Every content marketing strategy needs to change from time to time. After all, the world of online content is continually evolving, as major players like Google and Facebook keep reinventing themselves and making the rest of us rush to keep up. If you want to keep your online content as sharp, engaging, and relevant as it should be, it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends for content marketing—and even to anticipate them, if possible.
With a new year just around the corner, this is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your current strategy and start thinking about what you might want to do differently. That doesn’t mean you need to abandon every tactic you’re currently using, but it does mean that you might want to start setting different goals for yourself and rethinking your approach in any areas that need improvement. Here are some new year’s resolutions you may want to adopt for your content marketing campaign in 2018.
Make your site load faster on mobile
More people are using their mobile devices to search the internet than ever before, and they expect speed and convenience. Visitors are likely to click away from your website in a hurry if it takes too long to load. That’s why Google has introduced Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), a project that is designed to make web pages load faster—4 times faster than normal, to be precise. At the same time, AMP uses 10% less data to load pages. The faster your pages load, the lower your bounce rate is likely to be—which translates into better search rankings for your website.
Build quality backlinks
You probably already know that backlinks should be central to your SEO strategy. But with search engines more astute than ever, it’s more important than ever to ensure that you’re getting high-quality backlinks for your site. If your backlinks are to poor-quality websites such as article directory sites or sites that aren’t directly relevant to your business, you may end up being penalized for it. Rather than trying to get as many backlinks as possible, you should be focused on finding the best ones.
More people are on social media than ever, which means that there is an enormous audience for your business on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and the other major platforms. If you aren’t doing everything you can to tap the potential of this market, you’re missing out on a tremendous opportunity. Make sure that your presence on all of the major platforms is maximized in the coming year, and be sure that you’re posting engaging and varied content to catch as much attention from internet users as possible.
Optimize your site for mobile users
Does your site read cleanly and clearly on mobile devices, or will visitors have to click around and resize it in order to find what they are looking for? Don’t fall into the trap of thinking of your site strictly in terms of desktop computers; mobile devices are responsible for more online searches every year, and your site needs to be suitable for viewing on them. If your site isn’t optimized to be as responsive as it should be, you run the risk of losing out on customers.
Emphasize visuals over text
Let’s face it—the eye is more likely to be drawn to a colorful picture than a block of text. Even the best-written online content can only be enhanced by a well-chosen visual. If your pages are filled with text and no pictures, you’re not doing everything you can to hold on to your visitors’ attention. Make sure that your blog bristles with variety, and include everything from videos to infographics to illustrations. Videos are also great for social media, where users are likely to share them and attract more potential customers to your account.
Find a professional content provider
If your content is in danger of feeling stale, perhaps it’s time to look outside your company so you can take a fresh approach. Relying on an outside content producer will enable you to have greater quality control over the content you distribute, and it will allow you to get the kind of content—from graphics to in-depth informational guides—that it takes experience and expertise to create. The better your content, the more effective your online marketing campaign will be.
If your online content needs a new look and a new direction, it’s time to talk to the team at Pennington Creative. Our seasoned content specialists can provide you with high-quality content on a consistent basis, ranging from email newsletters to animated videos. When you work with us, we’ll put together a unique bundle of our best services to help you meet your goals as a company. Contact us today through our website to discover our services for yourself.
