It’s the new year and you might be thinking about ways to promote your business in 2016. If so, then you’ve come to the right place. Below we’ll explore the various online marketing strategies that were popular in 2016 and what you might want to consider doing in the coming year.
Pay-per-click (PPC) Campaigns
Paid-per-click (PPC) is an online marketing strategy where you pay a certain amount each time someone clicks on your sponsored link or ad on a search engine. In 2016, PPC campaigns generated about 19.8% of all online marketing spend according to HubSpot.
The important thing to keep in mind when running a PPC campaign is to set a budget and stick to it. If you go over your budget, you’ll be charged per click even after your goal has been achieved. The good thing is that once you’ve set your budget, you can accurately track its effectiveness. Knowing when and how to cut corners is essential to being able to run a PPC campaign successfully.
Display Advertising
Another form of online marketing that people are turning to in 2016 is display advertising. This type of advertising doesn’t require you to pay per click, but it does require you to pay a higher cost per impression. While the higher cost per impression is often less than that of a PPC campaign, the targeting capabilities are much greater. You can target and reach specific audiences with display advertising regardless of whether they’re based in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
The important thing to keep in mind when running a display advertising campaign is how much you’re willing to spend. You have a set amount of money to spend per day, per week, or per month on advertisements, so be sure to account for that whenever you’re planning to spend on any kind of digital marketing campaign.
Social Media Marketing (SMM)
In the last year, social media marketing (SMM) has become extremely popular across all industries. According to HubSpot, SMM spending increased by 64% in 2016 compared to 2015. The reason behind this increase is simple: people are using social media to keep in touch with friends, family, and other acquaintances, as well as to learn about new things, places, and people.
If you’re looking to expand your online presence in 2016 and want to make sure people are following your brand, then you might want to consider trying social media marketing. By creating engaging content that’s relevant to your target audience, you’ll be able to drive traffic to your site and increase your chances of converting that traffic into paying customers.
Content Marketing
If you’re looking to expand your reader base in 2016, then you might want to consider trying content marketing. The important thing to keep in mind when running a content marketing campaign is to tailor your content to suit your target audience. You’ll also want to make sure that your content is interesting, well-written, and relevant to your target audience.
According to HubSpot, 63% of digital marketers plan on increasing their content marketing spend in the coming year. If you’re looking to become more of a thought leader in your industry, then content marketing is a great way to go. The advantage of using content to attract and retain customers is that you’ll be able to do it for free. Plus, you have all the tools available to you online, including social media, to spread the word about your content.
Email Marketing
In the last year, email marketing has seen a rise in popularity as well. Why? It’s quite simple: everyone seems to have an email address, and it’s the simplest and most effective way to connect with people and let them know about your product or service. If you’re looking to promote your business in 2016, then you might want to consider trying email marketing. You’ll want to make sure that your emails are interesting, well-written, and relevant to your target audience.
According to HubSpot, 52% of digital marketers plan on increasing their email marketing spend in the coming year. Like content marketing, email marketing is a great way to go because you’re able to do it for free. Plus, you’ll have all the tools available to you, including social media, to spread the word about your email marketing campaign.
Website Builders & Designers
If you’re looking to build a website or redesign your current one, then you might want to consider trying a freelancer.com to get the job done quickly and professionally. You’ll be able to find a designer that can help you bring your vision to life with a professional looking website that’s completely optimized for search engine presence.
Websites are a great place for customers to find information. If you’re looking to expand your online presence in 2016 and want to make sure that people are finding your website when they search for information about your industry, then you might want to consider trying a freelancer.com to build a website for you.
What Will You Be Spending More On In 2016?
If you’re looking to spend more on digital marketing in 2016, then you might want to consider trying some of the above-mentioned strategies. PPC campaigns and content marketing are the two that’ll be seeing the most growth, according to HubSpot, with 69% and 65% planning on increasing their respective budgets. Email marketing and website builders & designers will also see an increase in spending.
When choosing a strategy to grow your business in 2016, make sure that you consider what will be the most effective for your target audience. For example, if you’re a landscaping business, then you might want to consider investing in a content marketing strategy to attract potential customers to your site. Or, if you’re a plumber business, investing in an SEO-friendly website might be the way to go.