These days, digital content is very popular because it helps businesses with their work, so in this article we’re going to show you how digital content creation works.
What is digital content creation?
Digital content is everything that exists in digital format on the internet, in binary code. To put it more simply, we can think of it as content containing information that can be transmitted, for example, via radio waves, internet streaming or a computer file, to be consumed either for free or for a fee.
Some types of digital content?
In this section, we will briefly describe some of the main types of digital content in a business context.
Software
Most people are very familiar with the software sales market; with the rise in smartphone use, the concept of app stores has also emerged, enabling apps to be distributed directly to people’s smartphones. It is worth noting that these apps can also sell digital products within them. One need only look at the list of some of the world’s largest companies to find software firms such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP.
Videos
After the ‘old-fashioned’ CDs and DVDs containing videos, films and courses, these began to be sold as digital files online, via mobile phones. We now use streaming as the most common means of distribution, as it does not take up any disk space, only internet bandwidth. We have seen significant growth in companies such as:
Among others, those specialising in the online sale of digital videos.
Audio files
Audio tracks are very similar to videos, but an important fact in the music industry is that this has paved the way for many talented new artists to emerge and make their mark without having to go through all the traditional stages that used to produce successful artists; all it takes is for a song to go viral on YouTube, WhatsApp or social media to produce hit songs. Several companies have emerged based solely on this idea, such as:
Images
There is huge demand for stock images online; although free content is readily available, designers and advertisers have specific requirements, and we must also respect the copyright of the images we use anywhere on the internet. Some companies that sell images include:
E-books
E-books (digital books) have killed off the traditional book industry because they are much cheaper to distribute and easier to read. Here are some businesses that sell e-books:
Games
This market had already generated almost twice the turnover of the film industry by 2013, and it continues to grow. Find out about the biggest games retailers:
Online content
In addition to the examples mentioned above, the information industry is very broad; we can also add to the list: news, blogs, YouTube channels, course portals, amongst others, which can be classified as digital content but are not included in the main categories.
Types of digital content
How to make money from your digital content
Direct sales
Direct sales are very straightforward: simply advertise the product on a web page, allow users/visitors to click the ‘Buy’ button, and proceed to complete the purchase of your product or service.
Subscriptions
A very common practice in the digital world is to sell subscriptions to services, magazines, websites, software, and video or audio streaming. One of the biggest advantages of subscriptions is the recurring revenue they generate for the business.
Sale through a third party
Shops
Nowadays, it is very common to find marketplaces, online shops or platforms within certain social media networks where you can purchase digital products and services. The most successful items on marketplaces are digital products, such as music, films, apps and source code, amongst others. However, it is common for third parties to charge commissions of around 30 per cent on each sale made via their website or app.
Affiliates
Just as in the offline world there is the role of the sales representative, who attracts customers to your business, online this concept is even more prominent and very effectively applied. It is possible to build up huge affiliate networks for your digital products and pay a commission to the affiliate who successfully closes deals on your behalf.
Advertisement
Content creators, blog and vlog owners, news websites and digital newspapers with high traffic levels often earn a great deal from advertising on their websites or apps. This is because many content creators tend to use a mix of advertising methods, combining traditional forms (such as banners and AdSense) with affiliate marketing, whereby they receive a commission for every sale made via their website.
Examples of Advertisements
Financial transactions broker
Acting as an intermediary in commercial buying and selling transactions is a common way of generating revenue from digital content, as in the vast majority of cases content producers are experts in their field, so they need help with invoicing and collecting payment for sales made; in return, these intermediaries charge a percentage of the transaction value. Here are some of the leading companies, such as:
Some reasons for creating digital content
People are on the Internet
A large proportion of the population is already online. Investing in the internet through digital content is a strategy that can literally generate millions in business for your company. Another opportunity is to prepare your company for the arrival of the other half of the population. These people, who will eventually need to be integrated into the digital world, will need help to understand the internet, so your company can provide that support.
Whether you want to capitalise on your existing audience or target new digital users, the fact remains that people are online. Creating digital content is about grabbing their attention, drawing them into your business, building a relationship with them and then making a sale.
Your competitors are probably already using it
Digital content is nothing new, and even before the advent of the internet, it was already being used by some companies. The best-known example is the Michelin Guide, a gastronomic guide used by many restaurants. It was officially launched in 1900 by André Michelin, owner of the tyre manufacturer Michelin. His idea was to encourage people to use their cars, wear out their tyres and eventually become his customers. The strategy proved so successful that the guide is still in use today in some parts of the world.
Digital content is everything!
Content is the currency of the 21st century and is certainly set to remain so for a long time to come. People search for information online every day; they constantly want to learn new things, and this isn’t going to stop any time soon. In 2014, at an event for Google AdWords advertisers, it was revealed that around 3.3 billion searches were carried out on the internet every day.
Digital Content Creation
Conclusion of the article
I hope that, having read this article, you now have a better understanding of digital content creation. If you enjoyed this article, why not take a look at our piece on ‘The Best Techniques for Boosting Your Lead Generation’? Or, if you have any questions, why not get in touch via our website?