A custom design experience tailored for maximum ROI on your marketing efforts.
Multi-channel, blended search strategies for full-funnel lead generation.
Rachel Billick-Smith , Senior Digital Strategist
Catch Rachel hanging from the ceiling while practicing her moves during an aerial exercise class on the silks or lyra. She has a passion for all things K-pop, Lady Gaga, dance and her Siamese cat, Sammy. Not only is she nimble, but has also dabbled in powerlifting (double the protein in her Chipotle bowl).
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of balance displayed during working hours while she nimbly supports both paid search and paid social efforts for clients.
August 30, 2023 | Gain Knowledge
The marketing funnel is a crucial framework that illustrates the customer’s journey from awareness to conversion. Mid-funnel content marketing hits your audience at that moment where they might transition from simply being aware of a product to seriously considering it.
Engaging these prospects requires a nuanced approach, employing targeted strategies to nurture their interest and guide them further down the funnel.
We’ve written a lot about the full-funnel marketing approach, but this article sheds light on mid-funnel marketing strategies that can help you connect with your audience at this essential stage. Let’s dive in!
Mid-funnel marketing is where prospects are aware of their problem and are actively seeking solutions.
The marketing funnel is typically divided into three main stages: top (awareness), middle (consideration), and bottom (decision).
They’re not just browsing; they’re evaluating options, comparing features, and seeking to understand how your product or service can meet their needs.
At this stage, generic content won’t suffice. Prospects need detailed, informative, and personalized content that resonates with their unique situation and needs. Mid-funnel content must build trust, provide value, and position your brand as the best solution.
It’s about answering the question, “Why should I choose you?” This requires a strategic approach, focusing on particular types of middle funnel marketing and personalized engagement.
Webinars and live streams are powerful tools for engaging your sales funnel. These formats allow for real-time interaction, enabling you to address questions, clarify doubts, and provide in-depth insights into your products or services.
Webinars can be used to showcase expert opinions, demonstrate products, or explore topics that resonate with your target audience. The live aspect adds a layer of authenticity and connection that’s hard to achieve with other content types.
Case studies offer real-world examples of how your product or service has solved a problem for a customer. This has been our sweet spot at Gravitate.
For mid-funnel prospects, case studies serve as tangible proof of your solution’s effectiveness. By highlighting specific challenges, strategies, results, and testimonials, case studies build credibility and illustrate how your offering can meet their needs.
Product demonstrations are visual guides that walk prospects through the features and benefits of your product. They provide a clear and concise view of how your product works, allowing prospects to visualize how it could fit into their lives or businesses.
It’s always better to SHOW, then it is to just TELL. Demonstrations should be detailed yet easy to understand, focusing on the aspects most relevant to your audience’s pain points.
Understanding your audience is paramount in crafting mid-funnel content that resonates. At this stage, prospects are looking for specifics, and generic content won’t cut it. Define your target audience by exploring their demographics, psychographics, pain points, and needs.
Utilize data insights, surveys, and customer interviews to gain a deep understanding of what motivates them. This knowledge will guide you in creating content that speaks directly to their concerns and desires.
Tailoring content to individual preferences adds a personalized touch that can significantly enhance engagement. Personalized content could include addressing the user by name in email marketing, creating user-specific recommendations, or providing content that aligns with their past behavior and interests. Feels good when someone knows your name, right?!
By leveraging data-driven insights, you can make your mid-funnel content feel more relevant and connected to the individual, fostering a deeper relationship and encouraging them to move closer to a purchase decision.
Effective Calls-to-Action (CTAs) are essential in guiding prospects further down the funnel. In the mid-funnel stage, CTAs should be crafted to prompt further engagement rather than immediate purchase. Examples could include inviting users to download a whitepaper, sign up for a webinar, or request a free trial. The placement of these CTAs is equally important. Position them strategically within your content to naturally guide the reader to the next step without feeling intrusive or pushy.
Here’s an example below. I know, it’s so meta!
Have questions about it? Contact us.
Tracking and analyzing the performance of your mid-funnel content strategy is vital in understanding what resonates with your audience and what doesn’t. Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor metrics such as page views, time on page, and conversion rates.
Keep an eye on how different content types perform and analyze the user’s journey through your site. The insights gained can guide you in refining your strategy, optimizing content, and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your mid funnel marketing efforts.
In the ever-evolving digital landscape, following best practices ensures that your mid-funnel content marketing strategies are both effective and aligned with industry standards. Here are some key guidelines:
Mid-funnel prospects are in the evaluation phase, and consistency in branding helps in building trust and recognition. Maintain uniformity in visual elements, tone, messaging, and overall content experience across all platforms.
This consistency reassures prospects of your professionalism and makes your brand more memorable.
Prospects may interact with your brand across various channels, including your website, social media, email marketing, and more. Ensure a seamless transition between these channels by integrating them with a cohesive strategy.
For instance, social media posts can lead to a detailed blog post, followed by an email signup for a related webinar. That’s digital marketing folks!
The digital marketing world changes rapidly, and outdated content can harm your credibility.
Regularly review and update your mid-funnel content to ensure that it remains accurate, relevant, and aligned with current trends and industry developments. This not only keeps your content fresh but also demonstrates your commitment to providing valuable information.
Recommended Reading
While best practices guide what to do, it’s equally crucial to recognize what to avoid in mid-funnel marketing:
Like Happy Gilmore, harness the good and block the bad here and you can craft mid-funnel content marketing strategies that resonate with your audience, build trust, and guide them smoothly toward conversion.
Mid funnel marketing is a vital stage for a potential customer that bridges the gap between awareness and decision-making. They’re almost across the goal, but not quite yet. By understanding the unique needs of prospects at this stage and implementing targeted strategies, businesses can build deeper connections, build trust, and guide potential customers towards conversion.
Our content focus is always on value, personalization, engagement, and consistent branding, along with adhering to the best practices I mentioned above. Follow that and you can turn your mid funnel content marketing into a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal.
Answers to common questions about mid-funnel marketing.
Mid-funnel content marketing focuses on engaging prospects who are actively considering various solutions to a problem they have identified. It involves creating tailored, informative, and engaging content that builds trust, educates, and nurtures these prospects, guiding them from consideration to decision-making.
Creating engaging mid-funnel content requires a deep understanding of your audience’s needs, pain points, and desires. Utilize strategies like content personalization, effective call-to-action integration, consistent branding, and cross-channel integration. Focus on value-driven content that resonates with your audience and guides them through the evaluation phase.
The mid-funnel stage calls for content that provides deeper insights and detailed information. Types of content that work well include webinars and live streams, case studies, product demonstrations, whitepapers, and personalized email campaigns. These formats allow for in-depth exploration of topics, demonstration of value, and direct engagement with prospects.
Measuring success in mid-funnel marketing involves tracking metrics such as engagement rates, time on page, conversion rates, and lead quality. Utilize tools like Google Analytics, customer surveys, and CRM data to assess the performance of different content types and identify areas for optimization.
Several tools can enhance mid-funnel content marketing, ranging from marketing automation platforms like HubSpot to analytics tools like Google Analytics. CRM systems, personalization engines, webinar platforms, and social media management tools are also valuable in creating, managing, and measuring mid-funnel content.
Share
We deliver compelling digital experiences to drive brands forward, engage target audiences, and drive results.
We evolve and continually enhance your digital presence to drive traffic and improve conversions.