. Videos, blog entries, infographics, and social media postings may all be used at this funnel stage.

2nd Phase Evaluation
Potential clients decide whether or not they need your product or service in the evaluation phase in the middle of the funnel (MOFU). During the evaluation phase, you aim to establish trust with your customer. Nobody buys from or conducts business with companies they don't trust, so find means to strengthen that bond. Furthermore, in this phase, you must provide your consumers with sufficient information to enable them to determine whether or not to purchase your goods. You can do this by providing material such as ebooks, journal articles, and white papers.

3rd Phase: Conversion
This is the stage at which the customer chooses to make the purchase. They're beginning to recognise the benefits of your product or service, and they may be weighing alternative possibilities to determine which one provides the most value. You can use content in this stage to get your prospect to go and do something, like buy your products or avail of your services.
 
4th Phase: Retention
Among the most tricky parts of the marketing funnel is to turn a "one-time" buyer into a long-term customer and advocate for your brand.
 
Now that customers have bought something from you, you can't expect them to stay; instead, you must persuade them. Think like your customers and figure out what they want. You should keep a close eye on your customer support and customer experience at this point because if there is an issue with your good or service, your customer may want it resolved quickly.

How Can You Make Successful Content Marketing Funnel?
​The primary goal of the content marketing funnel is to create content that converts. Your brand or business will be able to connect with, and influence clients at every phase of the content marketing funnel if you have a sound plan in place.
 
Angel Blue Marketing experts understand that a solid content strategy is just one half of the puzzle. We take it as gospel truth that understanding how your content performs using set metrics is crucial. Examine your current material regularly for opportunities to enhance or reuse it. Remember to offer new and potential consumers a reason to buy and stay.
 
Get in touch with us to maximise your content planning capabilities to develop and grow your marketing funnel.