10 Content Marketing Trends Everyone Is Talking About

Every year seems to bring a new set of marketing trends, those "can't miss" opportunities that scream out for attention. If we were to hop on every trend, we'd certainly grow dizzy from exhaustion. Nevertheless, there are some trends that we'd be foolish not to recognize.

As we begin the last chapter of 2017, many companies are still working through the creation of a bona fide content marketing strategy. If that's you, here are some hints: Native advertising continues to be the gateway drug to success, and mobile continues to be the flavor of every month.

That said, Smart Insights reports that content marketing is THE single most important technique for driving incremental sales in 2017. In an industry that's all about experimentation, some key trends stand out.

Here are 10 content marketing trends that everyone is talking about.

1. Brands Will Continue to Invest in Original Content

Recently, it became public knowledge that tech giant Apple is planning to invest $1 billion in original content. Though some gossip states that Apple is making this move to take on Netflix, we believe there's more on Apple's mind than video streaming. As competition in this space heats up, brands need to stay relevant. Valuable, original programming can help companies grow an audience and keep current customers satisfied.

Google is also purchasing original content from media companies and brands to fill in content gaps, while Facebook is investing huge amounts of capital on the original video. Not to be outlined, online shopping giant Amazon will perhaps be the largest investor of all. Though the consequences remain to be seen, one thing is for sure: content marketing is taking the spotlight.

2. Transparency Will Reign King (or Queen)

Consumers are becoming increasingly desensitized. We want -- and often expect -- companies to be transparent, authentic, and dedicated to giving back. After all, is said and done, however, many consumers are reporting frustration with brand advertising, environmental claims, charitable contributions, and corporate support for various causes. Though such efforts have been successful for some brands, this type of promotion is increasingly being perceived as desperate or dishonest.

Moving forward, brands need to focus on transparency and disclosure to close this gap as much as possible. Enter: Influencer Marketing.

Yet, working with influencers can be sticky. The Federal Trade Commission continues to take measures to protect consumers from companies that aren't transparent enough, including work with influencers. Take what happened with Machinima. In 2015, the FTC slapped Machinima, a YouTube gaming network, with a warning for not disclosing paid endorsements to YouTube influencers.

And this is far from the only instance. A quick Google search shows that a lack of disclosure and transparency has caused trouble for many brands. To build (and maintain) the trust of your audience, the next phase of influencer marketing and branded content needs to ensure that every piece of content created is transparent.

3. Content Marketing Budgets Will Continue to Increase

Across the globe, companies are spending huge amounts of money on content marketing. What serves as great news for content marketers also presents challenges for businesses with limited staff. This is propelling the likelihood that companies turn to freelance writers and others who can produce content for a price.

4. Content Marketing Duties Continue to Overlap

Often, it's difficult to determine exactly who is in charge of content within a company. Roles and duties shift within marketing departments and even in other areas of the business. PR and communications may have separate content creators, social media managers, and other writers that are not integrated with the official content team, leaving no one really in charge. Such disarray can lead to a very disjointed content strategy.

5. Internet of Things Will Take Content Off-Screen

Customers are no longer limited to the screen in the way that they view content. Although different content formats have long been available, the IoT has made it, so content is interwoven into our lives in brand new ways. Consider how we currently interact with technology, such as Apple's Siri. When users speak, Siri responds with call-and-response content wherever and whenever they need it. Alexa, Amazon's voice service, is becoming a digital doorway to content as well.

Many organizations already use Alexa to share content with their audience beyond a laptop, tablet, or cell phone screen. For example, the American Heart Association uses Alexa to provide details about performing CPR, including step-by-step information on how to perform the process in an emergency situation. This content is further embellished with information about warning signs of a stroke and heart attack.

With IoT, most content is becoming digital. Beacon-based proximity marketing, sensors, device pairing, and other features usher in the opportunity for marketers to invest in endless types of content interaction. This type of highly targeted content can help you reach your audience in the right place and at the right time.

6. Pre-Recorded Video is So... Yesterday

It isn't exactly time to write the obituary for pre-recorded video, yet it is being overshadowed by live video. According to Buffer, 80 percent of marketing respondents to a 2016 survey want to create more video content, with 42 percent specifying live video as their preference.

While live video really exploded in 2017, we predict that it'll become even more mainstream in 2018. According to Facebook, users spend three times more time watching live videos than videos that are pre-recorded. More, they comment 10 times as often during live videos. A Livestream survey confirmed this, with 80 percent of respondents indicating a preference for live video over reading a blog post. This presents modern-day marketing specialists with a unique chance to hop on the live video bandwagon before competitors do.

7. Blurred Lines

If you look at how content has changed over the past decade, you'll notice that it has evolved outside of its original "container" of owned media. As social media expands, as well as the ways we interact with and engage audiences, the lines between owned, earned, and paid to begin to blur so that they're almost indiscernible from one another. Content can no longer be confined to these silos.

