Digital marketing continues to be a top priority for both B2B and B2C companies as we get closer to the New Year. In fact, more than 50% of companies plan on increasing their digital marketing budgets by an average of 17% for 2015, according to Gartner.
As 2014 comes to an end, let's take a look at some of the top digital marketing trends experts predict will dominate in 2015.
1. Mobile Marketing & Optimization
Earlier this year we discussed why mobile marketing is the key to a successful website. In 2015, mobile will remain a top marketing priority as more and more people rely on smartphones and tablets. Businesses will need to focus on optimizing their mobile strategies and make sure all of their digital marketing strategies are optimized for mobile, including a responsive website, a mobile app, online ads, social media marketing and content specifically for mobile users.
2. Increase in Social Media Advertising
As social media marketing becomes increasingly popular, channels are becoming cluttered with content. Facebook announced that starting in January 2015, users' News Feeds will show less promotional content from Pages they like. As organic post reach drops, social media advertising is an excellent option for businesses to ensure that their message is being shown to their target audience. Social media advertising spend will grow rapidly in the next few years. According to BI Intelligence, US ad spend will hit $8.5 billion next year and reach almost $14 billion in 2018, up from $6.1 billion in 2013.
3. More Content Marketing
Content marketing becomes increasingly important each year. More than 80% of B2B marketers say that their top goals for content marketing include brand awareness, lead generation and engagement, according to the 2015 B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks Report. Many businesses are seeing the value in content marketing and are beginning to invest in tactics such as social media, e-newsletters, website articles, blogs, in-person events, case studies, videos, photos/illustrations, white papers, and more. Content makes it easy for existing customers or prospects to find the best services or products they are searching for on various channels. With so much content being created, the challenge will be how to make the content stand out from all the rest.
4. Integration Between SEO, Content Marketing & Social Media
Moving forward, the lines between search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing and social media will now be blurred. Content marketing is now a major factor in search visibility. Social media is a big factor in SEO, brand recognition and authority, but it should also be used to promote and distribute the content. Although they are separate tactics, SEO, content marketing and social media rely on each other to be successful. The three should work in unison to support the overall digital marketing strategy.
With 2015 right around the corner, it's important to understand the top trends so you can reevaluate your digital marketing strategy and budget. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, reach your target audience and generate leads, contact our digital marketing experts to learn how we can help.
What are your predictions for digital marketing in 2015? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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