When it comes to content marketing, you can’t really take a willy-nilly approach. A fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants mentality might work for something like choosing your daily meals, but think of how much time and money you’d save by planning your meals for the week, hitting the grocery store, and conducting all your food prep at once.
When it comes to your content marketing strategy, you need to be proactive and prepared. There will definitely be times when circumstances require you to be flexible and alter your course, but even this potential outcome can be planned for. So, how do you go about mapping out your content marketing strategy for 2018? Here are a few tips to get you started.
Rehash 2017
The best way to start mapping out your content marketing strategy for 2018 is to look back on what you accomplished in 2017. Did you pretty much stick to your original plan for the year, or were there a lot of changes? What worked and what didn’t? Why? Were there things you wanted to try that got put on the back burner? Do you want to revisit these ideas or keep them in mothballs?
Your content marketing strategy for the coming year will naturally incorporate new ideas and directions, but it stems from what came before, so you need to understand where you failed and succeeded in order to plot your course for 2018. You also want to save money wherever possible, and this means recycling evergreen content and unused ideas where applicable.
Consider Changing Technologies
Advances in technology come at breakneck speeds these days, and it can be hard to keep up with what’s trending. However, if you want to remain competitive, it pays to consider overarching trends and adapt your strategy accordingly.
In 2018, mobile reigns supreme, due in part to the fact that consumers are using their mobile devices more and more for online interactions, as well as Google’s push for “mobile first” content. This could mean not only optimizing content for mobile to gain Google’s favor, but also creating and using apps to push content and facilitate interactions with consumers.
You should also keep your finger on the pulse of popular platforms. FB is still number one when it comes to reaching consumers, but don’t forget about popular and growing platforms like Insta and Pinterest that offer creative opportunities to connect with your audience.
Consider Audience Preferences
What is it your audience needs? How are you going to provide for their needs with your content? These questions are the basis of any content marketing strategy, but the answers can change over time. This is why it’s so important to revisit them at least annually to reassess and create a successful strategy for fulfillment of audience expectations.
Create a Schedule
Mapping out your content marketing strategy should include creating a rough schedule. There’s a good chance you’ll end up straying as new developments force you to change and adapt your strategies, but having a basic guide in place will give you something to come back to. With an expert partner like Next Level Technology on your side, you can develop a comprehensive strategy for online marketing that helps you to grow and expand your business in 2018.
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