Welcome to 2017.

As we embark on our journey into the new year, it is always good to think about what went right, what went wrong, what worked, and what didn’t (specifically with business and marketing  in mind). Looking back on the challenges our clients faced as well as the success they had in 2016, we can predict that these are the top five trends you’ll want to consider when planning your marketing strategy this year:

The first trend being a: Mobile First Strategy.

Think about the last time you did a google search. The odds it was on your mobile phone are pretty good. Internet traffic from mobile devices has surpassed that of desktops. Your companies online content MUST cater to the mobile user. Whether that’s simply mobile optimization or maybe even a mobile APP.

Secondly your company must: Make Business Personal.

Whoever said “nothing personal, it’s just business” obviously wasn’t in the marketing field in 2017. The world we live in is a massive jumble of excess content and limited time. In order for your content to be well-received, or even received at all, personalization is huge. This requires ensuring that touch points are specific and individual to your target audience.

Third, get recommended by the right person: Influencer Marketing.

It’s 2017, so it’s safe to say that MOST people know you can’t trust everything you read on the internet. With that being said, who does this generation trust more than anyone? The people that they CHOOSE to follow. This generation is ALL about following the lives of others. When a  lovable social media personality speaks highly about your product it establishes a credibility and belief in your product you couldn’t find anywhere else. Let’s just say it can have a lot bigger impact than when your aunt Jennie likes your post.

The fourth trend is: (New and Improved) Social Media Marketing.

Social media has become more than JUST a marketing channel to blast generic content. It has become a part of  the brand experience and an engagement piece. Focus on engaging your audience; asking their opinions and ideas. On entertaining your audience; your social media has a voice and that voice represents your brand. Give them the content and information they seek beyond a brand promo.

And lastly: Video Content/Video Marketing.

Scroll through your Facebook feed real quickly. Chances are, about ninety percent of what you just saw was video. Marketers who use video grow revenue 49% faster than non-video users. Video is and will continue to be all the rage moving forward. Videos stand out, they give consumers a quick overview of a product without the overwhelming text.

Try and work these trends into your outlook for 2017 as well as reaching out to us at Fuzzy Duck to help you think through and implement some of these strategies into your marketing plan. Visit our consulting services page or EMAIL US to set up a time to meet.