The average cost of a content marketing campaign can be from $5000 for SMBs to $60,000+ a month for an enterprise business this variation depends on many factors such as types of content, content team, location, etc.
For any online business content marketing is the top choice. However, when we talk about content marketing, we limit ourselves to creating blog posts or webpage content only. But there is more to the content.
The cost of content marketing depends on many things, a content marketing campaign cost is set depending upon the strategic approach of the business.
In this blog, we will focus on learning types of content and the cost associated with it, factors that influence cost, and freelancer vs. in-house vs. outsourcing content costs.
So before jumping to content marketing costs, let's understand some basics.
What is Content Marketing?
Content marketing is a digital marketing strategy that involves creating and distributing highly valuable and relevant content to attract the right audience to your business.
Content focuses on building relationships with users by providing useful information, storytelling, and showcasing companies' culture and business.
4 reasons why content is important for your business
- Content builds trust and authority which leads your business to position as a brand in the industry
- High-quality and regular content publishing help with SEO (organic growth)
- Engaging content helps your audience interested in the topic and opens a window to visit later for more
- Informative content such as "how to"-content, guides, ebooks, etc can help customers through the buying journey
Types of Content
As mentioned earlier, when we talk about content marketing we mostly think of blog posts or webpage content but there is more to it. These are the following types of content that help the audience engage.
- Blog Posts: To share expertise, insights, and thought leadership on relevant industry topics.
- Infographics: To simplify the concepts, with visual elements.
- Videos: To help educate, entertain, and emotionally resonate with viewers.
- Case studies: Real-world application and impact of a product or service.
- E-books and Whitepapers: Long-form, in-depth content pieces that delve into specialized topics.
Factors influencing content marketing costs
Let's look at the four major aspects that determine content marketing costs. These are --
- Content Types
- Quality and Expertise
- Frequency and Volume
- Distribution Channels
1. Types of Content
Here's a quick summary of the costs associated with each category of content:
- Blog Posts range from $100 to $1000+ for each post, based on length, information, and experience. This can considerably increase when written for talks.
- Infographics cost $300 to $1,000+ per, including design and research.
- Videos can cost anything from $1,000 to $20,000, depending on production quality.
- E-books and whitepapers typically cost between $1,000 and $3,000, including writing, design, and research.
- Case Studies from $600 to $3,000 or more for each case study.
2. Quality and Expertise
This factor highly contributes to your content marketing cost.
Ask yourself a question - why I am posting this content? - Yes, you are right, you want people to read and take action on your content.
AI can also generate content without costing anything but when content is written by a professional writer or a subject matter expert it adds value and experiences which automatically contributes to the higher cost of the content.
3. Frequency and Volume
Costing is also affected by the frequency of content you are planning to publish. For example, publishing weekly 4-5 high-end blog posts may require a higher budget
Let's break this, a high-quality blog with a minimum of 1200 words per blog and considering the posting frequency of 5 blogs per week with an average cost of $0.50 per word.
1200 words x5 blogs = 6000 words
6000 x 0.50 (USD) = 3000 USD
4. Distribution Channels
When it comes to the distribution of content, various channels play a significant role. Content distribution is hugely divided into - website, social media, and video channels.
Content is also divided into organic and paid promotions like social media ads or sponsored content.
Each of these distribution channels can significantly contribute to costing of content creation.
Browse: Top Digital Strategy Agencies to improve your content and marketing efforts.
Content Marketing Costs: Freelancer, In-House, and Outsourced
Here's a quick comparison of freelancer, in-house, and outsourcing content marketing prices.
Freelancers typically charge less, with fees ranging from $0.50 to $2 per word for content writing and graphic design for infographics costing between $15 and $150 per hour, respectively.
In-house Team includes wages, benefits, and training, which can range from $50,000 to $100,000 per employee yearly.
Outsourcing to Agencies offers comprehensive services with monthly retainers of $2,000 to $20,000 or more.
Content Marketing Pricing Table
| Blog Posts | $100 - $500 per post | Costs vary based on length, research, and expertise required. |
| Infographics | $300 - $1,000 each | Includes design and research efforts. |
| Videos | $1,000 - $20,000 per video | Ranges from basic explainer videos to high-quality productions. |
| E-books and Whitepapers | $1,000 - $3,000 each | Costs include writing, design, and research. |
| Content Strategy and Planning | $2,000 - $10,000 one-time | Comprehensive strategy involving research, keyword analysis, and editorial calendar creation. |
| SEO Optimization | $500 - $2,000 per month | Monthly cost for SEO tools and optimization services. |
| Social Media Advertising | $500 - $5,000 per month | Budget for social media ads to promote content. |
| Influencer Partnerships | $500 - $10,000 per campaign | Costs vary based on influencer reach and engagement. |
| Freelancer Content Creation | $50 - $500 per piece | Varies by content type, length, and freelancer expertise. |
| In-house Team | $50,000 - $100,000 annually per employee | Includes salaries, benefits, and training costs for full-time employees. |
| Outsourcing to Agencies | $2,000 - $10,000 per month | Monthly retainer fees for comprehensive content marketing services. |
Please Note: This is an average cost. Cost may vary depending on location, type, company, and purpose.
How to Decide Budget for Content Marketing?
Content is an essential element in online marketing. Just think for a moment about how will you reach your audience without content.
There are many goals you can check to set a budget, but the best idea to decide is to understand how much you can invest in a month.
Here are other things you can consider when strategizing for content marketing
- Are you looking to increase brand awareness?
- Are you looking to generate leads and boost conversions?
- Need short blogs or in-depth content?
- Which type of content will be helpful for your business?
Allocating your budget while keeping these goals in mind can help you decide your budget.
How to Get Started?
It totally depends on your budget and your needs, you can hire from freelancer or build an in-house team, or outsource to an agency.
We at FindBestFirms, recommend outsourcing a team is more beneficial than in-house.
An in-house team can cost more from searching to training your team whereas as an outsourced team comes with various expert levels and can easily scale depending on needs.
You can get started by browsing the top content marketing companies with FindBestFirms.
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