Welcome to the half way point of 2015. How’s it going so far? Culturally, 2015 has been revolutionary and the marketing world has seen its share of enlightenment, as well. Google shook us all up once again, this time by shifting their search engine focus to those who are mobile-friendly.
Twitter has introduced some interesting marketing tools like Quick Promote and a new analytics platform. All in all, 2015 has been on fire and it is only half way done. What can you look for in the second half of this historic year?
Gen Z Makes Its Debut
The grandchildren of Generation X are becoming consumers. We should start to see more and more marketing strategies that target this audience. Gen Z has copious access to technology, so digital strategies are going to be at the top of any agency’s list. Gen Z buyers typically use at least two or three devices such as:
- Laptop
- TV
- Tablet
- Smartphone
- Desktop
Can you say responsive website?
Content Marketing Will Become a Multimedia Experience
By now, most agencies have caught on to the storytelling aspect of content marketing. It’s not enough to just tell a story, though. Evolution dictates you find a way to grow and that means pushing your narrative forward with eye-catching graphics and interactive videos. If you want to be the brand everyone is talking about in 2016, you have to find a way to be different in 2015.
Dimensional Marketing Goes Boom
Dimensional marketing means:
- Customer engagement
- Connectivity
- Information
- Next-generation technology
The first three on that list are standard in project management fundamentals; it is that last item that will jump this year, according to the authors of Dimensional Marketing. Marketing focus should be on orchestrating as many channels and customer touchpoints are possible.
Go beyond just targeting an audience or engaging customers. Focus your campaigns on:
- Where customers are
- What they do
- And, most importantly, what they want to do next
Big data is big business.
Social Media Amplifies Everything
It is pretty clear social media is a critical tool, but businesses are realizing that it amplifies every other segment of a marketing campaign. Marketers will make social media the capstone of their project strategies.
Talent is King
Agencies are starting to understand the importance of good content. The next step is realizing it takes more than just fancy software to create it. Anyone can write a sentence, but not everyone can write one worth reading even with the help of a grammar checker. You need a talented writer with insight to develop content that will appeal to the new generation of consumers.
- Catchy titles
- Engaging text
- Scanability
- Edgy topics
That is what brings the reader back again and again. You won’t get that from hiring someone who can spin content cheaply. A positive user experience will become the most important part of any campaign and professional writing is a necessity.
Do you have any predictions for the last half of 2015?
Writer Bio: Darla F is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in helping agencies meet their goals by developing creative and engaging content.
