How content marketing and SEO are similar and how they differ

In both, we create content in order to get more traffic and sales. There is a cumulative effect in both. But the approach to creating and distributing content is very different.

Let me remind you that the cumulative effect is the principle according to which, each next unit of content will bring you more benefits than the previous one. Unless, of course, you do it right.

Difference #1: how we optimize content
In SEO, we optimize content for the Google algorithm;
In content marketing, we optimize content for the requirements of the target audience.

Content marketing is all about focusing on the quality of content and not sacrificing it, even if it reflects worse on Google positions.

From this difference comes the approach to goal setting for copywriters and expert writers. SEO often uses strict requirements for the uniqueness of the text, readability and keywords.

Difference #2: how we build a content plan
In SEO, we build a content plan based only on the semantic core;
In content marketing, we build a content plan based on the interests of the target audience.

Content marketers often miss out on the benefits because they don’t realize that their material is relevant to a cluster of high-demand keywords and they can get organic traffic if they optimize their page correctly.

Difference #3: Where we place content
In SEO, we place content mostly only on our website;
In content marketing, the website is only one of the possible venues.
In SEO, external sites are also used, but mostly for crowd marketing. They aren’t looked at much as a separate brand resource.

In content marketing, you might even have a one-page site where you drive traffic from other sources, or you sell directly to YouTube, Telegram, or email newsletters.

Difference #4: For what purposes we create content
In SEO, we create content to attract new customers;
In content marketing, we create content to both attract new and retain old audiences.

Difference #5: variety of content types and formats
In SEO, there is little diversity in content types and formats;
In content marketing, there is a large variety of content types and formats.
Content types (difference in content) – guides, interviews with experts, case studies, research, answers to questions and so on.

Content formats (form difference) – articles, videos, presentations, infographics, webinars, apps, e-books and so on.

Difference #6: methods of promoting new content
In SEO, we promote new content usually through crowdfunding and guest posts on other sites;
In content marketing, we use guest posts, posts in communities of social networks, advertising on social networks, advertising from bloggers, email newsletters.
In SEO, guest posts and crowd-marketing are an intermediate stage. The aim is to get links so as to increase the link weight of the page on your site, and then to receive traffic from Google in the target requests.