1. The shift to mobile will speed up
According to Forbes, “87% of connected devices sales by 2017 will be tablets and smartphones.” That forecast shows that your customers will be (if they aren't already) accessing your site with a mobile device. Responsive design is more than just condensing the screen. It involves putting your customer first and making sure your website works well in their hands.Questions to ask:
- Can your audience easily navigate and get to your content?
- Have you considered displaying different types of information up front to people who are accessing you from a smartphone vs laptop?
2. Content marketing
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| Photography by garryknight, CC BY NC 2.0 What makes content juicy? Eliminate the fluff - focus on what matters. |
Don’t forget the marketing in the phrase “content marketing.” Yes, your website should be founded on strong, engaging and relevant content but if you don’t tell people it exists it doesn’t matter. Staying on trend, content marketing isn't just about advertising – it’s about making the most of social media and email marketing to spread the news.
Questions to ask:
- Are you currently blogging about your industry or service?
- How often are you updating your content to make sure it is both current and relevant? Is it time for a content management tool?
Don’t miss this strong article about content marketing trends by Forbes.
3. The importance of images
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| Photography by familymwr, CC BY NC 2.0 Images can make you stop scanning and pay more attention. They can reinforce a message or be one of their own. |
Questions to ask:
- Where can images (photos or illustrations) make an impact on your site?
- Would video help you share your story in a more powerful fashion?
4. It’s all about the sharing
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| Photography by Jason A. Howie, CC BY NC 2.0 Internet marketing doesn't end at your website. Integrating social media is key. |
Questions to ask:
- What social media channels are you using to stay on top of industry trends? Do you also have a presence on those channels?
- Who is responsible for your social media strategy and content?
5. It’s all about the customer
If there’s one thing these trends have in common it’s customer engagement. People are becoming savvier about websites and Internet marketing all the time. Gone are the days where a simple search advertisement will make a notable increase in traffic. You need to integrate your efforts, reach out to your audience in meaningful ways and make sure that what your readers find on your site is strong enough to hold their attention.Your website is literally at people’s fingertips and they expect solid, relevant content to follow. Tools such as analytics help you measure your effectiveness. The key is to make sure you’re not just looking at those reports, rather that you are taking action with them. Know your customer and continue to develop what they want today and tomorrow.
Want to make sure you’re ready to capitalize on these trends? Contact TBH Creative to talk about how they fit into your overall marketing strategy.
