Sunday, January 3, 2016

Marketing Trends to Follow in 2016


As we move into the new year, you will need to know what is happening now to keep yourself and your company ahead of the competition. Some marketing tactics may not be the latest trends but they are not unimportant. In fact, they are still good practices to follow. Analyzing current trends and reviewing your strategy from different angles will help you prepare for what is yet to come.
Below are 5 marketing trends to look out for this year that will prepare you for success.

1. Writing skills will become more valuable

The shift from print to digital struck fear in the hearts of journalism students everywhere. Among their biggest fears was a dying craft and a lack of jobs. But, as it turns out, these fears were unfounded. With the rise in content, writing and editing skills have become even more important in the marketing industry. If you want to keep up with the top content creators, you will need to invest in strengthening your writing skills.

2. Personalization is King



Personalization is becoming more important in the marketing arena. Customers need to feel like VIPs. Disney nailed this concept with their MagicBands campaign. Rather than give every visitor a generic band, Disney MagicBands are personalized to each visitor’s vacation experience thus showing that they care about each and  every visitor.


Let’s face it...we all like to feel special. Like we are the most important customer a company has. One of the biggest trends this year will be avoiding generic templates and personalizing your messages to make each customer feel special. Personalizing emails and gifts will go a long way toward getting the attention of your customers and gaining their loyalty.

3. Become an authority in your industry

Becoming an authority in your industry should be a big part of your marketing strategy since it will help you grow your business. Companies who lack leaders that contribute to the industry are losing credibility as leadership and branding are becoming more critical to gaining and keeping customers. People want to know who they are doing business with. They want to connect with your brand. Creating content that shows off your authority is the best way to create this connection. To become an industry leader, you will need to create content that showcases your company as an industry leader.


4. Stop trying to sell to your audience

Nobody likes to be sold to. Customers come to you in search of a way to solve a problem. Rather than putting all of your energy into selling to your customers, focus on delivering value to those who interact with your brand.


This value can be found in the experiences or the content you provide. Instead of telling potential customers to buy your products or services, show them the benefits of what you have to offer. Showing instead of telling is not a new concept but it is one that some marketers often forget. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, you will need to focus on originality and the increasing importance of content to provide value to your customers.


5. Full-service is a thing of the past

No one is great at everything. Companies who still tout this message are losing credibility. Because the industry is becoming more specialized, full-service companies will continue to become a forgotten trend in 2016.
Focusing on what your company is great at and what your customers want and expect from you will be more important this year. You will need to consistently improve your products and services in order to better serve your customers and stand out among your competitors. Taking the time to plan where you should focus your efforts will help you enjoy a more successful year in 2016.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the latest marketing trends this year. Please feel free to leave your ideas in the comment box below.

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