2015 was a big year for digital marketing and e-commerce in Ireland. Visa Europe’s latest consumer spending index shows that online spend was up by 16 per cent in December, compared to December 2014. It means that Irish companies are increasingly reaping the benefits of having an effective Website Design and Digital Marketing strategy working for them 24/7/365.
While January is traditionally the slackest month of the year following the Christmas boom, all predictions are that 2016 will shape up to be even bigger than last year – but in an ever-changing Digital Marketing landscape, your strategy needs to be right to take full advantage of it.
Here are five top things you need to know for the months ahead:
1. It’s all about mobile
Smartphones and tablets have overtaken laptops and desktops for accessing online content, and their dominance will continue to grow. Already, more than half of all e-mails worldwide are opened on a smartphone, while on social media, more than three-quarters of usage is from mobile devices. It means that any content that is not tailored for mobile use will just not get the engagement it seeks. However, many websites have still not been optimised for phones and tablets. Is yours one of them?
2. Integration with Facebook is crucial
Google’s standing as the leading search engine could come under fire from Facebook, once Facebook introduces its own search engine, with huge implications for online advertising. For instance, Facebook plans to introduce a ‘buy’ button beside the ‘like’ button on products listed for sale, meaning customers can have an e-commerce experience without visiting your e-commerce site. It all means that an effective social media plan to integrate with your existing online presence will become even more crucial than ever before.
3. The rise of video content
2015 brought exponential growth in online video content and consumption worldwide, and crucially, Google now includes video content in its search engine algorithm. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video can be worth a million. Expect to see video content on sites where you’ve never seen it before, and expect to see even more of it on social media and other key platforms. Expect too to see Snapchat continue to rise in popularity, particularly among the younger generation.
4. E-mail will still play its part
Despite the new developments, an old favourite will still be key too. We’re talking e-mail. It remains the go-to communication tool for business, and that won’t change anytime soon. It continues to deliver significant return on investment for companies who use it effectively as a marketing tool. While marketing spend may be diverted by some to more ‘fashionable’ channels in the social media spectrum, that ROI means e-mail marketing will be around for a long time yet.
5. Content remains king
This makes the list for Digital Marketing trends every year – and 2016 is no different. The latest changes to Google’s Panda algorithm mean that engaging and relevant content will create more organic reach than ever before, so think about how you tell your story and describe your products or services through website content, blogs, and social media. Always remember that consumers need to see a benefit for themselves before they make a purchase, so put yourself in their shoes as you develop and/or review content.
Overall, 2016 will be the biggest year yet for Digital Marketing. Make sure you stay ahead of the game by engaging an effective all-round Digital Marketing Agency to devise and implement your strategy.
Contact Us for an in-depth and no-obligation consultation on what exactly we can do for you with our Website Design, SEO Services, and Digital Marketing campaigns.
