#marketing trends

andressilvaa:

I have to say, I’m shocked to see 14% of B2B Marketers using Vine.  Even at just 14%, that seems like a lot.  

Working for an agile software development company is the original reason why my marketing team practices agile.  The other reason is because it works!  What is agile?  It’s an adaptive methodology for managing software development projects that focuses on iterative delivery of valuable, working software.  Teams use a prioritized list of project requirements and commit to completing the top work items in an allotted amount of time.  When the 2-4 week time period is over, the team delivers, receives feedback from the product owner, adjusts, and commits to the next priority items on the list.  

Marketing can use this methodology!  However, it’s a bit trickier than software delivery (REALLY??).  As marketers, much of our work is time-sensitive and unplanned.  That’s the beauty of agile!  The original prioritized list is constantly in flux.  As the marketing environment changes, your team’s goals and campaigns might change - and they should.  The idea is to test, learn and adapt to continuously improve.  

See the Agile Marketing Manifesto:

Some of these ideas derive from the original Agile Manifesto, that states, “While there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.” Check out: www.agilemanifesto.org

While every marketer has valuable opinions, needs a plan, and wants to deliver a Big-Bang campaign, it’s more valuable to learn, respond to change, stay flexible and start campaigns immediately then adjust over time. 

Learn more about agile marketing and decide if your team is ready to take the plunge HERE!

Whether you’re B2C or B2B, your 2014 marketing strategy definitely needs to include social media.  I think everyone knows this, but there are so many networks out there - how do you know which ones to use?  This chart from CMO.com brilliantly breaks down the top social networks and how they can benefit your brand: 

This guide lists 4 major benefits: SEO, Brand Awareness, Customer Communication, & Traffic Generation.  At the beginning of the year, Google changed its author ranking to give more value to social media posts.  If there is only one reason you should be using social media for business, it’s for SEO.  The more likes, shares and comments on a post, the more Google recognizes it as valuable content.  Instagram is the exception, because it’s a mobile app and its posts don’t appear in search results.  However, Instragram is great for the second category: Brand Awareness.

Whether you have 1 million or 100 followers, people are going to see you on their social networks one way or another.  There are hundreds of reports out there that prove there are billions of people using social media daily!  Get your name out there and start engaging.  

Engaging on social networks leads to Customer Communication.  Traditional marketing techniques involves shouting our message to our customers, then the conversation ends.  They can’t respond.  Social media makes direct feedback possible.  Listen to what your customers are saying, help them with problems, give great customer service, reward them for their loyalty, and connect with them on a personal level.

Now that you’re in search results, people recognize your brand, and you have built relationships with your community, it’s time to get click-throughs.  The best networks for clicks are Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.  Know what networks work best for Traffic Generation, and start sharing links!  But don’t limit your efforts.  Get creative!  And happy networking :)