Content Marketing ROI Calculator
Measure the ROI of your content marketing efforts. Calculate the value of blog posts, videos, and other content assets over their lifetime.
Value Settings
Content Assets
Monthly Traffic
11,000
Monthly Leads
300
Monthly Value
$15,000
Cost per Lead
$47
Total Production Cost
$8,500
Lifetime Content Value
$360,000
Overall Content ROI
Over 24 month content lifespan
156%
How to Use This Calculator
Set your lead value and expected content lifespan.
Add content types with production costs and traffic.
Enter conversion rates for each content type.
View lifetime value and ROI for your content portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does content marketing take to show ROI?
Content marketing typically takes 6-12 months to show meaningful ROI. Unlike paid ads, content compounds over time—a blog post written today can generate leads for years. Plan for a 12-month investment period before expecting significant returns.
How do I calculate lead value?
Multiply your average deal size by your lead-to-customer conversion rate. For example, if your average sale is $10,000 and 5% of leads become customers, each lead is worth $500. Adjust this based on lead source quality if some content attracts better leads.
What content types have the highest ROI?
Generally, bottom-of-funnel content like case studies and comparison guides convert best. However, top-of-funnel blog content builds audience at scale. E-books and webinars often have highest conversion rates but lower reach. The best strategy combines all types.
Should I include team costs in content ROI?
Yes, include all costs: writer salaries, designer time, tools (CMS, SEO tools, analytics), distribution costs, and management overhead. Many companies only track production costs and overestimate ROI. Full-cost accounting gives you accurate ROI data.
How long should I expect content to generate traffic?
Evergreen content can generate traffic for 2-5 years with periodic updates. News-based content peaks in days. Most blog posts see 80% of their lifetime traffic in the first year, but top performers keep growing. Update successful content annually to extend its lifespan.
Why Use This Calculator
- Calculate ROI for different content types
- Account for content lifespan and compounding returns
- Compare cost per lead across content formats
- Justify content investment to stakeholders
- Identify highest-performing content types
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"This calculator helped us justify our marketing budget to leadership with real data. Finally, a tool that speaks the CFO's language."
VP of Marketing, SaaS Company