With the entire buyer's journey in mind, the content shifts to take on the form of all three approaches. This underscores the importance of each form working seamlessly together to support a company's growth strategy. That means you must adjust your internal and external teams to handle content development, deployment, and promotion.

8. Strategic Documentation

Ask a marketing specialist about the effectiveness of content marketing, and chances are he or she will be able to pinpoint what makes the cogs turn effectively. That's because companies are becoming laser-focused on developing thoughtful content marketing strategies.

In 2015, only 32 percent of marketers had a documented content marketing strategy. The following year, this grew to 37 percent. This year, however, the number has ballooned to well over 40 percent. Our prediction for 2018, then, is that developing an effective, efficient strategy will be a job expectation.

To remain competitive in the upcoming year, what strategies will you include? You may want to consider more targeted content, expanded content, more efficient content creation, or other elements that will help you foster greater growth.

9. Interactive Visual Content

We all know that live video is engaging and responsive, yet there's another type of visual content that allows you to craft an entirely different experience for your audience.

Virtual reality.

VR offers new opportunities for content marketing, as well as customer engagement. Shopify, for instance, has taken this to heart and developed a VR app that allows online shoppers to customize clothing from the comfort of home.

International Data Corporation reports that, based on sales and forecast models, revenue for augmented reality will grow from just over $5 billion in 2016 to more than $160 billion by 2020. Revenue forecasts from Digi-Capital are equally optimistic, reporting an estimated growth to $108 billion by 2021.

While the prospect of virtual reality may seem daunting, it will likely be worthwhile for anyone willing to give it a go. Forbes Global shows that up to 30 percent of consumer-facing brands will experiment with virtual reality marketing by the end of this year.

Keep in mind that it isn't solely for consumer advertising and marketing, however. Consider what the Golden State Warriors did when they wanted to recruit Kevin Durant to the team roster. Using content marketing in VR, they immersed him in the "Warrior's Experience," thereby placing him courtside at Oracle Arena as well as in the thick of talks with coach Steve Kerr in the locker room.

10. Distribution, Distribution, Distribution

While most marketers recognize how instrumental content is for companies now, what still remains uncertain is the means of which content is distributed. And though there are countless other blogs, newsletters, and email campaigns out there, the sure way you'll have your message heard above the rest is through optimum content distribution.

If you want the attention of the 2.789 billion active social media users, you need to adopt a strategic distribution plan. Smart brands are going to make investments in not only acquiring content but in distributing it strategically through multi-channel approaches as 2018 unrolls.

Think out of the box for profitable rewards.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sylvia_LeRahl/2476092

P.S.

We would love to let you know about our Content Marketing Starter-Kit & our Conquer Your Content System. This system has been proven to increase reach, engagements, and followers. It also helps bring in new customers EVERY MONTH! 

Gain clarity on your target audience, a downloadable and editable 6-month content calendar as well as a guide on how to set up the PERFECT content strategy for each month! 

Do yourself a favor & LEARN MORE about the Conquer Your Content System  & Content Marketing Starter-Kit 

10 Content Marketing Trends Everyone Is Talking About

Every year seems to bring a new set of marketing trends, those "can't miss" opportunities that scream out for attention. If we were to hop on every trend, we'd certainly grow dizzy from exhaustion. Nevertheless, there are some trends that we'd be foolish not to recognize.

As we begin the last chapter of 2017, many companies are still working through the creation of a bona fide content marketing strategy. If that's you, here are some hints: Native advertising continues to be the gateway drug to success, and mobile continues to be the flavor of every month.

That said, Smart Insights reports that content marketing is THE single most important technique for driving incremental sales in 2017. In an industry that's all about experimentation, some key trends stand out.

Here are 10 content marketing trends that everyone is talking about.

1. Brands Will Continue to Invest in Original Content

Recently, it became public knowledge that tech giant Apple is planning to invest $1 billion in original content. Though some gossip states that Apple is making this move to take on Netflix, we believe there's more on Apple's mind than video streaming. As competition in this space heats up, brands need to stay relevant. Valuable, original programming can help companies grow an audience and keep current customers satisfied.

Google is also purchasing original content from media companies and brands to fill in content gaps, while Facebook is investing huge amounts of capital on the original video. Not to be outlined, online shopping giant Amazon will perhaps be the largest investor of all. Though the consequences remain to be seen, one thing is for sure: content marketing is taking the spotlight.

2. Transparency Will Reign King (or Queen)

Consumers are becoming increasingly desensitized. We want -- and often expect -- companies to be transparent, authentic, and dedicated to giving back. After all, is said and done, however, many consumers are reporting frustration with brand advertising, environmental claims, charitable contributions, and corporate support for various causes. Though such efforts have been successful for some brands, this type of promotion is increasingly being perceived as desperate or dishonest.

Moving forward, brands need to focus on transparency and disclosure to close this gap as much as possible. Enter: Influencer Marketing.

Yet, working with influencers can be sticky. The Federal Trade Commission continues to take measures to protect consumers from companies that aren't transparent enough, including work with influencers. Take what happened with Machinima. In 2015, the FTC slapped Machinima, a YouTube gaming network, with a warning for not disclosing paid endorsements to YouTube influencers.

