Every year experts and research institutes make predictions on what to expect in the upcoming year. The forecasts include everything from the best movies of the year to digital trends, including social media and online marketing. Individuals use these predictions for everything from personal investments to business decisions.
When it comes to digital marketing and social media trends for 2014, there are four key elements that we believe will become even more important this year and throughout the foreseeable future, which are as follows:
- Effective Content marketing
- Social media
- Videos
- Mobile
Throughout 2014, there is no doubt that each of these four aspects of online marketing will continue to play a vital role in everything from search engine optimization to digital lead generation and customer acquisition.
The infographic below outlines how each of these areas will continue to be utilized this year to help businesses reach, influence, and engage with their target audience.
Effective Content Marketing
Content marketing is crucial. Point in case: Business to Business (B2B) companies that blog on a regular basis actually generate approximately 67% more leads each month when compared to B2B companies that do not blog. That is a staggering statistic that shows the power of content marketing. There is no doubt that people tend to go online and view content (approximately five pieces of content each time) before making buying decision. If you do not have content readily available, then you are likely to lose out to the competition. Content marketing (this includes both written content and videos) is a necessity in your 2014 online marketing strategy if you want to position your business for more success.
Social Media
When it comes to social media, there is no doubt that it is here to stay. In fact, Google algorithms are taking social media engagements (likes, shares, comments, etc.) are pulling more weight in search rankings and will more than likely continue to do so throughout the foreseeable future. According to a Business Insider Intelligence report, the top ten social media platforms in the world are as follows:
- YouTube
- Qzone (China)
- Sina Weibo
- Google+
- Tumblr
- LINE
Facebook has 1.155 billion active monthly users (AMU), followed by YouTube with 1 billion. Google+ has 327 million AMU and Twitter has 240 million. LinkedIn comes in at 184 million, with Instagram and Pinterest having 150 million and 50 million, respectively.
In short, this information shows us that Facebook and YouTube, followed by Google+ are all strong social media networks that should continue to be a focus in 2014. Couple this with the fact that Google+ and YouTube strongly considered in Google’s algorithm updates and there is no doubt that all three of these need to be included in your online marketing plan.
Videos
Videos are becoming an incredibly important in the digital age. From online video advertising to videos that promote content marketing, having videos is essential for helping you to reach your target audience. In fact, did you know that approximately 75% of business executives watch videos on business sites each week? That means that having clips that supplement your written content is essential for reaching your target audience and providing essential information that is ultimately used to make buying decisions.
Below is a good video with statistics about B2B marketing:
Mobile
If you have paid much attention to mobile stats over the last few years, then you know that a lot of time people spend on their mobile devices is spent reading emails, playing on apps, and browsing the web. In fact, 1.2 billion people access the web from their mobile devices, with the average person checking their email 34 times per day. There are even more statistics that show that people will leave your business’s website if it is not mobile-friendly. Therefore, if you do not have a mobile (or at least responsive) website, then make that a goal for 2014.
At the end of the day, your online content marketing strategy is more important than ever as we start 2014. Is your business’s marketing strategy up to par? If not, now is the time to amend your strategy and emphasize these four areas for better business success.
If you are ready to take your digital strategy to the next level, let Uptick help. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you excel.
