The document discusses the SAVE framework as an alternative to the traditional 4 P's marketing model. SAVE stands for Solutions, Access, Value, and Education. It argues the SAVE framework provides a more customer-centric approach to content and marketing strategy by focusing on solutions rather than products, access over placement, value instead of price, and education rather than promotion. The document provides details on how to apply each element of the SAVE framework to guide an effective content strategy.

1. Effective Content
Strategy Guided by
The SAVE Framework
by Nenad Senic, Zemanta

2. The SAVE framework
as described in the Harvard
Business Review magazine
is a perfect guideline for your
content and marketing strategy.

3. The SAVE framework
can be a centerpiece of your
customer-centric strategy.

4. The SAVE framework
is a shift from the traditional 4
P’s marketing model as it can
better serve B2B marketers.

5. The SAVE framework
fits like a glove to your
publishing strategy.
To attract your prospects/customers, to retain them, to make your
content valuable and sharable, you should follow the SAVE framework.

6. What is the SAVE framework?
The emphasis from the 4 P’s model is shifted from
products to Solutions
place to Access
price to Value
promotion to Education

7. How the SAVE
can guide your content strategy...

8. Instead of product, focus on Solution
The SAVE framework says, “Define offerings by the needs
they meet, not by their features, functions, or technological
superiority”.
Therefore, your content strategy must be customer-centric. Ask yourself:
• Who are your prospects/customers?
• What are their main pain points?
• How can you help them live/work better?
Through helpful and relevant content help them learn the benefits of your
products and services.

9. Instead of product, focus on Solution
The SAVE framework says, “Develop an integrated cross-channel presence that
considers customers’ entire purchasing journey”.
This is about knowing where your prospects/customers hang out and what
exactly they’re doing there. Your brand should be accessible there.
Access is about the integration of all channels and tools available to you that are
relevant to your prospects/customers.
For example, what are you trying to accomplish by your presence on Facebook
or with a blog, etc.? And what kind of content and engagement should you
expect on each and every channel you use?

10. Instead of price, focus on Value.
The SAVE framework says, “Articulate the benefits relative to price, rather than
stressing how price relates to production costs, profit margins, or competitor’s
prices”.
Your prospects/customers need to sense that your content is valuable to them.
According to Sharon Tanton, valuable content is:
• Helpful – It makes a difference, it answers a genuine question.
• Entertaining – Provokes a reaction. Smile, laugh, or think – people respond to
it and want to share it.
• Authentic – Genuine and original. Written from the heart, it tells a story that
people understand and respond to.
• Relevant- It is rooted firmly in the client’s world, it makes perfect sense.
• Timely – it is sent out at the right time, it hits the audience when they are most
receptive.

11. Instead of promotion, focus on Education.
The SAVE framework says, “Provide information relevant to customers’ specific
needs at each point in the purchase cycle, rather than relying on advertising,
PR…”
According to Marcus Sheridan, content marketing is about educating your
prospects/customers, “We’re just teachers.”
Therefore, do just that. Answer your prospects/customers’ questions. As Marcus
likes to say, if they ask, you answer.
Ask everyone in your company who is in contact with your customers (in the
calling center, the sales department, the lost & found department, etc.) to write
down any questions your prospects/customers may have, no matter how
insignificant they may be.

12. Brought to you by
Let us know how we can help you
Tin Dizdarevic, Publisher Development Director, Zemanta
E: tin@zemanta.com, T: 646.207.4636