And this is far from the only instance. A quick Google search shows that a lack of disclosure and transparency has caused trouble for many brands. To build (and maintain) the trust of your audience, the next phase of influencer marketing and branded content needs to ensure that every piece of content created is transparent.

3. Content Marketing Budgets Will Continue to Increase

Across the globe, companies are spending huge amounts of money on content marketing. What serves as great news for content marketers also presents challenges for businesses with limited staff. This is propelling the likelihood that companies turn to freelance writers and others who can produce content for a price.

4. Content Marketing Duties Continue to Overlap

Often, it's difficult to determine exactly who is in charge of content within a company. Roles and duties shift within marketing departments and even in other areas of the business. PR and communications may have separate content creators, social media managers, and other writers that are not integrated with the official content team, leaving no one really in charge. Such disarray can lead to a very disjointed content strategy.

5. Internet of Things Will Take Content Off-Screen

Customers are no longer limited to the screen in the way that they view content. Although different content formats have long been available, the IoT has made it, so content is interwoven into our lives in brand new ways. Consider how we currently interact with technology, such as Apple's Siri. When users speak, Siri responds with call-and-response content wherever and whenever they need it. Alexa, Amazon's voice service, is becoming a digital doorway to content as well.

Many organizations already use Alexa to share content with their audience beyond a laptop, tablet, or cell phone screen. For example, the American Heart Association uses Alexa to provide details about performing CPR, including step-by-step information on how to perform the process in an emergency situation. This content is further embellished with information about warning signs of a stroke and heart attack.

With IoT, most content is becoming digital. Beacon-based proximity marketing, sensors, device pairing, and other features usher in the opportunity for marketers to invest in endless types of content interaction. This type of highly targeted content can help you reach your audience in the right place and at the right time.

6. Pre-Recorded Video is So... Yesterday

It isn't exactly time to write the obituary for pre-recorded video, yet it is being overshadowed by live video. According to Buffer, 80 percent of marketing respondents to a 2016 survey want to create more video content, with 42 percent specifying live video as their preference.

While live video really exploded in 2017, we predict that it'll become even more mainstream in 2018. According to Facebook, users spend three times more time watching live videos than videos that are pre-recorded. More, they comment 10 times as often during live videos. A Livestream survey confirmed this, with 80 percent of respondents indicating a preference for live video over reading a blog post. This presents modern-day marketing specialists with a unique chance to hop on the live video bandwagon before competitors do.

7. Blurred Lines

If you look at how content has changed over the past decade, you'll notice that it has evolved outside of its original "container" of owned media. As social media expands, as well as the ways we interact with and engage audiences, the lines between owned, earned, and paid to begin to blur so that they're almost indiscernible from one another. Content can no longer be confined to these silos.

With the entire buyer's journey in mind, the content shifts to take on the form of all three approaches. This underscores the importance of each form working seamlessly together to support a company's growth strategy. That means you must adjust your internal and external teams to handle content development, deployment, and promotion.

8. Strategic Documentation

Ask a marketing specialist about the effectiveness of content marketing, and chances are he or she will be able to pinpoint what makes the cogs turn effectively. That's because companies are becoming laser-focused on developing thoughtful content marketing strategies.

In 2015, only 32 percent of marketers had a documented content marketing strategy. The following year, this grew to 37 percent. This year, however, the number has ballooned to well over 40 percent. Our prediction for 2018, then, is that developing an effective, efficient strategy will be a job expectation.

To remain competitive in the upcoming year, what strategies will you include? You may want to consider more targeted content, expanded content, more efficient content creation, or other elements that will help you foster greater growth.

9. Interactive Visual Content

We all know that live video is engaging and responsive, yet there's another type of visual content that allows you to craft an entirely different experience for your audience.

Virtual reality.

VR offers new opportunities for content marketing, as well as customer engagement. Shopify, for instance, has taken this to heart and developed a VR app that allows online shoppers to customize clothing from the comfort of home.

International Data Corporation reports that, based on sales and forecast models, revenue for augmented reality will grow from just over $5 billion in 2016 to more than $160 billion by 2020. Revenue forecasts from Digi-Capital are equally optimistic, reporting an estimated growth to $108 billion by 2021.

While the prospect of virtual reality may seem daunting, it will likely be worthwhile for anyone willing to give it a go. Forbes Global shows that up to 30 percent of consumer-facing brands will experiment with virtual reality marketing by the end of this year.

Keep in mind that it isn't solely for consumer advertising and marketing, however. Consider what the Golden State Warriors did when they wanted to recruit Kevin Durant to the team roster. Using content marketing in VR, they immersed him in the "Warrior's Experience," thereby placing him courtside at Oracle Arena as well as in the thick of talks with coach Steve Kerr in the locker room.

