What's one piece of content you created that significantly outperformed your expectations, and what do you attribute its success to?

Question

Diving into the world of content that surpasses expectations, we've gathered insights from CEOs, Marketing Directors, and other industry experts to share their surprising successes. From a comprehensive market-validation report to a power bank blog post that surged in popularity, discover the diverse strategies behind eleven pieces of content that went above and beyond.

Niclas Schlopsna · Answer

I remember when we were working on a detailed market-validation report for a client in the renewable energy sector. The task was to assess the potential of a new solar technology they were developing. We decided to include a comprehensive analysis of not just the current market landscape but also future trends, potential regulatory changes, and an in-depth competitor analysis. To our surprise, this report didn't just meet our client's expectations—it became a cornerstone document that they shared with investors, partners, and even used as a blueprint for their strategic planning.
What made this piece of content particularly successful was our decision to go beyond the immediate scope. We didn't just present data; we told a story of where the market was heading and positioned our client's technology as a key player in that future. Additionally, we included interactive elements like charts and scenario-planning tools, making the report not just informative but engaging. The success of this report reinforced the value of anticipating client needs and delivering insights that are not only relevant today but will remain so in the future.

Jacob Maslow · Answer

A video series featuring client testimonials significantly outperformed expectations. Its success is attributed to genuine, heartfelt stories that resonated with viewers, creating an emotional connection. Sharing real experiences fostered trust and relatability, which drove higher engagement and shares. The authentic nature of the content highlighted our commitment to clients' well-being, making it a powerful tool in our marketing strategy.

Patrick Beltran · Answer

One piece of content that really surprised me by how well it performed was our statistics pages. I discovered that these pages are incredibly effective at generating both links and traffic. Interestingly, some statistics pages have been much more successful at earning links and SEO outcomes than others.
The beauty of this approach is that it flips the traditional outreach model on its head. Instead of reaching out to journalists and content marketers and asking them to link to our content, they find our content themselves when they're searching for data to back up their arguments, and they naturally link to it. For instance, when I was working on a stats page for chatbots, I found some outdated statistics about how many people use chatbots by country. I then used Clearbit and another data-extraction site to gather more current statistics and compared these new findings to the old data.
Additionally, I added graphics. Content marketers not only need data to support their claims; they also need visual elements like graphics and images to make their points clearer and more engaging. That’s why I strongly recommend including graphics with your data. This combination of updated statistics and compelling visuals is what I attribute to the success of these pages. They provide high value to content creators, making them a powerful tool in our digital marketing arsenal.

Alex Stasiak · Answer

One piece of content that exceeded our expectations was a blog post titled 'The Secret Sauce Behind Successful Software Development Projects.' The success of this post can be attributed to its unique blend of practical tips and humorous anecdotes, making it both informative and entertaining for our audience. By sharing our expertise in a relatable and engaging way, we were able to capture the attention of readers and drive significant traffic to our website.

Bhavik Sarkhedi · Answer

One standout piece of content was a blog post titled 'Top 10 Ghostwriting Writing Tips from Experts.' It garnered thousands of shares and significantly boosted our site traffic. The secret? We collaborated with actual ghostwriters and writing professionals to provide authentic, high-value insights. Additionally, we optimized it for SEO, targeting keywords our audience frequently searched for. The combination of expert advice and strategic keyword use made it a hit, showing the power of genuine expertise and SEO in content success.

Rahul Vij · Answer

Last year, our content team created a review blog on Copyleaks—an AI detection tool. It was titled "Copyleaks AI Content Detector Review: Fact or Fiction?" And, well, the blog certainly exceeded all our expectations in terms of both ranking and traffic.
I think there are a few reasons why the blog did tremendously well. One of the reasons is that we provided readers with an in-depth review of the platform, which nobody had done at that time. Also, we included unique insights based on our own testing and use cases, making the content highly original and credible.

Connor Gillivan · Answer

I recently wrote a LinkedIn post titled "Top 21 SEOs to Follow in 2024." I wasn't sure how the listicle-type content would perform, but I wanted to share the resources with others looking to level up their SEO game. LinkedIn ended up loving it. In the first day, it reached 80,000+ impressions with 1,000+ likes and over 300 comments. What made it pop? I believe it had to do with the question I asked at the end of the post: "Who did I miss?" This opened it up for everyone to chime in and share who they like to follow for SEO advice outside of the 21 I had chosen. It created viral engagement in the comments, which gave LinkedIn a reason to boost it.

