Contently vs. Percolate (SEISMIC)

Contently vs Percolate

NOTE: Percolate was acquired by Seismic, and is now integrated into the Seismic platform. It seems like it offers similar functionality, so this article focuses on Seismic’s platform instead.

In this article, we’re examining two popular content marketing platforms – Percolate and Contently. Both platforms are built to integrate directly into your business’s content marketing activity, allowing for comprehensive planning, creation, and monitoring of content. Content marketing is a competitive landscape, so taking a look at how each platform’s content creation and marketing strategy will help understand how each company can work for you.  We’ll run down each platform, and help you decide which of these content marketers work best for you!

Contently Overview

contently

The Platform

Contently is designed as a comprehensive content marketing platform. This platform is designed for use by businesses as a way to plan, monitor, and organize their content marketing strategy from end-to-end. Contently operates on a subscription basis, with a subscription netting clients access to the platform.

Contently advertises a “data driven content strategy.” Contently’s platform uses its own StoryBook proprietary technology, which analyzes a businesses’ content strategy to predict which content will have the biggest impact going forward. StoryBook is specific to the type of content, the length of the content, the tone of the content, and much more. Once content ideas have been generated, Contently matches businesses with a network of freelancers who have the skills to create the content. Once created, Contently’s own AI software optimizes for SEO, and it can be published. From there, there are multiple tools for tracking the content’s performance, and what to focus on going forward.

Pricing

Contently’s pricing scheme isn’t as straightforward as other content marketing services. To get accurate pricing info, you have to book a consultation, where a member of Contently’s team will assess your business needs. The price varies based on the size of your business, and how many people will need access to the platform. A subscription to Contently also nets you access to Contently’s premium network of freelance professionals. Contently matches you with professionals based on your content needs, and you have the opportunity to build a working relationship with each professional. Freelancers on Contently’s platform are capable of everything from content writing to videography to illustration and more. But do note that you will be responsible for paying these freelancers, as Contently’s platform only provides the matchmaking.

Pros

  • Comprehensive content marketing platform.
  • End-to-end solutions for planning, executing, optimizing, and monitoring content.
  • Taps you into a premium network of freelance professionals.
  • User-friendly, streamlined UX. 

Cons

  • Requires a major commitment from your marketing team. Contently needs to be integrated into your overall marketing strategy.
  • Expensive.

Seismic Overview

seismic

About Seismic

Seismic is a comprehensive sales & marketing enablement platform. Like Contently, it is designed to be integrated into a business’s overall operations. But unlike Contently, it covers a lot more than just content strategy. Seismic is built to be the backbone of your business’s entire marketing efforts. But for the purpose of this article, we’ll be focusing on a specific application within Seismic’s entire platform – its “Content Delivery” application.

The Content Delivery Application

Seismic’s Content Delivery application is designed to help a business predict, create, and deliver actionable content across a business’s entire operations. Unlike Contently, Seismic is less about creating content, and more about sharing content throughout an organization.

If this sounds confusing, it sort of is, but that’s a good thing in this case. Seismic’s content delivery will automatically send content to certain teams based on their role in the business. For example, if a certain sales team is frequently dealing with customers in a certain industry, Seismic will automatically send them news content which is relevant to that industry. This allows the team to stay on top of current news and events, and provide them with a strategic advantage when talking to clients.

Seismic’s NewsCenter gives an administrator control over which news content is sent to which teams, and allows them to add commentary, explaining its relevance. You can also create custom landing pages for different teams, allowing them to access all of this information at their own leisure. There’s a capable search function if they prefer a more hands-on approach. We know, that’s a lot to take in at once. If you only want one takeaway, just know that Seismic is a tool for delivering relevant content across an organization to help teams succeed.

The Cost

Seismic, like Contently, doesn’t come cheap. Remember that the Content Delivery application is just a single tool in a much larger platform. Seismic is, at its core, a platform to support and manage an organization’s entire sales staff, and these types of software do not come cheap. Like Contently, you’ll need to book a consultation, and a member of Seismic’s team can evaluate your needs and provide a quote.

Pros

  • Proven sales & marketing management software.
  • Allows teams to receive relevant content when they need it.
  • Comprehensive tools to share, discover, and customize content.
  • Designed to facilitate and improve sales numbers.

Cons

  • Not a tool for creating content. If that’s what you’re after, consider Contently.
  • Requires extensive onboarding and training.

Contently vs. Seismic

At the end of the day, there are few reasons a business would be debating between Contently and Seismic. Both are designed for very different purposes. And while both platforms offer very capable content solutions, they barely overlap in their functionality.

If you are looking for a platform to help you create, manage, and optimize marketing content (content used to promote your business) then the clear choice is Contently. Contently is designed to facilitate this process, and the platform helps businesses create content that converts.

If you are looking for a platform for discovering content for internal use, then Seismic is the winner. Seismic helps you manage relevant content across your business, and gets it to your team when they need it to succeed. But do note that Seismic’s content management application is just a small part of a much larger platform. No matter the choice, both platforms require a fundamental shift in how you do business. Both are platforms designed to act as a “backbone” for parts of your business, and require significant investments. If you’re looking for a more basic content creation service, consider Content Refined.

