In the competitive realm of content marketing, the journey from concept to execution is as intricate as the audio engineering or promotional plans required of a chart-topping hit. Ibrahim Zaghw, a seasoned content strategist and marketer, epitomizes this fusion of research, planning and creative execution. Transitioning from a career in civil engineering to becoming a writer and advisor in content strategy, Ibrahim’s uniquely diverse and strategic approach helps clients align content with their core marketing and business strategies.
From Civil Engineer to Content Strategist
Ibrahim’s professional voyage is not one of straightforward progression but of transformative shifts. “So right now I’m, I work in content, content marketing, uh, starting my own agency, my own business in New York. And the way I got here was not a straight line whatsoever,” Ibrahim reflects on his career transition from engineering to marketing.
His initial career in civil engineering felt “very dry” due to the lack of interaction with people, propelling him towards a field where he could engage more dynamically with others—marketing.
This switch was powered by his innate extroversion and this desire for more engaging work: “I didn’t interact with people. I’m an extrovert. I wanted something more. So I got from sort of civil engineering into business consulting, and I think it was just a simple progression to marketing and I’m a big fan of, of communication in general.”
Crafting Content with the Precision of an Engineer
In content marketing, Ibrahim applies an engineer’s precision to construct strategies that are both logical and creatively distinctive. He describes his work as “putting a puzzle together,” where each piece represents a component of a broader strategic vision. This approach ensures that every content piece not only fits within the strategy but also enhances the overall narrative.
“When you’re talking about business, it’s a very like analytical conversation, right? Like you’re being very matter of fact, you’re thinking about, I want to do this, that, and, and I think that for me, the best part of a business is like having a clear vision, like once everything gets unscrambled and I see the way ahead a hundred percent,” he explains.
Aligning the Ideal Customer Profile and Brand Archetypes
Ibrahim emphasizes the importance of aligning the Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) with the company’s Brand Archetype in his content strategy. This alignment ensures that the messaging resonates with the target audience, extending beyond basic transactions to build deeper relationships.
Ibrahim’s approach to strategic communication is to deliver valuable insights and practical advice precisely when and how they will be most effective. He points out the value of delivering timely and relevant content, stating, “The hardest worker is everywhere all the time. The most knowledgeable person doesn’t have to speak all the time, but when they speak, it’s gold.”
The ICP provides detailed information about the customer’s demographics, behaviors, needs, and motivations. Integrating this with the Brand Archetype, which defines the brand’s personality, helps tailor content that is both engaging and relatable. For example, if a brand identifies as a ‘Caregiver’ and its ICP includes customers who prioritize support, the resulting content strategy would focus on reliability and trust. Ibrahim uses this alignment to create content that anticipates and fulfills customer needs, enhancing satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty.
This approach not only keeps the brand’s communication consistent across all channels but also ensures it remains relevant to its audience’s evolving expectations. By maintaining a clear alignment between the ICP and the Brand Archetype, Ibrahim is able to develop marketing strategies that effectively connect with the audience, thereby supporting sustained engagement and business growth.
“It’s about aligning every piece of content with the archetype and the customer journey to ensure that each communication reflects the brand’s identity and meets the customer’s needs at every stage,” he concludes.
Engineering Content to Navigate the Customer Journey
Understanding and mapping the customer journey is pivotal in crafting content that addresses the needs at each stage. Ibrahim’s approach involves a deep dive into the motivations and behaviors of customers, ensuring that the content strategy aligns with their expectations and progresses them through the sales funnel.
“Sometimes when you dig in with the customer, there are needs that they’re unaware of that tack on to the need they already know. Like I know for instance, I need to improve my SEO. But I don’t realize that my content can serve as sales enablement as well. So when you sort of sit with, talk with them, it’s like,
“Why aren’t you creating content that sort of drives that line in between where it’s improving your SEO efforts, but you can also share it with your sales team, improving your sales and that becomes more valuable,” Ibrahim adds.
Ibrahim Zaghw described his approach to engineering content solutions by emphasizing the analytical and strategic elements involved in content marketing. He likened his work to assembling a puzzle, where each piece must fit within a broader strategic vision. Here are some specific quotes reflecting his thoughts on engineering content solutions:
This meticulous approach is pivotal to fostering a connection that goes beyond transactional interactions to create deeply resonant content.
“When you’re talking about business, it’s a very analytical conversation, right? Like you’re being very matter of fact, you’re thinking about, I want to do this, that, and, and I think that for me, the best part of a business is having a clear vision, like once everything gets unscrambled and I see the way ahead a hundred percent.”
The Interplay of Music and Marketing
Ibrahim’s appreciation for music influences his approach to marketing, highlighting the emotional resonance found in both fields. His eclectic musical tastes, ranging from Western rock, to jazz, classical and Middle Eastern rhythms, reflect the diverse cultural insights he brings to his role as a content strategist.
“It’s not just that the music can stir the emotions, it’s the people you were with while you were experiencing them. It’s the story that got you there,” Ibrahim notes, emphasizing how personal experiences with music parallel storytelling in his strategic engagements.
Besides classical and jazz, Ibrahim shared some of his recent faves from his playlist demonstrating his eclectic taste, including:
Ibrahim’s diverse musical influences foreshadows his creativity and broadens his approach to both life and marketing. His unique perspective is shaped by his bicultural background, being born in the States and raised in Cairo from the age of ten. He remarks, “I’ve always felt like I’m a child of two worlds, right?” This dual heritage informs his ability to craft content that resonates across different cultures and functions, making his work globally appealing.
Moreover, Ibrahim’s wide-ranging experiences foster innovative content strategies that connect with audiences on a human level that are as varied as his personal playlists, drawing upon Eastern and Western elements seamlessly to develop a narrative.
The emotional impact of music also mirrors his own approach, where engaging customers on an emotional level creates memorable and impactful experiences.
He discussed music as a metaphor for effective business practices, where just like a group of musicians, a marketing team must align diverse talents to create harmonious output to attract an audience. A marketing team’s need for creativity and synchronization to stand out in a competitive landscape much like a band must to become popular.
He also cautions against defaulting to the safety of defaulting to SEO for content strategy, which can lead to uniformity. He instead challenges businesses with a pointed observation about taking the safe road as marketers.
Using the band analogy again, if you don’t have a position you truly believe in and are willing to push into the market, “you’re still very much playing the same tune that everybody else is playing.”
Instead, he advocates for seeking out bold, innovative hypotheses that can only come from customer insights and market research to push marketing strategies beyond conventional boundaries and ensure a distinctive presence in competitive markets.
A Symphony of Strategy and Creativity
Ibrahim’s journey and the methods he advocates are a testament to the power of strategic alignment in content marketing. By integrating the principles of engineering with the artistry of communication, he seeks to craft content strategies that resonate with audiences, driving engagement and behavior in a calculated yet creative manner.
His approach not only highlights the importance of understanding the customer’s journey but also underscores the significance of aligning this understanding with the company’s core identity and strategic goals.
In the landscape of content marketing, Ibrahim stands out as a strategist and writer who not only knows his audience but also knows how to reach them at an emotional and intellectual level, ensuring that each content piece is a stepping stone towards a deeper engagement and a more robust business relationship.
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