Marketing and online marketing have become synonymous over the past decade. During this time, there has also been a huge shift toward inbound techniques, like businesses publishing original content versus embedding advertisements in external content. Here are some of the top trends for the year ahead:
- Content remains king
One of the main ways that companies are establishing authority and gaining trust with consumers is by consistently creating valuable content and sharing it through social media, blogs, online journals, websites, newsletters, case studies, and videos. This is set to continue and grow, as will the businesses doing it well.
- Wider social media
In 2015, more businesses will branch-out and experiment with multiple social networks. The aim here is to reach more consumers. Diversification builds brand equity by making it easier for consumers to recognise you.
- Go mobile
Use of smartphones and tablets for online browsing and shopping is growing rapidly. Estimates suggest 90% of online activity via phones and tablets by 2017. Companies must create content that’s mobile friendly to remain current.
- Cookie anyone?
Ad retargeting uses browser cookies to track the websites that users visit. Once they leave, the products or services viewed are shown to them again in advertisements across different websites. With only two percent of web traffic converting on the first visit, ad retargeting dramatically increases conversion rates. This is set to become mainstream in 2015.
- SEO goes social
Although social signals don’t carry the same weight as traditional inbound links, they do play a role in organic Google rankings, and remain one of the three pillars of SEO. Since the goal of Google is to provide users with the most relevant and highest quality content possible, it makes sense why they would factor in the number of social shares that a blog post, article or product page receives. Social shares are set as a main marketing focus for 2015.
If your business is not doing at least 3 of the above 5 well, it’s time to rethink your strategy. Have chat to us, we’re glad to assist info@web-lingo.com.