Content Marketing ROI Calculator

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.