Top 8 Content Marketing Platforms in 2023

Top 8 Content Marketing Platforms in 2023

Introduction

Throughout my extensive journey as a marketer, the debate between in-house content creation and outsourcing has consistently surfaced. Both avenues have their unique merits, underlined by the needs and vision of individual organizations.

In-house teams undoubtedly bring an invaluable consistency to a brand's voice, reflecting its core ethos in every piece. Their intimate understanding of brand nuances allows for a seamless communication flow. However, the world of outsourcing offers vast opportunities. It provides access to a diverse range of industry-specialized talent, ensuring content of high quality and pertinence.

Recent advancements further bolster the case for outsourcing. Notably, the integration of AI capabilities, including platforms like OpenAI, is revolutionizing the content creation landscape. This synergy of human expertise with the power of advanced AI streamlines processes, optimizes content output, and anticipates market shifts with precision.

In essence, as businesses adapt to the digital age's ever-evolving demands, the fusion of top-tier talent with cutting-edge technology offers a compelling pathway forward. Outsourcing, in this context, isn't just a tactical choice—it's strategic, ensuring brands stay ahead of the curve while efficiently managing resources. The key is to align decisions with overarching brand objectives and the ever-changing pulse of the market. In stride with this strategic outsourcing, content marketing platforms emerge as powerful allies.

What are content marketing platforms?

Content marketing platforms are centralized digital environments where businesses can manage, create, distribute, and sometimes measure the performance of their content marketing efforts. These platforms provide a suite of tools and resources that streamline the content marketing process, making it easier for marketers to generate and share content that resonates with their target audience. They often include features like content creation and editing tools, SEO, and access to a network of freelance writers and designers. By consolidating these functions into one platform, content marketing platforms empower businesses to maintain a consistent brand message across various channels, optimize their content strategy, and efficiently collaborate among teams and with external content creators. Moreover, they save time and resources, making the complex task of content marketing more manageable and more effective in reaching and engaging the intended audiences.

Benefits of Utilizing Content Marketing Platforms

In the digital era, the need for robust and compelling content is paramount for any business aiming to create a significant online presence. Content marketing platforms serve as a springboard for such endeavors, offering a plethora of benefits that significantly outweigh traditional methods of content creation and distribution. Here are some notable advantages:

• Cost-Efficiency: One of the primary benefits is the cost-saving aspect. By consolidating various content marketing tasks within a single platform, businesses can significantly reduce operational costs. Additionally, the access to freelance talent often proves to be more economical compared to hiring in-house teams.

• Access to a Broader Talent Pool: These platforms are a gateway to a global pool of skilled content creators, offering a diverse range of expertise and creativity. This diversity can inject fresh perspectives into your content, enhancing its appeal to a broader audience.

• Streamlined Operations: Content marketing platforms simplify the workflow through a centralized dashboard, making it easier to manage assignments, track progress, and maintain deadlines. The streamlined process minimizes the hassle and saves valuable time.

• Enhanced Content Quality: With the availability of experienced and specialized freelancers, coupled with built-in SEO and editing tools, these platforms significantly elevate the quality of content. The collaborative environment also facilitates feedback and revisions, ensuring the content is polished and aligned with the brand’s message.

In summation, content marketing platforms are instrumental in bolstering a brand’s online narrative while fostering a conducive environment for creativity, collaboration, and strategic content marketing.

Key Considerations When Selecting a Content Marketing Platform

Navigating through the vast array of content marketing platforms to find the one that aligns with your business needs can be a daunting task. However, by focusing on certain key aspects, you can significantly simplify the selection process. Here are some critical considerations to keep in mind:

• Ease of Use: A platform that boasts an intuitive interface and user-friendly features will lower the learning curve and enable your team to get up and running quickly. Ease of use enhances productivity and ensures a smooth workflow.

• Range of Services: It's crucial to choose a platform that offers a broad spectrum of content marketing services. From content creation, editing, and distribution to analytics and SEO optimization, a comprehensive suite of services will cater to all your content marketing needs.

• Pricing: Pricing structures vary among different platforms. It's essential to select a platform that provides transparent pricing and delivers value for money. Assess the pricing against the range of services provided to ensure it aligns with your budget and offers a good return on investment.

