Twinkling lights lining neighborhood porches, the smell of Douglas Fir pines, and those holiday sales on top of sales – yup, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. With the biggest shopping days of the entire year lining up, the holiday season is an important time for small businesses. And while you have your list and we are sure you are checking it twice, there are a few things to keep on your radar as the year draws to a close.
Improving Digital Experience
Creating mobile responsive web designs is old news, however, continuing to improve upon the digital experience is going to continue to be of importance. The dominant use of smartphones and other mobile devices have made things like download speed and website security more of a necessity. Technologies like Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) will continue to make this area a hot trending topic.
People are Putting More Trust in People (and Brands) That They Know
With the consistent growth of social media and the overwhelming amount of information online, customers are putting more of their trust in both the people and the brands that they are familiar with. And in the age of ad blockers, gone are the days of traditional ads reaching their target audiences.
So what can you do to stand out against your competition?
The answer really is simple, build that trust and build it through creative marketing. From small business to large corporation and the new companies popping up in between, the secret ingredient to creating brand loyalty lies with the understanding that building trust is important. In the upcoming year, you are likely to see a rise in content marketing, influencer marketing, and referral partnerships along with social media marketing methods that provide actual value to the end user.
Helpfulness and Authenticity Versus Technology and Automation
Time leverage is everything when running a successful business, so it comes to no surprise that marketing automation and technology is going to advance to help us work smarter. And while we are all looking for ways to operate more efficiently, our consumer markets are looking for that personal touch. Finding that balance is going to be key to leveling your business above the competition in 2019!
As 2018 starts to wind down and you start prepping your marketing strategy for the new year, we suggest keeping these top trends in mind. Certain things might not be the best fit for your business but preparing for these up and coming marketing concepts could set you up for a great kick off heading into 2019! And if you are feeling overwhelmed with all these holiday to-dos or you are just not sure where to start, our Maui marketing team are here to help. Schedule a free consultation today and our experts can help map it all out!