Reign Supreme With Content Marketing In 2018

Reign Supreme With Content Marketing In 2018

 

 

 

As another year comes to a close, we can’t help looking back at the year gone by and be surprised by how technology and search engines evolved in these 365 days. Although these were predominantly positive and exciting changes, this progress has increased the need to keep evolving. If a brand doesn’t want to be left behind, it’s imperative that its content creators continually stay on top of the latest trends to ensure that they’re not left behind. In essence, to keep up with all these changes, brand strategies for approaching content also needs to shift.

Here are some of the content marketing trends predicted for 2018, to ensure that your brand doesn’t become bland next year:

Video content is still on the rise

While some brands might still be a bit apprehensive about video, now is the time to turn that apprehension into action. The rise in video creation and marketing was big in 2017, but the trend is nowhere near reaching its peak as there are no signs of slowing down.

For this reason, customers can expect to see even more video content than ever before. Gone are the days where you need expensive equipment in order to make a professional video – you just need to approach the right professionals. And combined with social media platforms introducing live video, the popularity of video is increasing even more.

When it comes to Facebook’s live videos, live videos are watched for three times longer than videos that aren’t live, states Mediakix. So, when it comes to increased engagement, video and live video content is perhaps one of the best ways to reach your audience and definitely something to seriously consider for your 2018 content strategy.

Creative content that doesn’t sell

Another trend predicted for 2018 is focusing on content marketing that is creative, interesting and not focused on just selling your product or service. Content that is engaging and thought-provoking is what will set your business apart in 2018, as the ‘shareability’ of this type of content is much higher than an in-your-face product-driven advertisement.

Content will need to be crafted for your specific audience, which should be based on a unique insight into what makes them tick, using emotive or functional triggers that truly connect with that audience. This means that just talking about your product or your business will no longer be the best way to reach your audience.

 All about the Iot (Internet of Things)

When it comes to the Internet of Things, it has massively changed the way content is woven into our lives. Technology such as Apple’s Siri has made great strides in content that is responsive and available whenever the consumer needs.

 Focus on content personalisation

Personalized content is likely to also become much bigger in 2018, as it yields much better returns when compared to content that isn’t personalized. Next year will be a year where most marketing strategies will need to incorporate some form of personalized content to achieve the results that they are after.

From studying your potential customers’ personal preferences to carefully segmenting your customers based on past experiences – it’s all about making personal connections. Personalizing your content will be a sure-fire way to increase engagement and conversions in the new year.

 Time will tell

While there are many predictions for trends, the only constant when it comes to technology is change. Instead of seeing this as a daunting challenge, brands should see this as an exciting development that is always offering the potential to stand out from the competition.

Therefore, it could only be beneficial for brands to keep a close eye on what the year holds in terms of marketing and how the interaction with content will change and shift as the year passes by. For now, all we can do is simply make sure that we are ready, set, and prepared to go with whatever happens in 2018.