My, how 2014 has flown by! It’s the end of the year and the perfect time to look back and review marketing trends that were popular in 2014. By reviewing which marketing trends worked in 2014, you can decide which marketing strategies you will re-use in 2015, and which strategies you will set aside. Smart marketers know that they need to be in touch with marketing trends to succeed, or else they will be trampled by competitors. Here is a list of marketing trends that were popular in 2014, and I predict will continue to be trendy in 2015.
Mobile
International Data Corporation reports that by the year 2017, 87% of connected device sales will be through smartphones and tablets. Why not start prepping for the mobile boom now? 2015’s marketing trends will play out largely on mobile devices, as growing number of users will be accessing products, services, apps, and information through the convenience of their smartphones and tablets. Be sure to incorporate mobile into 2015 by using responsive websites and design templates. Be prepared to invest in a quality mobile experience for your customers!
Content
2014 was definitely a big year for content marketing. Content Marketing Institute reports that 93% of marketers used content marketing this year. Content marketing is creating and sharing valuable free content to attract prospects and convert them into customers. The content you share is closely related to what you sell, but instead of pitching your product and services, you are communicating and educating people so they get to know your brand and trust you enough to do business with you. Some popular forms of content marketing include: blogs, e-books, webinars, infographics, podcasts and videos. Content marketing is only going to grow in 2015, so make sure your content strategy is up to snuff.
Social Media
Social media is a marketing trend that isn’t going away any time soon. A recent study states that one quarter of the world’s population uses social media. This means over 1.7 million people are posting, tweeting, pinning, vining, instagramming, snapchatting, and more! Brands definitely need to be on their toes to stay updated with the latest social media marketing trends. A prominent social media trend of 2014 has been image-focused networks such as Instagram, Vine, and Snapchat. Not only do these networks allow photos, but they allow micro-videos as well. These micro-videos create new opportunities for businesses looking to engage their audience with the possibilities of displaying product demos or creative and compelling visuals that can work like ads and commercials. Social media has finally come of age and now provides measureable results you can analyze, much like email. Marketers should take advantage of social media and keep track of click-through rates and other metrics in 2015.
Despite what some people say, email marketing is quite alive. According to research by the Radicati Group, there are nearly 3.9 billion email accounts worldwide. The number is expected to increase to 4.9 billion by the end of 2017; that’s a lot of prospects. Email marketing is also the most trusted form of digital communication. 77% of consumers choose email over other online marketing channels. Look at past data to see what has worked and what has not, and adjust your creative design and copy accordingly. Use A/B testing to continually optimize your emails and ensure your email marketing strategy doesn’t become stale. Take time to dig into data and gain valuable insights to build a better email marketing strategy for 2015.
Marketing trends are fleeting. One year something can be the most popular marketing strategy that everyone wants to utilize, and the next year, it may not be cool anymore. However, these 4 marketing trends have been useful and functional in the past year, and will likely continue to be important tools for marketers going forward. With 2015 around the corner, make sure to plan, leverage your data, and stay attuned to industry changes to guarantee the success of your marketing for the New Year.