• Customization Capabilities: The ability to tailor the platform to meet your specific needs is a huge advantage. Customization ensures that the platform can adapt to your marketing strategies and brand guidelines, providing a personalized user experience.

• Support and Training Resources: Robust customer support and an abundance of training resources are vital for navigating any challenges that may arise. Look for platforms that offer timely support, comprehensive training materials, and a community forum for peer-to-peer assistance.

• Scalability: As your business grows, your content marketing needs will evolve. A scalable platform that can grow with your business is a smart investment for the long term.

By carefully weighing these factors and aligning them with your business objectives, you can select a content marketing platform that will meet your current needs and adapt to your evolving marketing strategies. Driving sustained success in your content marketing endeavors.

So without further ado, let’s dive into our top 8 list of content marketing platforms that focus on content creation. The selection of content marketing platforms was made with real consumer insights from several third-party platforms, ensuring a well-rounded view of each platform's strengths and areas of improvement

1. Contently

Problem Solution:

The primary attraction of Contently is its ability to serve as a powerful platform for content creators and marketers. Users applaud the platform's efficiency in creating and maintaining an online freelance portfolio, making it effortless for writers and marketers to showcase their work to potential clients. This addresses the prevalent challenge in the content industry of having a consolidated, attractive, and efficient way to display one's work. Additionally, Contently has found favor among brands looking to craft compelling narratives, notably in sectors like healthcare where quality, engagement, and differentiation are paramount.

Key Features:

• Portfolio Creation: Users can effortlessly add new pieces to their portfolios, enhancing their online presence.

• Job Opportunity Board: An exclusive feature available only for Contently members, opening doors to potential freelance opportunities.

• Docalytics: This is an underlined favorite. Unlike traditional email tracking, docalytics provides precise insights such as when a document was opened, the duration of engagement, the device used, the recipient's location, and specific areas of interest through heat mapping. This empowers users to strike while the iron is hot, making timely follow-ups.

• Smart Workflows & AI-powered Tips: Users benefit from streamlined processes that save both time and energy.

• Advanced Analytics: With comprehensive and smart analytical tools, brands can monitor their content's progress and performance, fine-tuning their strategies based on real-time feedback.

Downsides:

• Limited Portfolio Flexibility: One of the recurrent complaints is the inability to add PDF files to the portfolio in lieu of links. Given the transient nature of online links, having a stable PDF version ensures durability.

• Analytical Navigation: Some users find the pathway to certain analytics confusing, indicating a possible need for refining the platform's intuitiveness.

• Cost: Noted by some, the subscription price for Contently is on the higher side.

Customer Support: 

The Contently team garners widespread admiration for their proactivity and support. Whether users are initiating their journey on the platform or require continued assistance, the account team is consistently recognized as "exceptional". Any delay in integration or operationalization is often attributed to the user's end, reinforcing the platform's inherent ease of use.

Summary:

Contently has firmly established itself as a premier platform for content creation, distribution, and analytics. It offers a suite of advanced tools that cater to the diverse needs of freelancers, marketers, and brands. While it excels in multiple domains, especially with its innovative docalytics feature and robust analytics, there are areas, such as intuitive navigation and portfolio flexibility, that could benefit from enhancements. Regardless, its laudable customer support and overall efficiency make it a formidable contender in the content management space.

2. Contentoo.com

Problem Solution:

Contentoo is praised for its ability to match businesses with freelancers who fit their company and project requirements, thus solving the problem of finding experienced and specialized freelance help. Many users mentioned that Contentoo is exceptional at bridging the content gap within their organizations, especially when in-house teams are overwhelmed. The platform is particularly lauded for aiding in content localization, whitepaper creation, and translations, which were previously time-consuming tasks handled internally. Apart from that, it really serves as a one-stop shop for all content needs, and you can also create various designs via the platform. One of the key features of Contentoo in respect to the other solutions is their augmented AI tool, that can be optimised per customer for different needs. The AI tool can, for example, be used for innovative and cost-effective content refreshes at scale. 

Key Features:

• Tailored Freelancer Matching: Contentoo's freelancer selection process ensures that companies are paired with experienced freelancers suited to their specific needs.

• Ease of Use: Users find the platform intuitive and straightforward, making it easy to submit projects.