Alex Capozzolo · Answer

Surprisingly, one of the pieces of content I created that significantly outperformed my expectations was a blog post about sustainable living. As an avid environmentalist, I had written many posts on this topic before, but this particular one seemed to resonate with readers more than any other.
I believe there were several reasons for its success. Firstly, I made sure to use captivating and attention-grabbing headlines and visuals. These helped draw in readers and entice them to read further. Additionally, I included practical tips and actionable steps that people could take toward living a more sustainable lifestyle. This made the content more relatable and applicable to readers' lives.
Moreover, I shared personal anecdotes and experiences, making the post more engaging and humanizing. I also promoted the post on various social media platforms and used relevant hashtags to reach a wider audience. Lastly, I think the timing of the post was crucial as well. With increasing awareness about climate change and environmental issues, people were actively looking for ways to make a positive impact, making my blog post all the more relevant and timely.

Brandon Beatty · Answer

From videos showcasing properties to informative blog posts about the industry, I've tried many different types of content to engage with potential clients and promote myself as an expert in the field. There is one particular piece of content that significantly outperformed my expectations—a virtual home tour video for a high-end luxury property.
This was not just any ordinary virtual tour; it was a fully interactive experience that allowed viewers to explore every nook and cranny of the property, from the grand entrance to the stunning backyard. Overall, I believe that creating high-quality, engaging content and promoting it strategically are key factors in its success. 
Additionally, understanding your target audience and catering to their interests can also greatly impact the performance of your content. In this case, I knew that potential buyers for this luxury property would appreciate a high-tech and immersive experience, and my virtual tour delivered exactly that. Another factor in the success of this piece of content was its uniqueness. While virtual home tours are becoming more common in the real estate industry, not many agents have invested in such an interactive and advanced one like mine. This helped to make my content stand out and grab the attention of viewers.

Precious Abacan · Answer

User-generated content (UGC) has been the most surprisingly successful type of content we've facilitated in creating and distributing! We simply provided content-creation tools to keep users engaged with our brand. We launched a 'Productivity League' where our users could create branded images and videos that we then shared on our various tech platforms' social media accounts.
Our audience has created everything from tech-centric weather forecasts to pictures of themselves lounging in piles of smartphones! We keep users engaged on the site with public challenges, like our 'oddly satisfying challenge,' which invites creators to make hypnotizing videos for a chance to be featured on our Instagram Stories.
I think this worked so well for us because the content from this campaign is outrageous and funny, which naturally drives a lot of engagement. But we're not just sharing photos of people enjoying our product. We're actually driving users to our website and providing them with the tools to create unique content. Giving fans the opportunity to create their own works of art makes them feel connected to our brand. In other words, it's far from your average content!

Dhari Alabdulhadi · Answer

I wrote a blog titled "23 Best Power Banks to Buy in 2023," which significantly outperformed my expectations. This blog received five times more views than my average content. The write-up assisted me in driving engagement to the blog site, and the links redirected customers to the various listings mentioned on our shopping portal to explore more. Tech enthusiasts praised the detailed listings and comparisons of power banks in the comments section.
The blog's success can be attributed to its well-structured format and informative content that covers detailed specifications of the power banks mentioned. My piece of content had a separate section highlighting the benefits of choosing the right power bank based on individual needs, which clearly assisted them in determining the best fit. Additionally, we promoted it across various social media channels, highlighting the benefits of choosing the right power bank and amplifying our e-commerce portal's reach at the same time.

What Content Has Exceeded a Marketing Leaders’ Expectations for Success?

What Content Has Exceeded a Marketing Leaders’ Expectations for Success?

Comprehensive Market-Validation Report Success

Client Testimonial Video Series Impact

Statistics Pages Drive Links and Traffic

Entertaining Software Development Post Engages

Expert Ghostwriting Tips Boost Traffic

In-Depth AI Tool Review Ranks High

LinkedIn SEO Listicle Sparks Viral Engagement

Sustainable Living Blog Resonates with Readers

Interactive Luxury Home Tour Goes Viral

User-Generated Content Campaign Drives Engagement

Power Bank Blog Post Surges in Popularity