More ways to increase your brand and surge to the top of your industry will exist in 2016 than ever before as marketing options explode on many levels, in most every marketing avenue. Here’s a glimpse at what’s expected to be “hot” in 2016.

 
TIPS

 
Great content wins

It bears repeating – again. Rich, relevant blog content will increase traffic to your site. Still, many company blogs contain little more than fluff. Not only does quality content drive visitors – i.e. potential customers – to your site, it will improve your SEO ranking. A reputation for posting entertaining, informative content will end reliance on the click-bait tactics that have wearied consumers.

Think video
The adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, is being proven true once again. A study by Invodo reports that video offers the best ROI of all content types. Take advantage of how rich visuals can break up text and catch the readers’ eyes. As technology continues to forge ahead, the budgeting for and creation of video marketing will be within the reach of most businesses.

 
TRENDS

 
Virtual Reality
“As virtual reality becomes scaled and highly adopted, it will seamlessly integrate digital imagery with the real world—significantly impacting how you can engage customers,” states Microsoft in a MarketingProfs 2016 infographic.

With products like Oculus Rift’s virtual reality experience, releasing in Q1 of 2016, and Hologen’s already available alternate reality possibilities, new avenues for marketers to engage with customers will soon explode. Millennials who make up a majority of the consumer market and are big into personalization will eat up the access to environments and experiences never before available.

 

Blurred lines between apps, e-commerce and social
Today’s hottest platforms are integrating social and commerce in ways once thought unwise or at the least unproductive. This seamless blurring of the lines will soon be commonplace as more networks get on board, joining Instagram’s “Shop Now” and Pinterest’s “Buyable Pins”. The mantra “people don’t shop on social media!” will soon be forgotten as the combination of buying and browsing buttons defeats that outdated notion.

 

TACTICS

 
Utilize Automation

Keeping up with every social media account you’ve taken pains to set-up can keep you tied to the computer and eat up time needed for actually running the business. Programs such as Hootsuite, Social Oomph or Buffer can automate your postings to social media, freeing up time to connect with clients and customers both in-person and online. Because we all know the major reason for being on social media is to engage with followers by responding to comments and questions.

 

Integrate online and offline advertising

You’ve probably heard proclaimed, loudly, that print media is dead. And maybe you believe it. Still, every business has some promotional materials in print form: business cards, sales flyers, possibly direct mail pieces. Beef up these offline advertising sources by including your website and social media addresses – the full URL to your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc., accounts – on every piece of print anything, even invoices and sales receipts and work orders.

As experts on the forefront of marketing innovations, ASJ Partners are poised to execute unique, customized and highly targeted marketing programs for the staffing and recruiting industry. Our proven programs help you Sell More, Win More, Grow More and Be Found More. Contact our marketing specialists today.