Trending Online in 2017
Whenever you start to see Christmas decorations at your local grocery store, you know the year is on its way to a rapid conclusion. Sure, it’s only the beginning of November, but still, the Christmas glitter is enough of an indicator to make you a little uncomfortable about just how much you’re going to need to put aside to tide you through the festive season.
If you’re in the game of online marketing, however, things like tinsel are a sure sign you best begin prepping for the new year. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind going forward, and don’t be fooled by their simplicity, because as important as they are to your online content marketing strategy, they’re just as easily overlooked.
Offering value content online, outside of your products and services
Regardless of your position on the value of content marketing, research indicates that more than ever it is important to get a handle on creating quality content, not just about your product or service, but industry specialised content that will draw people to your website.
If you’re producing valuable content that speaks to the interests of your clientele, and avoids falling into the trap of self-promotion, your target market are going to begin trusting your voice, and in turn, believing in what you have to offer too.
Native Advertising
Don’t know what that is? We don’t blame you. Native advertising is an intentional way for companies to advertise their product without interfering directly with user experience.
In other words, it’s designed to ‘blend in’. A common example of this would be Content Recommendation Widgets – of the ‘You might also like…’ family, and is surprisingly effective.
Content Flow
It’s all good and well to have fantastic content, but if it isn’t reaching the right audience, then it isn’t serving its purpose. It is vital that your content is designed for optimum user experience, and that the technology on which it lives is kept ‘up-to-scratch’ with the technology that is being used to view the content.
If you’re sending out newsletters that aren’t built to be easily viewed on your mobile, it’s like being a musician without adequate sound. Nobody is going to hear you. Best case scenario is that their friend has your CD, but who’s willing to take that risk?
Your online content mix is as important as the baubles you plan to hang on your Christmas tree branches, hang your words in the wrong space and they can look out of place, send the wrong message to a market that doesn’t celebrate Christmas and you’ve completely missed the mark. Why run the risk when an online content marketing expert will plan your content strategy for 2017 taking all the trends into consideration.