10. Distribution, Distribution, Distribution

While most marketers recognize how instrumental content is for companies now, what still remains uncertain is the means of which content is distributed. And though there are countless other blogs, newsletters, and email campaigns out there, the sure way you'll have your message heard above the rest is through optimum content distribution.

If you want the attention of the 2.789 billion active social media users, you need to adopt a strategic distribution plan. Smart brands are going to make investments in not only acquiring content but in distributing it strategically through multi-channel approaches as 2018 unrolls.

Think out of the box for profitable rewards.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sylvia_LeRahl/2476092

P.S.

We would love to let you know about our Content Marketing Starter-Kit & our Conquer Your Content System. This system has been proven to increase reach, engagements, and followers. It also helps bring in new customers EVERY MONTH! 

Gain clarity on your target audience, a downloadable and editable 6-month content calendar as well as a guide on how to set up the PERFECT content strategy for each month! 

Do yourself a favor & LEARN MORE about the Conquer Your Content System  & Content Marketing Starter-Kit 

Engaging Content: The 9 Essential Elements of Engaging, Attention-Grabbing Content

With the ongoing proliferation of content in various forms around the web, it's becoming ever more essential to ensure the content you create engages the attention of your intended audience and stands out from the crowd.

It's helpful to think about and analyze your own experience.

What causes you to engage with a particular piece of content above others vying for your attention?

What is it that maintains that engagement? Or, conversely, what causes you to lose interest and click away?

What aspects of the content encourage you to share it with others?

If you're searching for something online, what encourages you to click through to one result above another?

As you know, there's a no shortage of competing content out there, all pleading for our time and attention.

To rise above the noise and ensure your own content engages your intended audience is no mean feat. But with a few key elements in mind, it's certainly achievable.

So what helps create such engaging content? What ensures a piece of content not only grabs your attention in the first place but holds it and makes an imprint on your mind?

Of course, we all have our own individual likes and dislikes, and so I surveyed a group of people interested in content marketing on just these questions. Based on the answers I received, the following list represents what may be considered to be the nine essential elements of engaging, attention-grabbing content.

Essential Element 1: An Attention-Grabbing Title

Whether your content is an article, a blog post, a video, audio recording, or whatever, the title plays an absolutely essential role. It needs to both ensure your content stands out from the crowd and appeals to your intended audience.

It should:

- Be specific: what exactly does the content offer?

- Be intriguing: how can you arouse the curiosity of those you are hoping to attract, so they're almost compelled to click through?

- Offer a solution: where there's a problem, there's a desire or need for a solution - how can your title tap into that?

Essential Element 2: Deliver On Its Promise

Have you ever clicked through on a piece of content only to find it doesn't provide what you thought it would?

It's essential to deliver on the promise of your title for the following key reasons:

- Once you've engaged someone's attention in the first place, you then need to maintain their attention in order for the content to ultimately benefit you. For example, you're looking for someone to visit your website, share the content with others, link up with you on social media, and so on, as well as generally raise the online profile of you and your business.

- If someone is clicking through to your content from Google, and then rapidly clicking back to the search engine results to click-through somewhere else, it tells Google something about how to rank your content. If your content is not delivering what their search users are looking for, its rank will deteriorate over time. On the other hand, if your content grabs their attention and holds it, it can only benefit the ranking of your content.

Essential Element 3: Meet A Need

Your content largely exists for one reason only - to grab the attention of potential prospects for your business.

Your content must, therefore, meet a need that the audience has in order to grab their attention and engage with them.

What are the needs of your marketplace? What problems are they facing? What questions frequently arise? What are they looking for assistance with or information about?

There are various ways to find out, such as direct feedback from existing customers and prospects, social media, forums, industry publications, and so on.

Essential Element 4: Authenticity

People like to connect with people like themselves. Show through your content that you are a real person just like them, with real thoughts, opinions, feelings, and ideas.

Sure, you'll turn some people away, but try to please everyone and you end up pleasing no-one. Instead, be authentic and open, and you'll attract an audience who will resonate strongly with you, engage effectively with your content, and be very responsive because of the connection you have with them. And a smaller but responsive audience is far more valuable than a larger but indifferent one.

Essential Element 5: Originality - Offer A Unique Perspective

If your content is simply a rehashed version of similar content elsewhere, it's not going to grab anyone's attention or stand out from the crowd.

Instead, offer them the benefit of your own unique knowledge and experience, and put your own unique stamp on your content.

Essential Element 6: Improve Lives

Okay, it's not quite in the same league as discovering a cure for cancer or eradicating poverty, but none-the-less your content should aim to improve the lives of your audience.

By helping others through your content, you make your content memorable for them. They will also remember you, and more readily connect with you, whether by signing up to your email list, connecting over social media, or looking out for your content in the future and referring you to others.

Essential Element 7: Thought-Provoking

By making your audience think, even if they don't always agree with you, you'll engage more easily with them, stick in their minds for longer and raise your profile. Don't be afraid to challenge your audience or go against the grain: controversy sells.

Essential Element 8: Flows Easily

Unless your content flows well, people will rapidly disengage and click away.