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Scripted vs. Contently

Scripted vs Contently

In this article, we’re comparing two of the top players in the content marketing space – Scripted and Contently. Both are successful content marketing platforms, but there are large differences between their service offerings. We’ll be offering a quick analysis of both, and letting you know how to decide which is right for you.

Scripted

scripted

The Platform

Scripted is a content writing service with a rather straightforward business model. Clients sign up for Scripted, describe their business goals and content writing needs, and the work is assigned to an experienced content writer, who completes the work in a matter of days. Scripted specializes in a wide range of content types, including blog posts, social media, web content, press releases, and much more. Scripted boasts “SEO friendly” content, although its SEO practices are somewhat minimal, and seem to be limited to keyword optimization. Services like Content Refined have stronger SEO tools.

The Writers

Scripted prides itself in hiring top-quality writers. In fact, under 2% of writers who apply are approved. The writers have expertise in a number of different areas, and Scripted’s SmartMatch technology ensures that the work is assigned to the proper writer. Scripted is well-known in the writing community for paying its writers well, which allows them to retain top talent. A content writing service is only as strong as its writers (although that’s far from the only factor), and Scripted has a quality team.

The Cost

As far as content writing services go, Scripted is on the higher end, but by no means exorbitantly priced. Scripted operates on a subscription basis, with clients required to commit to an annual subscription after the first month. The “Premium” plan is their most popular, and offers clients 5-10 monthly content pieces for $349/month. Clients can purchase additional content credits at any time for extra content.

Pros

  • Experienced team of writers – less than 2% who apply are accepted.
  • Straightforward and streamlined content creation process.
  • Reasonable prices.

Cons

  • Requires yearly commitment.
  • SEO tools are somewhat lacking.

Contently

contently

The Platform

Contently is less of a straight-forward content marketing service, and more of a comprehensive content marketing platform. As opposed to purchasing work, clients pay a subscription fee for access to the Contently platform, which offers them a comprehensive tool for organizing and creating content marketing materials.

Due to its complexity, it’s difficult to sum up Contently’s service in a few paragraphs, but we’ll give it a shot.

Essentially, after paying their subscription, clients gain access to Contently’s “Intelligent Content Marketing Platform.” This platform contains a multitude of tools to help create content marketing ideas which align with the business goals and target audience. From there, it connects the business with a freelance professional (vetted by Contently) who has the expertise to create the content. From there, Contently uses AI software to optimize the content for SEO. Once the content is eventually published, Contently’s analytics tools let users monitor the content’s success, so they can improve results over time. Sounds complicated? Well, it is rather complicated, but users aren’t expected to learn the platform all at once. Contently’s platform contains tutorials, and there’s also a customer support team to help navigate the beginning stages. And once you get the hang of the platform, you’ll probably be happy that there are so many options at your disposal.

The Freelancers

Contently, like Scripted, prides itself in hiring top-quality freelancers. However, Contently is more than just content writers. Contently also works with a network of videographers, illustrators, editors, and more. There is freedom to create much more than just content writing, and you can deck out your content with as much visual flair as you see fit. Unlike Scripted, you’ll actually get direct access to these creatives, allowing you to build a relationship with them, so you can continue to create content together. The catch is that you have to pay these freelancers. Contently lets you build your own network of freelancers. It is the middleman connecting you to top talent.

The Cost

Contently is much more expensive than Scripted, but the two services are entirely different markets. Scripted is designed as a content writing service, in which you pay on a per project basis. On the other hand, Contently is a comprehensive content marketing platform, allowing you to plan, manage, and monitor all of your content marketing efforts. It’s designed to be integrated into your day-to-day operations as a company, rather than to outsource your content writing to someone else.

The exact cost of Contently will depend on your organization, and you’ll have to book a consultation to sort out the details. Larger companies can spend tens of thousands on the platform. This cost consists of not only a subscription to the platform itself, but also the cost of hiring freelancers depending on content requirements.

Pros

  • Comprehensive content marketing platform.
  • Tools to plan, monitor, and enhance content strategy.
  • Comprehensive SEO optimization tools.
  • Highly-qualified network of freelancers who are capable of much more than content writing.

Cons

  • Much more expensive than a content writing service. Designed to be integrated into your business, rather than a stand-alone service.
  • Much more hands-on. Those looking for content outsourcing would prefer Scripted.

Which Should You Choose?

If reading the above hasn’t made this clear – Contently and Scripted are very different content marketing services. Scripted is ideal if you’re looking to have content produced which supplements your business’s promotional materials. Contently is for businesses who are looking to overhaul the way they manage and organize their content marketing. Contently is much more expensive than Scripted, but offers many more tools as well. It’s difficult for us to recommend one or the other, because your preference will heavily depend on your business’s needs. You need to evaluate your business goals, and see which service better aligns to your strategy going forward. Both Scripted and Contently have impressive services which have a lot to offer different businesses, but you’ll have to decide which is best for you.

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