Between juggling content creation, distribution plans, and keeping tabs on your customers' metrics, you also need to stay up to date on the latest in content marketing. Easy peasy, right? 😅 (Read: not.)
Content Marketing Resources: Our Favorite Blogs, Newsletters, and Podcasts
SEO, strategy, AI, product-led X–Y–Z, brand-driven location-based omnichannel personalization marketing — okay, that last one might be a stretch. But you get the point. It's A LOT.
Now, you could subscribe to every SEO newsletter on the planet, as our former blog host Ryan Law did at Ahrefs. But do you really want to add an even more overwhelming inbox to your list of headaches? I think not.
Instead of subjecting you to the endless abyss of the internet, I asked the Animalz team about their favorite content marketing resources. Think of it as a curated shortlist of the crème de la crème, the best of the best, the shortlist to end all shortlists.
So, grab a cup of coffee ☕, get cozy, and prepare to level up with our hand-picked content marketing resources: blogs, newsletters, and podcasts. You'll soon wonder how you ever lived without them.
📚️ Must-Read Content Marketing Blogs
Alright, buckle up, because we're about to take a wild ride. First things first: content marketing blogs.
Ann Handley Blog 📝
Look no further than Ann Handley's blog if you want to learn how to create content so captivating it could make a goldfish forget about its 3-second memory span. 🐠
Ann's blog focuses on storytelling and crafting engaging content. Her approachable style and practical advice make her insights accessible to marketers of all levels.
Start here 👉️ 9 Qualities of Good Writing
Content Marketing Institute 🎓
The Content Marketing Institute (CMI) is like the Hogwarts of content marketing 🧙♂️ — it's a comprehensive resource that covers everything from beginner guides to advanced strategies.
CMI keeps you informed about the latest news and best practices with daily updates, contributions from industry experts, and trend reports.
Start here 👉️ Content Marketing Framework: Process
Backlinko 🔗
If you're an intermediate to advanced content marketer looking to level up your SEO skills, Backlinko is your Yoda.
Founded by SEO expert Brian Dean, Backlinko is known for its in-depth guides and case studies, like the legendary "Skyscraper Technique" for link building. Dean's actionable advice will help you become an SEO Jedi Master in no time.
Start here 👉️ How to Get High Quality Backlinks (7 Top Strategies)
Ahrefs Blog 📈
The Ahrefs Blog is the Swiss Army knife of content marketing — a must-have in your bookmarks. It has something for everyone, from beginners to advanced marketers, all served with a heavy dose of SEO.
The blog offers a smorgasbord of technical SEO and content marketing topics, often by leveraging Ahrefs' own data and tools. Expect posts on things like keyword research, link-building strategies, and traffic growth case studies.
Start here 👉️ On-Page SEO: How to Optimize for Robots and Readers
DataBox 📋
Lost in a sea of marketing metrics? The DataBox blog helps you sort out the numerical mess. It comes packed with tips, tools, and best practices for measuring and understanding marketing performance.
This resource covers topics like setting up dashboards and tracking your most important KPIs. Plus, real-world examples and case studies make it easy to see how you can apply these insights to your own marketing efforts.
Start here 👉️ SaaS Marketing Benchmarks to Help You Set Your Goals for 2024
📧 Must-Subscribe Content Marketing Newsletters
Prefer your content marketing insights delivered straight to your inbox? These must-read newsletters trigger red dots you don't dread, packed with the latest trends, strategies, and inspiration.
Starter Story 📈
Starter Story is the newsletter to opt-in to if you want to learn from real-world business growth stories. The emails show how businesses successfully use various marketing strategies — including content marketing — to achieve their goals.
With exclusive interviews with founders, detailed case studies, and actionable growth tips served in a neat little email package, Starter Story is your business mentor on speed dial.
Start here 👉️ How I Turned A Crappy Idea Into A $3M/Year Business
SEO MBA 🎓
Become the MVP of your marketing team with the SEO MBA newsletter. It's where SEO pros learn to integrate their skills more deeply into overall business operations.
SEO MBA is an email master class that covers topics like SEO leadership, communication skills, and aligning SEO with business objectives.
Start here 👉️ The SEO Skills Maturity Matrix
Content Folks ✍️
At Content Folks, the legendary fio (fee-oh) shares her blend of sticky notes, big content ideas, and small practical examples. Once you sign up, expect the newsletter "every other Wednesday. Kind of." (Her words.) Always helpful, and always fun, too.
Start here 👉️ You're not strategic enough
MKT1 🌐
The MKT1 newsletter gives you a broader perspective on all things marketing. Authors Emily Kramer and Kathleen Estreich focus on B2B startup marketing, covering everything from content to digital marketing strategies and leadership.