Take time to carefully review every piece of content, or have someone else go through it for you and highlight any sticking points or parts they don't understand. You'll be surprised what you can improve by leaving your content for a few days after creating it, and then carefully reviewing it.

Ensure you are using correct spelling and grammar. Basic spelling mistakes, typos and poor use of English reflect badly on you and gives a poor impression.

Use effective formattings, such as bullet points, and short paragraphs for easy online reading.

Ensure you use the language your intended audience will understand. Avoid the use of jargon that is only like to alienate those you are hoping to attract.

Essential Element 9: Engage Emotionally

Various studies have shown that emotions are key drivers for human activity. That includes choosing whether to engage with or disengage from your content, and whether or not to share your content with others. Often such decisions are entirely subconscious.

Content that becomes viral nearly always makes some key emotional connection with its audience.

Speed is also important and is one reason why images are so prolific on social media and generally have higher levels of viral activity than other types of content.

Try to engage emotionally with your audience within the first few seconds of them finding your content, and you'll both hold their attention for longer and increase the benefits your content delivers for your business.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Steve_Shaw/4373

P.S.

We would love to let you know about our Content Marketing Starter-Kit & our Conquer Your Content System. This system has been proven to increase reach, engagements, and followers. It also helps bring in new customers EVERY MONTH! 

Gain clarity on your target audience, a downloadable and editable 6-month content calendar as well as a guide on how to set up the PERFECT content strategy for each month! 

Do yourself a favor & LEARN MORE about the Conquer Your Content System  & Content Marketing Starter-Kit 

3 Social Media Trends YOU Need to Know for 2020

10 Content Marketing Trends Everyone Is Talking About

Every year seems to bring a new set of marketing trends, those "can't miss" opportunities that scream out for attention. If we were to hop on every trend, we'd certainly grow dizzy from exhaustion. Nevertheless, there are some trends that we'd be foolish not to recognize.

As we begin the last chapter of 2017, many companies are still working through the creation of a bona fide content marketing strategy. If that's you, here are some hints: Native advertising continues to be the gateway drug to success, and mobile continues to be the flavor of every month.

That said, Smart Insights reports that content marketing is THE single most important technique for driving incremental sales in 2017. In an industry that's all about experimentation, some key trends stand out.

Here are 10 content marketing trends that everyone is talking about.

1. Brands Will Continue to Invest in Original Content

Recently, it became public knowledge that tech giant Apple is planning to invest $1 billion in original content. Though some gossip states that Apple is making this move to take on Netflix, we believe there's more on Apple's mind than video streaming. As competition in this space heats up, brands need to stay relevant. Valuable, original programming can help companies grow an audience and keep current customers satisfied.

Google is also purchasing original content from media companies and brands to fill in content gaps, while Facebook is investing huge amounts of capital on the original video. Not to be outlined, online shopping giant Amazon will perhaps be the largest investor of all. Though the consequences remain to be seen, one thing is for sure: content marketing is taking the spotlight.

2. Transparency Will Reign King (or Queen)

Consumers are becoming increasingly desensitized. We want -- and often expect -- companies to be transparent, authentic, and dedicated to giving back. After all is said and done, however, many consumers are reporting frustration with brand advertising, environmental claims, charitable contributions, and corporate support for various causes. Though such efforts have been successful for some brands, this type of promotion is increasingly being perceived as desperate or dishonest.

Moving forward, brands need to focus on transparency and disclosure to close this gap as much as possible. Enter: Influencer Marketing.

Yet, working with influencers can be sticky. The Federal Trade Commission continues to take measures to protect consumers from companies that aren't transparent enough, including work with influencers. Take what happened with Machinima. In 2015, the FTC slapped Machinima, a YouTube gaming network, with a warning for not disclosing paid endorsements to YouTube influencers.

And this is far from the only instance. A quick Google search shows that a lack of disclosure and transparency has caused trouble for many brands. To build (and maintain) the trust of your audience, the next phase of influencer marketing and branded content needs to ensure that every piece of content created is transparent.

3. Content Marketing Budgets Will Continue to Increase

Across the globe, companies are spending huge amounts of money on content marketing. What serves as great news for content marketers also presents challenges for businesses with limited staff. This is propelling the likelihood that companies turn to freelance writers and others who can produce content for a price.

4. Content Marketing Duties Continue to Overlap

Often, it's difficult to determine exactly who is in charge of content within a company. Roles and duties shift within marketing departments and even in other areas of the business. PR and communications may have separate content creators, social media managers, and other writers that are not integrated with the official content team, leaving no one really in charge. Such disarray can lead to a very disjointed content strategy.

5. Internet of Things Will Take Content Off-Screen

Customers are no longer limited to the screen in the way that they view content. Although different content formats have long been available, the IoT has made it, so content is interwoven into our lives in brand new ways. Consider how we current interact with technology, such as Apple's Siri. When users speak, Siri responds with call-and-response content wherever and whenever they need it. Alexa, Amazon's voice service, is becoming a digital doorway to content as well.

