In the previous article, we discussed the relationship between content and link building and how both play critical roles in content marketing. In this section, we will examine the most effective format for creating content to build backlinks.
It is broadly categorized into 7 types of content formats usually used in building content.
- Static
- GIF
- Quiz/Questions
- Long Form (articles)
- Surveys
- Interactive
Among marketers, the most prominent and regularly used formats are
- Interactive
- Long Forms
- Static
- GIF
Let us look at each of these four formats in a little depth.
Interactive
Interactive content has become the most popular format in recent years because it allows customers or viewers to interact and participate, thereby showcasing various perspectives. There are multiple ways in which interactive content can be created, either in the form of quizzes or something even more advanced.
Merits of Interactive Content
- Allows presenting multiple perspectives of content
- Users can access different kinds of information by accessing the content in numerous ways
- Interactive content with an exceptional design can attract many links just because of the format per se.
De-merits of Interactive Content
- Requires a front-end developer, thereby increasing the cost of the work
- It is also time-consuming because it requires a designer to come out with a highly interactive interface that is eye-catching and engaging
Long Form
This content usually lacks a “visual” component. However, lately, this format has been used for long-term engagement, where the outcome is least expected. Unlike the interactive one, this one does not have the flavor and jazz to it because it lacks infographics or visual elements.
Merits of Long-Form
- For long-term engagement, without any expectation of huge success, this is an ideal format
- It allows marketers to cover a complete topic in detail and even include a wide range of topics.
- An opportunity to showcase the knowledge on a specific topic
De-merits of long-form
- Not a widely accepted format by leading newspapers and magazines, thereby not able to attract links
- The inability of a marketer to embed this content like a GIF or interactive one makes it very redundant, not to mention a very time-consuming activity to get the content in place.
- It may or may not generate links, but not effective at all, and marketers should not expect any success
Static
A static format is nothing but a stationary image, set of images, or even infographics with very explicitly defined content. Marketers use a lot of such static content to help them build links; in fact, it has been overused lately, but it does prove to be effective.
Merits of static format
- There is no need for a developer because this can be delivered using just a designer
- It is very easy to post the content on a third-party website, thereby able to generate backlinks
De-merits of static format
- Static formats are not responsive at all, and hence, it becomes difficult to view on hand-held devices
- Difficulty in conveying the core message because of lack of proper visibility
GIF
In between, GIFs lost their importance in sharing content and link building, but lately, this format has gained popularity. GIFs are very effective when it comes to link-building through effective content
Merits of GIF Format
- Accomplish content like interactive format, but without involving a developer
- It is very easy to upload the content on websites, blogs, or even social media pages, thereby easy to perform link-building
- Auto-play mechanism when it is loaded. Making it a zero intervention from the user’s point of view
De-Merits of GIF Format
- Not responsive, thus distorting view on hand-held devices
- Not very acceptable to clients, therefore requiring a lot of convincing to be done
Content and link-building will always be integral to each other. Strategies around content marketing are constantly changing to keep up with new technology trends. Link building is an extremely critical process in the domain of digital marketing. To help you understand the significance of link building, here are some vital statistics that should be an eye-opener for businesses who are still contemplating it.
Selecting the right format depends entirely on the content you want to generate and the audience you are targeting. Moreover, you must also consider your readiness for having a front-end developer or designer. If not, formats like interactive and GIF are out of the question.
