Why Going the Extra Mile with Your Content Really Pays Off

Ever feel like your business is getting lost in the crowd? It's a common scenario, especially due to the fact that you have to go tenfold when it comes to content creation. In a way if you think about it in today's digital jungle it basically feels like it’s where everyone is shouting to be heard, right? To a degree it’s true. 

Just think about it, if you scroll through social media you’re going to see ads from businesses (paid ads), then you’re going to see influencers advertising something, and then the businesses you follow are also going to be advertising too… Oh, and don’t forget the other people you follow like friends and family. 

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

There’s a lot of competition from a company trying to promote a product. When it comes to marketing, even content marketing, businesses are looking to cut costs, not pay more. But again, you’re competing regardless of what platform, you’re still in competition with everyone and everything. 

With that said you need to have solid content, but that’s not enough. In fact, because of this competition, it’s exactly why unique and engaging content isn’t just nice to have—it’s a must. Let's dive into why putting a little extra love into your content creation could be the best move for your business.

Why Generic Content Just Doesn’t Cut It for Businesses Anymore

It's a content-saturated world out there—not that it’s a bad thing. People love content, and they consume it. Besides, content comes in so many forms, too. Every day, businesses bombard consumers with endless streams of information. But amidst this deluge, much of what’s shared fades into the background, forgotten as soon as it’s seen—if it’s seen at all.  

This goes back to what was being said above, when your business posts (or when you post on your personal account), you’re in competition with everything- so it’s not just businesses. Generally speaking, when it comes to generic content, it fades and it’s quickly forgotten- something you need to avoid.

It Fails to Engage

The first rule of effective communication is to catch the listener's interest. Generic content—think clichéd slogans, stock images, and repetitive, sales-driven messages—rarely sparks curiosity or emotional engagement.

 You have to keep in mind that today's savvy consumers expect more; they crave content that entertains, informs, or offers genuine value. If your content doesn't engage, it simply won't be remembered. Just put yourself in their shoes, do you actually enjoy generic content? Probably not, right?

Where’s the Personal Touch?

One size does not fit all remember that! Content that tries to appeal to everyone often ends up resonating with no one, again, something else that so many businesses seem to get wrong. This is exactly why personalization is key in today’s marketing landscape- you could even say that it’s a full-on requirement! 

Consumers prefer brands that understand their individual needs and preferences. They want it to feel as if was directly meant for them, the message. For the most part, generic content misses the opportunity to connect on a personal level, making your brand feel distant and disconnected.

It’s Just Not Share-Worthy

You have to keep in mind that we’re currently in an age where social media is king. It’s the kingdom, and shareability is the currency. The whole point is to go viral, the whole point is to awe-struck your audience! You want people to share your content; that alone is free marketing. Content that is unique, interesting, and relevant gets shared; everything else often gets ignored.

Generic content typically lacks the originality and relevance needed to motivate shares, which stunts its ability to reach a wider audience organically. TikTok dances and following certain trends don’t cut it either; you have to go out there, you have to go bold, attention-grabbing, and again, just not doing what others are. Maybe when it comes to video content, instead of using your phone you use a DJI Avata 2 instead?

Maybe this could mean adding an augmented reality feature to your content. Maybe you can literally take your content outside and it be physical and interactive? Just again, doing what others are doing makes it generic, and if you want to be a trendsetter this literally means you have to do what’s different. 

It Doesn’t Tell a Compelling Story

Stories are how humans have shared knowledge and captured interest since time immemorial. A good story can convey your brand’s identity, values, and mission in a way that factual content alone cannot. Storytelling has always worked and is always expected with content, and it’s probably forever going to stay this way too. Generic content often skips storytelling, opting instead for straightforward, bland information that fails to make an emotional connection with the audience.

It Undermines Your Brand’s Identity

What makes your brand different? If your content doesn’t reflect your unique selling proposition, it's not doing its job. Generally speaking generic content tends to be so broad that it dilutes the uniqueness of the brand it represents. Tailored distinctive content on the other hand, celebrates and amplifies what’s special about your brand, reinforcing your identity and differentiating you from competitors.

It Provides No SEO Advantage

SEO and content go together beautifully- when done right of course. But at the same time, search engines, especially Google will almost always reward originality and penalize content that appears to be copied or barely modified from elsewhere (so yes copying and pasting is bad). But if there’s a lack of originality, Google is going to notice. 

Generic content often falls into this trap, failing to incorporate targeted keywords effectively or provide any new value that would improve search engine rankings. This is exactly why it's important to focus on being unique, unique, quality content is key to performing well in search results.

Needless to say, there is a lot of work that goes into all of this. Content is hard to create, especially unique content at that. But you have to remember, in the world of content it’s not just about being seen—it’s about being remembered and revered.

What Can You Do to Revilatize Your Content Strategy?

Again, it’s about avoiding making something generic and instead creating something people actually want. Transforming your approach to content creation can dramatically enhance your brand's visibility, engagement, and connection with your audience. Again, it’s a lot of work, but it’s absolutely worth it!

Start with a Deep Dive into Audience Analysis

Start with who knows best: your audience. Thankfully, it’s not too hard to do. You’ll just want to conduct surveys, monitor social media interactions, and analyze website traffic to understand your customers’ preferences, pain points, and interests. Use these insights to tailor your content, ensuring it addresses specific needs or desires. This targeted approach helps create a personal connection and makes your content far more relevant and engaging.

Learn to Master the Art of Storytelling

People remember stories, not ads. Now, just think about ads that tell a story, they’re far more memorable, right? This is exactly why you need to craft narratives around your products or services that involve real people, evoke emotions, and include compelling conflicts and resolutions. 

This could include sharing some success stories of how your product changed a customer's life or behind-the-scenes stories about how your service was developed. But overall, storytelling not only increases engagement but also enhances brand recall.

Leverage UGC

One of the best things a business could do in its content is show authenticity, and the best way to do this is through UGC—not influencer marketing— UGC (User Generated Content) from actual customers who love your brand! So, you might want to look into user-generated content like reviews, testimonials, and social media posts. It can be incredibly persuasive. It adds authenticity to your brand and shows that you value customer input. Plus, it provides fresh original content that you can share to attract a broader audience.

It’s All About Experimenting

So, this cannot be stressed enough: Get out of your comfort zone! Seriously, don't just stick to text or images. Your business will need to explore a variety of content formats like videos, podcasts, infographics, or interactive webinars. Just do something different, do something out there, do something that’s far away from being generic! 

Take a look at fashion brands for example, some of their content and marketing have spun into IRL such as gelato cart collaborations. Maybe a pop-up cafe, gallery, just something really unique and out there. You can’t always play it safe, because it can be boring, and it can be generic. It’s all about seeing what sticks, but you can only do that if you experiment. 

Is It Worth It?

At the end of the day creating compelling content is absolutely worth it, and it’s important to do. You can’t have a good content marketing strategy if you’re not willing to make the investment. Pictures and words just don’t do the trick. It’s about sharing a unique point of view, and above all just going that extra mile.