Many organizations already use Alexa to share content with their audience beyond a laptop, tablet, or cell phone screen. For example, the American Heart Association uses Alexa to provide details about performing CPR, including step-by-step information on how to perform the process in an emergency situation. This content is further embellished with information about warning signs of a stroke and heart attack.

With IoT, most content is becoming digital. Beacon-based proximity marketing, sensors, device pairing, and other features usher in the opportunity for marketers to invest in endless types of content interaction. This type of highly targeted content can help you reach your audience in the right place and at the right time.

6. Pre-Recorded Video is So... Yesterday

It isn't exactly time to write the obituary for pre-recorded video, yet it is being overshadowed by live video. According to Buffer, 80 percent of marketing respondents to a 2016 survey want to create more video content, with 42 percent specifying live video as their preference.

While live video really exploded in 2017, we predict that it'll become even more mainstream in 2018. According to Facebook, users spend three times more time watching live videos than videos that are pre-recorded. More, they comment 10 times as often during live videos. A Livestream survey confirmed this, with 80 percent of respondents indicating a preference for live video over reading a blog post. This presents modern-day marketing specialists with a unique chance to hop on the live video bandwagon before competitors do.

7. Blurred Lines

If you look at how content has changed over the past decade, you'll notice that it has evolved outside of its original "container" of owned media. As social media expands, as well as the ways we interact with and engage audiences, the lines between owned, earned, and paid to begin to blur so that they're almost indiscernible from one another. Content can no longer be confined to these silos.

With the entire buyer's journey in mind, the content shifts to take on the form of all three approaches. This underscores the importance of each form working seamlessly together to support a company's growth strategy. That means you must adjust your internal and external teams to handle content development, deployment, and promotion.

8. Strategic Documentation

Ask a marketing specialist about the effectiveness of content marketing, and chances are he or she will be able to pinpoint what makes the cogs turn effectively. That's because companies are becoming laser-focused on developing thoughtful content marketing strategies.

In 2015, only 32 percent of marketers had a documented content marketing strategy. The following year, this grew to 37 percent. This year, however, the number has ballooned to well over 40 percent. Our prediction for 2018, then, is that developing an effective, efficient strategy will be a job expectation.

To remain competitive in the upcoming year, what strategies will you include? You may want to consider more targeted content, expanded content, more efficient content creation, or other elements that will help you foster greater growth.

9. Interactive Visual Content

We all know that live video is engaging and responsive, yet there's another type of visual content that allows you to craft an entirely different experience for your audience.

Virtual reality.

VR offers new opportunities for content marketing, as well as customer engagement. Shopify, for instance, has taken this to heart and developed a VR app that allows online shoppers to customize clothing from the comfort of home.

International Data Corporation reports that, based on sales and forecast models, revenue for augmented reality will grow from just over $5 billion in 2016 to more than $160 billion by 2020. Revenue forecasts from Digi-Capital are equally optimistic, reporting an estimated growth to $108 billion by 2021.

While the prospect of virtual reality may seem daunting, it will likely be worthwhile for anyone willing to give it a go. Forbes Global shows that up to 30 percent of consumer-facing brands will experiment with virtual reality marketing by the end of this year.

Keep in mind that it isn't solely for consumer advertising and marketing, however. Consider what the Golden State Warriors did when they wanted to recruit Kevin Durant to the team roster. Using content marketing in VR, they immersed him in the "Warrior's Experience," thereby placing him courtside at Oracle Arena as well as in the thick of talks with coach Steve Kerr in the locker room.

10. Distribution, Distribution, Distribution

While most marketers recognize how instrumental content is for companies now, what still remains uncertain is the means of which content is distributed. And though there are countless other blogs, newsletters, and email campaigns out there, the sure way you'll have your message heard above the rest is through optimum content distribution.

If you want the attention of the 2.789 billion active social media users, you need to adopt a strategic distribution plan. Smart brands are going to make investments in not only acquiring content but in distributing it strategically through multi-channel approaches as 2018 unrolls.

Think out of the box for profitable rewards.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Sylvia_LeRahl/2476092

P.S.

We would love to let you know about our Content Marketing Starter-Kit & our Conquer Your Content System. This system has been proven to increase reach, engagements, and followers. It also helps bring in new customers EVERY MONTH! 

Gain clarity on your target audience, a downloadable and editable 6-month content calendar as well as a guide on how to set up the PERFECT content strategy for each month! 

Do yourself a favor & LEARN MORE about the Conquer Your Content System  & Content Marketing Starter-Kit 

95% of You Will Ignore This 2018 Marketing Strategy | Business Squared Keynote in Australia

What Is A Podcast? Why Do I Need One?

Today, I will answer the question, "What is a Podcast?"

First, a podcast is a modern form of blogging. When blogging was introduced, it transformed the way information could be delivered to the masses. Instead of writers submitting countless articles to countless magazines, etc. in trying to get their articles published, blogging was created.

