With the new year right around the corner, it’s a great time to take stock of your company’s digital marketing strategies. Take a look below to see some predictions for the shape digital marketing will take next year. If you’ve fallen behind this past year, 2019 presents a great opportunity to make sure you are operating competitively and strategically. 

1. Those companies that break through the noise will win 

Let’s face it—it’s hard to make your voice heard in an environment where audiences are almost constantly bombarded with content. You have to be strategic, and you also have to somehow differentiate yourself. Take a look at your competition’s content—are you creating the same type? What seems to be the most successful? And what seems to be a waste of time? Start asking yourself if there is some kind of helpful information you can give your audience that is lacking on other platforms.    

2. Streamlining content creation will make commitment to creating content realistic

Don’t assume that you have to produce content in every single form, from Facebook videos to whitepapers to blog posts. It’s about working smart—figure out what types of content are performing the best. As Hubspot advises, “If you've been in business for a while, review your content marketing efforts and the results from it in the last year. Figure out what you can do differently in the upcoming year and set new goals to reach.” Companies that consistently put up well-researched content rarely have to up their game. Develop a streamlined plan, and stick to it.   

3. Companies will be rewarded for focusing on what the audience wants

Once you’ve analyzed what your audience wants, your business will reap the rewards. Those 14 Instagram posts you created last week mean nothing if they aren’t what you audience wants to see and thus aren’t generating the traffic and interaction you need. Content really is the cornerstone of any business success. According to Hubspot: “Consistent, high-quality, and engaging content impacts audience decision-making more than any other technique.” You’ll see stronger, more consistent results when you provide your customers what they want.

4. Creating content will be easier to track with marketing tools

Don’t worry—you don’t have to do all of this alone. There are many marketing tools available to help you make most informed decisions about your marketing strategy. You can take advantage of tools like LinkTally or TweetCharts that analyze user interaction with the content you are sharing. HubSpot’s Website Grader will allow you to see where stand with your efforts—it gives you a grade for vital areas of your marketing and sends you a report to help you improve each area. As these tools become more sophisticated, it will become easier and easier to track how your prospects engage with your material and how well your website is performing.

5. Redesigning a website annually will become more commonplace