The world of digital marketing is not known for staying still. In fact, the trends and processes that worked six months ago may have become stale by now, and such evolution is expected to continue in 2017 and beyond.
While the constant changes to digital marketing may seem overwhelming, around 50 percent of marketers believe that the way digital transformations are taking place has helped them make a ton of improvements to their service and skillset. Those who put in the time and effort to keep up to date with the latest changes, and are willing to take a few calculated risks, are reaping the rewards through digital marketing work they offer to clients. It is why a company must always choose a digital marketing agency where the marketers are up to date on the latest trends and willing to incorporate these trends into their digital marketing services.
But what are the top three challenges facing marketers in 2017 and beyond?
- Reputation Management
Managing a company’s reputation online is a lot harder than it may seem. Whether the bad reputation stems from a particular incident, a series of poor reviews or inappropriate social media posts, it is up to companies to ensure they are doing everything possible to stop such incidents from taking place. Companies that are just starting out in 2017, or are pushing forward into new markets, need to pay even more attention to their online reputation.
Customers are always looking for a reason to give their money to a particular business, and the reputation of a new business can make or break its chances at long-term success. Make sure you are using social media and other channels to generate and vocalize positive feedback from your customers, as such comments will ease the mind of others who may be interested in doing business with your company.
- Local SEO
SEO is always changing on search engines, and local SEO has become more and more important over the past 12 months. It is very important for websites to not only claim their listing, but to ensure that any duplicate listings that are causing confusion among customers are immediately removed. Claim and verify a local listing, and make sure that the listing info you are sending is going to all the major data aggregators. They can each play an important role in this process.
- Social Media Engagement
With so many people having access to rapid internet speeds, even on their phones, the live streaming of events has become exceptionally popular. In fact, it is a great way to improve engagement with social media users on various channels. However, a company cannot jump straight into live video broadcasting, especially if they have not put in the time and effort to curate a significant and dedicated social media following.
When you create something great, target the right people and continue to engage with them, using things such as live streaming of events and product launches could help take your social media engagement to a whole new level.