With the expansion of the internet, bloggers soon found they could bypass the corporate world of magazines and interact with their intended audiences directly. Some bloggers even monetized their content and created an entirely new career, without even trying to enter the magazine publishing world.

Podcasting is the audio version of blogging!

Just like blogging allowed anyone with a computer to become a reporter, podcasting allows anyone with a computer to become a talk show host or online radio personality.

The main difference between online radio and podcasting is the ability of a Podcast to generate subscribers. I had an online radio station that had thousands of listeners in over 160 nations. We were rated #1 in the world on several occasions by Shoutcast.com. But I could not ever contact any of them. I could not capture their emails nor offer them the ability to subscribe to new programming. I was at their mercy to keep coming back for more content.

Podcasting changes that dynamic. Through podcasting, you can offer a subscription alternative. You can offer free items in exchange for your listener's email address. You can grow your own, personal audience that only wants to hear from you!

I want to answer any questions you may have concerning podcasting. Go to https://podcast-training.com/contact. Fill out the form and be sure to send me your questions. If I use your question, I will send you a link to download by book, "The Complete Podcasting Guide."

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Robert_Thibodeau/2198393

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7 Instagram Story Ideas To Build Your Following

Keeping your Instagram busy is a good way to build your following. An active account is more interesting than an inactive one. Plus, using Instagram to share all types of content with your audience in many forms is going to be much more interesting to them than if you shared only one type.

Let's look at some ideas that you can incorporate into your stories to build your following.

1. Show a Day in the Life

A great use of Instagram stories is to take a day and show up a few different times of the day to share what you're doing as it relates to your audience and your business. For example, if you're a business coach, you might want to share how you run your own business and team with others.

2. Go Live

Take some time to go live each day even to share just one exciting tidbit of news. When you go live randomly, your audience will get notified if they signed up to be notified. They'll pay more attention to you and will even be sad if they miss it live, but they'll also watch the recording if you leave one.

3. Provide a Sneak Peek

Creating a new product or service? Provide a sneak peek about it. Trying out a new software you want to recommend? Do a story about it. The more reasons you can find to show up in stories, the better for your quest to find more followers.

4. Conduct a Poll

Instagram allows you to conduct polls, which is a good way to find out what your audience is thinking. Keep polls short and sweet to avoid any confusion, since these polls aren't very scientific. If you want accurate results, consider keeping choices limited.

5. Trade Instagram Stories for a Day

If you have a colleague that serves a similar or same audience as you do, you can trade Instagrams for a day. You run their stories, and they run yours. This is a wonderful way to get cross-promotion and more followers.

6. Count Down to Launch

If you have a launch or an event coming up, use Instagram stories to do a countdown for the launch. This is a fun way to get everyone excited about your new offer.

7. Use Stickers and Special Effects

Instagram has ways for you to grab your audience's attention; use them. Add special effects, use stickers, add great hashtags. Call out the right people. Make yourself known so that you can grab those followers who like you.

When you do share a story, always remember to include a call to action. Your audience will not act (or only very rarely) if you don't tell them what to do. Each time you make any content, you should know what you want the results to be after your audience views it.

Instagram's popularity continues to rocket as the cameras in smart phones become better at taking high-quality pics and videos. To learn more about this social media powerhouse and to get more tips to gain followers on Instagram, download my free Instagram Marketing Guide at http://jonallo.com/instagram

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jon_Allo/1079948

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How To Grow Your Email List With A Contest

You should be building an email list of prospects and customers. You constantly need to add new prospects to fill your sales funnel, and once someone buys a product from you, that person is more likely to buy something from you again in the future.

A great way to broaden your email list is to hold an online contest. Contests not only allow you to create something useful and beneficial for your audience on a particular topic, it also creates more engagement, usually daily with your target market.

You can create a contest or competition where everyone has to submit their email address to enter.

Who Is Your Target Audience?

If you don't know who your target audience is, you can't do anything - from creating content, to developing products, to holding a contest. Knowing your target audience lets you know when, what, why, where and how you'll move forward. Everything you do is about your audience and what type of value you can provide them.

The Goals for Your Contest

One goal, in this case, is obviously to grow your email list. But are you wanting to promote a specific product to the list that you build? Do you want to launch a new product and make sales? Know the goals for your contest so that you can make sure that you're doing what needs to be done to meet that goal.

The Right Tools for Your Contest

There are many tools that you can use for contests. Each social platform has its own approved contest software. If you want to run a contest on Instagram and Facebook, check out ShortStack.

Market Your Contest

Don't have a contest without also adding the marketing element. Consider it just like you would with any product you want to launch. You're going to want to run some online ads, and share widely on all social media platforms. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter are absolutely perfect for marketing your contests and getting sign-ups.

Follow Up

When the contest is over follow up with everyone. Announce the winner and interview them. Also interview the top three entries. Send email messages that you've pre-planned to everyone who entered and everyone who signed up during the contest.

