Industry experts and influencers provide impactful and action-oriented information all year long via blogs, video and social media. To start the new year off right we asked 17 of them to give us their number one tip as we’re heading into 2017.
Each insight will help you as you plan your digital marketing strategy for the coming year. Step out of your comfort zone and start 2017 off with these awesome insights.
Expert Insights into 2017 from the Pros You Know
1. Look Mom, No Hands!
Voice Search will take a huge leap in the search marketing industry in 2017. Search engines are getting smarter, and consumers are relying on speaking over typing – especially when we need to be hands-free. Major brands such as Google and Amazon have taken advantage of the evolution of voice search, why shouldn’t you? ~ Lance Bachmann
2. Personalize the Customer Experience
2017 is going to be a cutthroat year in business. The key to standing out this year, I think, is to personalize the customer experience as much as possible. This means more marketing automation, more personalized content and a better integration of all your different channels. This will help make more conversions, improve loyalty and increase your sales. ~ Lilach Bullock
3. Avoid Bright, Shiny Objects
The key to success in any endeavor is focus. Stay focused on those top 3–5 priorities critical to reaching your goals. Avoid distractions that could derail your efforts to achieve success. ~ John Carroll
4. 2017 Will Be More Mobile and Local Than Ever!
Mobile, local search and smart technology make up the digital trifecta for 2017. Opportunity is still expanding so join the race! A healthy digital marketing strategy means ensuring accurate online citations, monitoring reputation and interacting with customers. Start with a free visibility report to reveal where a business stands in local search results, then take it from there! ~ Bernadette Coleman
5. Rock Your Wrap-Up & Your Roll-Out
A little planning can go a long way toward a successful year-end wrap up & new year roll-out. Back up your files. Order the supplies you’ll need for the new year (yes, that old chair that makes your back hurt needs to go!). Give yourself the gift of self-care, for it will help you to be able to help others. Wishing everyone a wonderful 2016 wrap-up & a stellar 2017! ~ Laura Darkstar
6. Connection. Collaboration. Conversion.
2017 is the year you can soar to success! You don’t need a mantra, you just need a mission! Focus on creating the right connections, which can turn into collaboration, and you’ll get more conversions.
What’s the secret? Put yourself in the right place at the right time! This means get out of the office (or the easy chair) and get to events to mingle with the movers and shakers in your niche! Don’t be a stalker, be a resource. ~ Patty Farmer
7. Mobile Will Continue to Thrive in Search
When it comes to search, think mobile. For 2017, we will continue to see more searches performed from mobile devices than on desktops or laptops. So, if 2016 was the year of the mobile device, it will be even bigger in 2017. That said, we need to optimize websites for mobile devices first—which means speeding up the load of your web pages, as well as making sure your site is mobile friendly. If you publish content, then make sure that you are set up to deliver your content in AMP. HTTPs, alongside mobile, will also be necessary—which means that if you haven’t secured your website, your search engine rankings could suffer. ~ Bill Hartzer
8. Be Progress
Strategize and commit to a progress based video-centric digital marketing plan and then show patience and persistence. Remember, prospects want progress, not mere change. Make sure each digital impression in your digital footprint offers the promise of progress. ~ Dean Lindsay
9. Learn to Leverage Immersive Video Content in 2017!
Mobile-first immersive 360-degree content is set to explode in 2017! Marketers who embrace live streaming and a focus on short form video content will be able to exploit the shift to 5G wireless which will see record numbers of users consuming video content than ever before. Pay particular attention to brands creating live content at industry events specifically for mobile distribution. ~ Casey Markee
10. Don’t Write for Search Engines: Write for the Answer Engine
Use Google Search Console and the Search Analytics to identify searches that are in the form of a question? “How do I…”, “Why is it…” and “My… is broken”? then create content based on these searches.
With the increase in mobile usage and the use of voice search, these searches are becoming even more important. Ultimately the goal is to increase leads to new customers finding us over our competition. ~ John Nosal
11. Don’t Stop, Won’t Stop
2017 should be the year we all throw out the old, literally. Old ideas, old strategies, old ads, EVERYTHING! Let’s all put our energy into being more creative and willing to push the envelope like never before. What successes can you find in 2017? Only you can answer that! So my best tip is to go out looking for all new ideas and new strategies you’ve never tried before. BE RELENTLESS in 2017! ~ Roxanne Roark
12. Wanna Succeed in 2017? Open Your Eyes and Ears!
Open your eyes and listen up – to new and different people. Read/follow more people you respect for unique perspectives. Visit marketing and advertising websites you haven’t seen before. Mix new tactics into client proposals to shake things up. This is what I’ll be doing in 2017. What about you? ~ Harley David Rubin
13. Update Your Business in Local Search Listings
Make sure the local search listings have the most up-to-date information on you and your business in 2017. Optimizing submissions to local search listings will quickly build links that search engines can see so others can find your business. For quick and easy ways to do this & other terrific tips, check out “365 Ideas To Go From Good To Great At NETWORKING!”. ~ John Sparks
14. Get Back to the Basics
To compete in 2017 businesses must get their website architecture right first. It’s IT, identity and then marketing. Website technology is improving with component development and new code languages, everything is now on Git and we have absolute version control and collaboration for code and content.
Focus on leveraging hosting solutions that provide control and log file access. Loading a bloated theme on cPanel is simply not enough these days. Does your website load in 1 sec or less? A site that loads fast and renders based on the user requirements, device and browser doesn’t have to worry about Google’s next big change. It is already efficient. These kinds of sites are ready for whatever is thrown at them. ~ Mike Stewart
15. Get Live with Vid 2017!
Customers watch streaming video 300% longer than recorded video, mobile devices and mobile networks have progressed to the point that streaming video from your phone is near professional quality, and social platforms themselves are making major pushes into streaming video with Facebook Live, Periscope, Instagram, YouTube, and more. It seems that whether or not companies want to get involved in streaming video, many more brands will be using it, and customers will be more likely to expect it. It offers an unscripted, behind-the-scenes look at your company, perhaps Q&A with experts, tips from your top users, or product announcements and feedback. Streaming video allows for a two-way conversation that has not existed before. ~ Eric T. Tung
16. Increase Your Value to Your Employer, Your Clients, & Yourself in 2017
No matter your digital marketing job title, you must understand all the moving parts. DFWSEM brings you the TED speakers of digital marketing. The thinkers, doers, and idea generators. Increase your value to your employer, your clients, and most importantly to yourself. Out-of-town conference value, at a stay-at-home-price. I plan to be there. You should too. ~ Scott Vann
17. Year of the Human and Bot Recommendations
This is the year that bots and humans recommending content to friends and family that seek it will start to take over from traditional search and display advertising. Facebook’s ‘Recommendations’ is only the beginning. Focus on Word of Mouth campaigns and anticipate Facebook Recommendations to add a paid unit by end of year. ~ Joe Youngblood
These are important insights and get me excited about 2017! Did you notice a common theme here? I know all of these will help you improve and connect with your audience throughout 2017.
And yes, reading through this need-to-know info once again fires me up to share my own observation! It is…
New Social Media Tech Brings Customers Closer Than Ever
Technology? It never sleeps! The social media giants continue to tweak and improve their offerings (even as we speak). Check out virtual reality, live streaming video – and the ability to offer video through private chat! These game changers will grow social media as a customer service interface. Get on board with these exciting trends to bring benefits to users and business in 2017!
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Which of these tips are you going to implement first? Please let us know in the comments below!
