Guiding Investors: A Thematic Textual Analysis of Content Marketing Strategies by Groww

Abstract

The digitization of financial markets has ushered in a transformative era, revolutionizing traditional investment practices. One significant change in this landscape is the rise of discount brokers, which, through accessible digital platforms, have democratized investing by offering diverse services at reduced costs and eliminating substantial brokerage fees. Groww, a leading discount broking app in India, reached a milestone in 2023 by surpassing Zerodha as the largest platform in terms of active investors, amassing 6.63 million users by September 2023. This success stems from Groww’s strategic content marketing, particularly through its informative blog posts since 2015, which have effectively educated novice investors. This study employs Thematic Textual Analysis to examine these blogs, spanning from November 14, 2015, to September 11, 2023, and identifies four primary content categories—News, Mutual Funds, Stocks, and Personal Finance representing 57% of the posts. The content targets first-time investors, using simplified language to promote financial literacy. A notable shift from using Western faces in title images pre-2018 to uniform graphic images post-2018 reflects a strategic effort to enhance accessibility and consistency. The findings of this research contribute to the literature on content marketing by demonstrating Groww’s educational approach, which emphasizes accessible information and fosters financial empowerment among new investors. Through its focus on education and user-friendly accessibility, Groww exemplifies a content-driven strategy that shapes and supports a broader, more inclusive investment community in India’s evolving financial landscape.