• Quality Content Production: The freelancers on Contentoo are often commended for delivering quality content that enriches the digital presence of the clients.

• Scalable Platform: Contentoo's scalability is appreciated for aiding in ramping up content production and localization efforts. Contentoo has been incorporating AI/NLP (OpenAI) as part of its workflows speeding up the content creation process at lower cost. 

• Close Contact with Account Managers: Users appreciate the close contact with account managers who are described as genuinely interested and helpful.

Downsides:

• Foundational Platform Features: Some users have pointed out that the platform offers a basic set of features and could benefit from further development, particularly in incorporating advanced functionalities like SEO checks.

• Rigidity in Operations: The system has faced criticism for its limited flexibility, especially in handling custom requests or non-standard procedures.

• Room for Improvement in Translations: It has been observed that translations may not always be flawless, sometimes necessitating user intervention to make necessary corrections.

Customer Support: 

The contact with Contentoo's customer support, particularly the account managers, is described as very close and responsive. Users appreciate the prompt responses to their inquiries and the willingness of the support team to help. However, there's a suggestion for the platform to offer broader brainstorming sessions for long-term collaborations to improve the content creation process further.

Summary:

Contentoo is appreciated for its ability to connect businesses with experienced freelancers, thereby aiding in scaling content production and filling content gaps within organizations. Its ease of use and the quality of content delivered are highly valued. However, users suggest that the platform could benefit from enhanced features and a more flexible system to cater to custom requests. The customer support is generally well-regarded, with users appreciating the close contact and responsiveness of the account managers.

3. Freelancer.com

Problem Solution:

Freelancer.com has emerged as a versatile platform catering to both employers looking for talent and individuals searching for work. The ability to work remotely, particularly crucial in contemporary times, is one of the major problems Freelancer.com addresses. It offers a convenient arena for the unemployed, students, and professionals alike, to find suitable job opportunities tailored to their skills and availability.

Key Features:

• Diverse Opportunities: Users appreciate the wide array of project options available, from professional services to simple data entry tasks.

• Global Access: The platform boasts a vast global reach, connecting clients and freelancers from all corners of the world.

• Security Measures: Freelancer.com boldly flags potential fake job postings, ensuring users are wary and safeguarded against scams.

• Skill Enhancement: Freelancers have the opportunity to take additional exams on the website, bolstering their credentials and making them more appealing to potential clients.

• MAS Tool & Marketing Automation Software: These tools assist in efficient data management and improve communication skills, providing users with an enhanced ability to manage their tasks and clientele.

Downsides:

• Account Issues: Some users reported abrupt account shutdowns without prior notice, resulting in lost time and effort.

• Low-Quality Talent: Despite the platform's vast user base, there have been complaints about the quality of talent, with some freelancers merely copying/recycling content from the web or not living up to expectations.

• Misleading Job Postings: Despite security measures, users still encounter deceitful job postings or situations where the agreed-upon payment changes after an award.

Customer Support:

While the platform is known to have extensive mechanisms in place to ensure user security, the effectiveness and efficiency of customer service have been questioned by many. Users have experienced delays, lack of clarity, and occasionally, inadequate resolution to their problems.

Summary:

Freelancer.com serves as a comprehensive hub connecting skilled individuals with potential employers. Its strengths lie in its global reach, the breadth of job opportunities, and tools designed for better management and improved user experience. However, there are certain operational areas, especially in terms of account management and customer support, that need attention. Given the platform's dual role of serving both clients and freelancers, ensuring a seamless experience for both parties is imperative. The platform proves invaluable for many but also has room for critical improvements.

4. Upwork.com

Problem Solution:

Upwork serves as a facilitator for freelancers and clients, aiming to bridge the gap between job opportunities and talent. For freelancers, it offers a platform to showcase their skills and find work, while for clients, it provides a hub to find the right talent for their projects. The Payment Protection feature is particularly valued as it creates a sense of financial security for freelancers by ensuring they get paid for their work. Moreover, clients find it beneficial as they can scale operations up or down based on workflow, and access a global talent pool without the overheads of training, thereby accelerating project timelines.

Key Features:

• User-Friendly Interface: The platform's user interface is appreciated for its simplicity and ease of navigation, which allows users to easily search for jobs or talent.