ID Cubed’s trends for 2017
It’s that time of year again when digital marketers around the globe are dusting off their crystal balls to create some predictions about the coming year. In this fast-paced industry, change is the only constant, and allowing your business to rest on its laurels when it comes to its digital marketing strategy could prove to be a recipe for disaster. So, whether you’re looking to boost your social media success, work on your web design, kick your content into gear or choose d) all of the above, I’ve pulled together a few of the top digital marketing trends predicted for 2017 to give you a bit of guidance on where you should be focusing.
- The year of the snap
Snapchat has undergone a compelling transformation this year. With 100 million daily active users, 70% of which are under 35 years of age and fit the prized millennial demographic, it’s safe to say the platform has caught the eye of marketers all over the world. As well as recently changing its name to Snap, the company has fed the rising demand for moment-focused communication and live content whilst developing products that take messaging to the next level – video-recording sunglasses anyone? We are inclined to agree with Forbes who urge us to expect great things from Snap in the New Year, as well as lucrative marketing opportunities.
- The automation of email
If you thought email was dead, you were sadly mistaken; it has simply evolved. Email marketing can be used to great effect – including promoting your content, driving action and capturing data from prospects and current customers. Research reported by campaignmonitor.com has shown that B2C marketers who leverage automation have seen conversion rates as high as 50% whilst automated email messages average 70.5% high open rates and 152% higher click-through rates than the usual business marketing messages. Automation is an efficient and measurable tool to communicate over email with contacts, but be sure it is configured to offer interactions that are as personalised, optimised and, above all, deliver as much value as possible.
- Mobile-first world
For years, the digital marketing world has anticipated a shift to mobile-first users as smartphones become increasingly more capable and indispensable. After Google’s revelation that more than half of all UK searches are conducted via mobile, they made it clear that there was a mobile-first strategy on the horizon. This year, AdWords dropped the right-hand side bar of ads on desktop to ensure that the search experience remained consistent across all devices whilst Google’s favouring of sites that employ Accelerated Mobile Pages has forced brands to take note. We expect more developments this year – all in the name of mobile optimisation.
- Video ads on the up
Next year video ad spend is set to increase globally by 20% and, according to cedato.com, is showing the ‘fastest compounded annual growth rate of all digital categories (including social), at least until 2020’. YouTube revealed that the number of channels earning six figures each year on the platform has increased by 50% year on year. With consumers’ increased demand for more vicarious experiences, we expect to see a rise in live video advertising, as well as a development in the video optimisation process.
- Schema markup
Schema markup, for the uninitiated, is a code you weave into your website to inform search engines on what your site is all about, thereby boosting your chances of getting chosen as the best match with users’ searches. It’s set to be more important than ever next year due to changing user and Google trends, particularly as machine learning is now an important ranking factor with the search engine. Your website needs to be easy for a machine to interpret, and schema is the way to do this.
If you’re looking for a helping hand with your digital marketing strategy in 2017, ID Cubed can help you keep your finger on the pulse. Explore the services we offer, or contact us today on 01225 866416.
Sources:
https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/2016/01/70-email-marketing-stats-you-need-to-know/
http://digitalmarketingmagazine.co.uk/digital-marketing-features/digital-marketing-trends-to-watch-out-for-in-2017/3830
https://adexchanger.com/agencies/magna-zenith-digital-growth-fueled-programmatic-mobile-video/
https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/en-GB/statistics.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2016/11/09/7-seo-trends-that-will-dominate-2017/#1a77ac7f5230
Mobile Media and Hype Live Media become MMedia Group
Mobile Out of Home specialist Mobile Media and the UK’s largest promotional staff provider and Experiential Agency Hype Live Media have joined forces under the MMedia Group (MMG) banner to become one company.
The first company to develop the Advan, Mobile Media has pioneered Mobile Out of Home since its inception in the 1980s and this new move sees the company expand and evolve to join with sister company Hype Live Media to form a new advertising and events organisation in MMG.
MMG offers a comprehensive range of media formats from Mobile Out of Home such as Digivans and Advans to Promotional Staff, Experiential Marketing, Digital Out of Home, LED Screens, Event Production, Content Management and Airport Advertising with LHRLINK – Heathrow’s only branded bus network.
Karen Olsen, CEO of MMG, said: “MMG packs a punch when it comes to delivering impactful client messages – whether you are looking for brand ambassadors, mobile formats, airport advertising or full event screens with production, we are able to deliver beyond expectations with over 30 years of experience behind us.”
For more information on MMG and its core formats, please visit www.mmediagroup.co.uk or email [email protected]
New job opportunity with Amalgam
Amalgam Models, based in Bristol, are looking for a talented Graphics and Packaging designer / Junior Project Manager to join their creative team.
Details for the role can be found here: https://goo.gl/0K49St
Please respond to: [email protected] if you wish to apply.
Immaculate launch Xmas Charity Challenge
Watch the movie, make a creation & we’ll make a donation! immaculate are hoping that you can help make XMAS real for some of those less fortunate this Christmas. All we ask is that you watch the movie, then post a photo, either using the Upload Button at makexmasreal.com, or onto your own Twitter & Instagram accounts using the hashtag: #makeXMASreal
You can also post pictures onto our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/makeXMASreal Then for every photo posted we will make a £1 donation to the Wooden Spoon charity.*
You can see the Social Media feed at: makexmasreal.com
*Wooden Spoon is a charity that positively transforms the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children, and young people across the UK and Ireland.
See how others have been making XMAS real…
Yorkshire fulfilment company goes ‘Organic’
Teamwork Handling Ltd, the Pocklington based fulfilment company has gained certification from the Soil Association to handle e-commerce orders for organic health supplements. Already licensed for pharmaceutical products and alcohol this accreditation ensures that Teamwork Handling is one of very few, if not the only, fulfilment businesses in the UK offering storage, pick, pack and dispatch of these three specialties.
Organic certification by the Soil Association is not just a box-ticking exercise, fulfilment companies need to satisfy criteria such as staff hygiene regimes, regular and documented facility cleaning schedules, strict processes for goods receipt, methods of accurate stock control and adequate training for all staff.
Teamwork Handling has been based at Allerthorpe Business Park for almost 10 years since moving from Dunnington in 2007. Magnus Roche (Managing Director) said
“We have been licensed by the MHRA to handle all manner of pharmaceutical product for around 20 years now, and with booze and organic capability in place, we’re delighted to be able to offer a full handling solution in all of these areas, it really sets us apart from the norm.”
On the process of gaining Soil Association certification he explained:
“Working to standard operating procedures regularly audited by the MHRA for the last 20 years means that we were well placed to gain Organic accreditation with little additional effort but the Soil Association audit really tests your capabilities.”
The company has developed its own fulfilment software known as THOLOS which allows clients to place orders and manage inventory and sales force usage in real time on this web-based system.
“THOLOS is very smart but extremely easy to use. Startup businesses can use it simply to place orders and manage stock and larger operations can manage sales teams and control spend as well as accessing full activity and inventory reports 24/7 anywhere they have an internet connection.”
For further information, please contact Magnus Roche on 01759 322400 or log onto www.teamwork-handling.co.uk