7 Content Marketing Trends to Look at in 2018
7 Content Marketing Trends to Look at in 2018
When someone mentions the term ‘Content Marketing,’ the first thing that comes to a layman’s mind are the blogs on all social media platforms. But it is much more than that. Content marketing has and is already is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. In a way, one can call it storytelling. There has been a significant rise in the content marketing agencies since past one year. These organizations provide content marketing services to their counterparts and other companies.
When someone mentions the term ‘Content Marketing,’ the first thing that comes to a layman’s mind are the blogs on all social media platforms. But it is much more than that. Content marketing has and is already is an integral part of our day-to-day lives. In a way, one can call it storytelling. There has been a significant rise in the content marketing agencies since past one year. These organizations provide content marketing services to their counterparts and other companies.
What is Content Marketing?
Content Marketing is all about creating quality content for the audiences to consume online. Like other traditional forms of marketing, content marketing is used for customer acquisition and deeper engagement and increased brand awareness.
According to content marketing institute, the definition of marketing is "a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to
attract and retain a defined audience - and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.”
History of Content Marketing
Content marketing is not new; it was always there. B2B marketers have used it in the form of white papers and reports to pull the right audience. But after the digitization of content, the marketers have realized its power to nurture the audience engagement and create brand awareness.
In the year 2018, content marketing is going to reach newer heights. Below are listed seven trends of content marketing you need to know about:
1) Live Video Streaming
Marketers and consumers are now jumping on the live video feature. In a report on Facebook media, more than 10 million people went live on Facebook to ring in the new year 2018. According to Facebook, users spend 3X more time watching live videos than pre-recorded videos. The best part about live videos is that it can work for any business. You can stream a live video on your product building or show the behind-the-scenes of your office.
2) Internet of things is taking the content off-screen
Consumers are no longer hooked to their screens for consuming content online. The web of things has made consumption more straightforward. Content is interwoven into our daily lives where we do not need to use our hands or eyes. Consumers these days are interacting directly with the help of AI (artificial intelligence) and virtual assistants like Siri which has its call and response content.
3) Transparency is the King
With the rise of influencer marketing, transparency has become the new king in the area of content marketing. Consumers are exhausted with brand advertising, and what they want is an honest opinion or review of the product being sold to them. Millennials are becoming more and more eco-conscious and want to give it back to the society.
Although word-of-mouth is still a powerful tool, if you are demonstrating honesty in your products, then your consumer base is likely to increase and stay.
4) The workforce is changing
Production of content doesn’t just require writers, but someone who has a knack for creating content of all types and on all platforms. The format of content jobs is changing and evolving continuously, as companies are becoming more strategic with the creation of content. After the advent of videos, graphics, audio podcasts and live streaming companies now need someone who has not only the talent for writing but production skills as well.
5) Mobile optimization is the standard
More and more companies are making their content and marketing strategies mobile friendly, especially with the introduction of beacon technology. Today, consumers want everything at their fingertips, which is also visually appealing. If your company’s website is not appropriately visible on a mobile device, then you are losing out on a significant number of conversions.
6) Content marketing as the foundation
Most of the marketing and advertising strategies include some form of content. Proper content is crucial for marketing and is the basis of any successful advertising campaign or strategy.
The digital space is growing with each passing day, and more and more businesses are realising the significance of content marketing in the overall marketing strategy and are also focusing on the whole approach.
7) Social Media as the publishing space
The role of social media marketing is indisputable. It remains the critical factor of marketing. Content distribution through social media is an extremely efficient way to increase brand awareness and authority. But for the content to gain reach on social platforms, it has to be something which generates curiosity amongst the audiences.
Content marketing is gradually becoming the central focus of marketing strategy, because there is a high return on investments and comparatively low cost of implementation. This is one of the reasons why companies are now providing with the content marketing services to its clients.
Content marketing is gradually becoming the central focus of marketing strategy, because there is a high return on investments and comparatively low cost of implementation. This is one of the reasons why companies are now providing with the content marketing services to its clients.
The trends of content marketing are hugely affected by technological advancements in the digital space. With the introduction of new technologies such as Beacon technology, virtual reality, and augmented reality are set to redefine the market for content marketing completely.
To keep up with the pace of new technologies in the world of content, keep these seven trends in mind and be a step ahead of your competitors in 2018.