Over the last few years, the online marketing industry has undergone some major changes owing to its volatile nature. It has been an exciting journey from being something that was associated only with eCommerce platforms to blossoming into the vehicle of choice for creating a brand name across industries. Not surprising then that 2016 looks set to be a fantastic year for online marketing.
We predict 2016 will see the following top 7 digital marketing priorities being implemented:
1. Mobile Optimization
The increasing use of mobile searches has resulted in massive opportunities for brands that have mobile-friendly websites. A website that is optimized for mobiles will boost the chances of giving your website and products a better ranking. Additionally, conversions will be aided by continual Google support on supporting websites that are optimized for all types of devices.
2. Enhanced social media strategy
The impact of social media on our lives is increasing exponentially. Most brands will completely transition to social media channels for their marketing primarily because big social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest are the best options to connect with a multitude of people. This will help spread awareness about your brand like wildfire.
3. Steep rise in online ads
Online advertisements look ready to eclipse the fast-paced world of television advertising, thanks to a troubled economy. In fact, according to a new market research, online advertising will increase by 10% to 30% by 2016, and advertisers will spend almost $77 billion on it.
4. More videos than ever
Of all the advertising formats that are there, online videos are growing the fastest. Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and so on have helped brands to rapidly revise their brand messages through videos along with content that creates a deeper and faster impact through visual and audio stimulations to bring about brand awareness. It is predicted that video ad revenue will increase at a three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.5% through 2016.
5. Flourishing marketing analytics
With the ever-expanding pool of information that is being created online by consumers, companies are all set to increase their spends on marketing analytics by 60%. This is to tap into this crucial market data to keep a track on their progress on various digital platforms. This data will be crucial while carrying out a marketing endeavour or applying an acquisition tactic, thereby making it vital.
6. Humanization is the new automation
Personalization is the best way of making consumers identify and interact with content. Offering customized content is one way of sharing relevant and informative posts that can help consumers find solutions. Humanizing the content results in increased sales as it motivates consumers to stay longer on websites, thereby fostering customer satisfaction.
7. Integrated SEO
Integrated SEO is still a work-in-progress exercise. The SEO tools that were originally used for reviewing keywords and back links are now fast becoming tools for social media and content management. This is helping in increasing management tool(s) and workflow counts for multiple people. Some examples of such tools are:
- Moz – Tool
- Raven Tool
- Analytics Tool