You'll get tons of practical advice packaged in guides with fancy diagrams that make you feel and look smart when you share them.
Start here 👉️ The (marketing) funnel isn't dead
Elena's Growth Scoop 🌱
Elena's Growth Scoop has over 33,000 subscribers and covers all things product-led: growth, sales, and career development.
Besides keeping you updated on everything growth, Elena brings fun — yes, real fun — to the topic, both in her newsletter and on her LinkedIn. As superstar CMO Carilu Dietrich put it, "I now visit your LinkedIn page instead of The Onion."
Start here 👇️
Lenny's Newsletter 🚀
While primarily focused on product management, growth, and user experience, this newsletter often explores how content marketing intersects with these areas. It's an excellent resource for helping you understand the role of content in driving product success.
What you'll add to your inbox: lots of actionable advice, case studies, and Q&As with industry experts delivered every week.
Start here 👉️ How the biggest consumer apps got their first 1,000 users
The Animalz Newsletter 🦒
Oh yeah, that's us! Subscribe, and you'll hear from us several times a month with our latest insights on content strategy, creation, distribution, and every topic in between.
Others have called our newsletter "a perpetual course in content strategy" and "100% required reading for senior content pros." Each edition features our latest blockbuster blog post, covering important topics like AI-powered research, product-led content, or distribution-first strategies.
👉️ Subscribe now and join over ten thousand other content marketers who rely on the Animalz newsletter to stay informed and inspired.
🎧 Must-Add-To-Your-Playlist Content Marketing Podcasts
If you're more of an auditory learner or just love the convenience of podcasts during your hot-person walk, we've got you covered. These content marketing podcasts keep you informed and inspired, no matter where you are or what you're doing.
Content, Briefly 🎙️
Hosted by Animalz alumni Jimmy Daly, "Content, Briefly" is the perfect podcast for content marketers looking to refine their strategies without taking hours out of their day. Episodes typically clock in at 30 to 40 minutes, so you'll get a balanced mix of concise insights and in-depth discussions.
The show features interviews with SaaS content leaders, providing diverse perspectives on content marketing in the B2B and SaaS sectors.
Start here 👉️ Dock: Eric Doty on automation, learning new skills and LinkedIn superstardom
The Content Strategy Podcast 🗺️
Kristina Halvorson hosts "The Content Strategy Podcast," a goldmine of information for anyone interested in the strategic aspects of content creation, delivery, and governance. Each episode features in-depth interviews with content strategists and leaders from various disciplines, including UX design, technical communication, SEO, and marketing.
You'll dive into specific topics like solving complex content problems, measuring content success, and leadership in content teams.
Start here 👉️ Keri Maijala, LinkedIn - Building and leading a content practice at LinkedIn
Social Media Marketing Podcast 📱
Boost your knowledge of social media with the "Social Media Marketing Podcast," hosted by Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner.
Michael's podcast features marketing experts from various industries and has millions of downloads each year. For over eight years, the show has been helping both new and experienced marketers crush it on social media.
Start here 👉️ How to Get the Most Out of LinkedIn (episode link at the bottom of the page)
Call to Action 📣
"Call to Action" shares marketing wisdom from some of the leading minds in the industry, all delivered with a healthy dose of straight-talking and myth-busting. Hosted by Gasp! agency founder Giles Edwards, the show covers a wide range of marketing topics, from branding and consumer psychology to creativity and effectiveness.
Giles often brings on notable guests, like Mark Ritson, a renowned marketing professor and brand consultant, Rory Sutherland, the witty vice chairman of Ogilvy UK, and legendary copywriter George Tannenbaum, former ECD at Ogilvy.
Start here 👉️ How NOT to use AI as a strategist with Julian Cole
Lenny's Podcast 🚀
That's right, the newsletter man himself also has his own eponymous show, "Lenny's Podcast." If you're interested in product management, growth strategies, or just want to geek out over the latest in the tech industry, "Lenny's Podcast" is your new best friend.
The show features interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts, offering concrete, actionable, and tactical advice for building, launching, and growing tech products.
Must-End-This-List of Content Marketing Resources Before Your Coffee Gets Cold ☕️
That was quite the journey through the world of content marketing resources — it's time to wrap up. We've covered everything from blogs and podcasts to newsletters. (And I can't come up with another emoji if my life depended on it.)
By making these gems a regular part of your routine, you're armed with the knowledge and strategies to tackle even the most terrifying content marketing challenges.
So start reading, start learning, and start dominating the content marketing world (after you finish your coffee. I'm not a monster.)
Until next time!
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