As 2016 comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to “what’s hot” for the coming year. The most successful marketers plan ahead, anticipate marketplace changes and capitalize on trends before their competitors. Although it’s impossible to predict the future, it is imperative to plan for it.
Here are five trends to watch and capitalize on in 2017:
- Marketers need to move beyond a mobile-friendly website and adopt a mobile mindset for every marketing initiative. With customers spending more time than ever before on their smartphones, your complete online strategy, including content, should be developed for the mobile user.
- Customer experience. Now, more than ever, the customer is in the driver’s seat of business success. Understanding and supporting and your customer at every stage of the relationship are essential. Customer experience is a top concern for marketers and 86% of senior-level marketers agree it’s absolutely critical or very important to create a cohesive customer journey.
- Social media. Savvy marketers know that social media is one of the best channels for distributing content. In a recent study, more than half of marketers surveyed cite it as the most effective digital channel for meeting marketing goals. In addition to connecting with and engaging prospects and customers, social media marketing is essential for improving your SEO ranking. Top social media networks for B2B marketers include LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
- E-newsletters remain a critical element in your marketing efforts. They demonstrate thought leadership, deliver relevant content directly to your target audiences, and boost brand awareness. Plus, the results are easy to measure, even for the least tech-savvy marketer.
- Nearly three-quarters of marketers report that content marketing is having a direct effect on increasing the quality and quantity of leads. With more than 200 million pieces of new online content added to the internet each day, it’s critical for marketers to claim their share of the content-marketing space.
With marketing developments and advances happening every day, companies need to evolve their strategies to adapt to a continually changing marketplace. To stay on top of your game, it’s best to choose a couple of trends to focus on in the coming year. To learn more about developing a strategic marketing plan that meets critical business objectives, contact Trade Press Services.