Holding a contest to grow your list is an excellent way to accomplish your list-growing goals. Treat the contest as you would another product so that you promote it, launch it, test it, and improve it for the next time.

Online contests are a great way to engage with your audience and add grow your email list. When people are engaged and interacting with your business it helps drive sales and profits. To learn more about running a contest for your business, download my free checklist, Running A Challenge at https://jonallo.com/challenge

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jon_Allo/1079948

5 Reasons Email Marketing Is Important

What Is An Autoresponder And How Can It Help Me?

Do you use email marketing in your business?

If so, you may be tired of having to get up every single day and try to create some content to send out on a daily basis. Did you know that there is a way you can create all of your content and have it go out automatically? Through the use of an autoresponder you can place all of your emails into it and have them delivered at specific times.

In addition, you can create an opt-in form which will allow new subscribers to get a predetermined email campaign. This is a great way to introduce new customers and leads to your business and products. Let's take a look at how an autoresponder can help you get more clients and sales.

If there is one thing we know about customers is the fact that they hate getting sold to. It is absolutely essential in today's business to seem as non-salesy as possible. And one of the best ways to do this is by genuinely helping our leads. We can do this with great content that will help them and our product or business will allow them even greater success. One of the first things you would need to do is create a lead generator. This is going to be something that you create that is going to help your clients.

Let's look at this from a weight loss clinic. They may be in the same situation as you and wonder what is an autoresponder and how can it help us. Well, they are going to begin by creating a great piece of content of ten foods that will help you lose weight quick. Individuals will land on this page and opt-in to an email list of the autoresponder. The autoresponder captures the individual's name and email and will send out the report.

Now that the autoresponder has the individuals name and email it can begin to send out emails. These emails need to focus on helping and not selling. These emails will be sent out automatically to the individual until they unsubscribe from the list. If the emails are helpful and build trust, they will stay on the list. Over time when trust has been built the weight loss clinic can begin a soft sell on a product or service.

What makes autoresponders so invaluable is everything can be created once and it is a set and forget business model. Of course, you can always add emails into the mix at your will and do a daily blast. This is great if you want to capitalize on a trending topic or have a sale you want to introduce. An autoresponder will become an invaluable tool for your business.

While this gives a basic rundown of what is an autoresponder, there is much more to it. It is best to research the various responders on the market and understand their true power. Regardless, these are one of the best tools to have in your business arsenal!

Shane Allen Bost is an Internet Marketing Consultant specializing in new product development and affiliate program management. www.ShaneAllenBost.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Shane_Bost/464266

Myths and Truths About Marketing to Millennials

We can define millennials as those born from 1982 to 2000, with some people extending the time frame to 2004. The upper part of this generation is sometimes referred to as Generation Y. The younger end of the group is now coming of age, meaning they will start to flex their spending muscles.

Do They Really Kill Off Industries?

Millennials have been blamed for killing off a variety of industries, including the record industry and movie theaters. But the truth is, they buy large numbers of MP3s and DVDs. They also stream considerable numbers of programs. Technology can often significantly change industries. Millennials aren't destroying anything; they are just making the most of new tech.

How Tech Savvy Are They?

They are more tech savvy than previous generations, but not as much as the younger generation, Gen Z. Millennials are the last of the non-native users of tech who grew up in a world where computers weren't everywhere, and smartphones such as the iPhone and gadgets like the iPod, iPad and Kindle eBook readers and software were non-existent.

Millennials don't usually live on their mobile phones, so you can still market to them effectively via their desktop computer. They also use traditional social sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Do They Really Pay Attention to Digital Advertising?

According to the US Postal Service, Millennials also pay attention to print ads, and in particular direct mail. They have not destroyed the magazine industry; they want a paper magazine and a digital one. But they are tending to be much more savvy than older generations about which ads they pay attention to. As a result, you need to be honest in all your marketing efforts. Cut the hype and get to the facts.

Are They a New Generation of Carefree Hippies?

This is not true either. It's true that they are putting off buying homes, getting married, and having children until later in life as compared with previous generations, but this doesn't mean they have zero interest in these things. Attending college and grad school, student loan repayment burdens, and the fact that they witnessed the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression means that they are more prudent about debt, and careful about staying out of debt.

The job market can also be tricky for new grads. Focus your campaigns on the great value your products and services offer, and how they can help them save money, or make more money.

They Are Not All Interested in Charitable Causes

Like the younger Generation Z, some Millennials appreciate companies like Toms Shoes, which donates a pair of shoes every time they sell well. But on the whole, they will see this as a gimmick unless your products and services really stand up well to scrutiny - that is, comparable to similar items on the market. They are willing to buy hybrid cars and green cleaners, but only if they are affordable and work as well as non-ecologically sound products.

We all occasionally make mistakes in marketing our business. We wouldn't be human if we didn't. It's all part of the learning process. Although mistakes are going to happen, you can avoid a number of common business mistakes. Download my free checklist, The 10 Most Common Business Mistakes at https://jonallo.com/mistakes

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jon_Allo/1079948

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