We’re over halfway through 2016 now. Back-to-school merchandise is going on clearance, nudging out the last of the summer pool toys. You know what time it is…
It’s time for 2017 predictions articles. Look for a trickle in the next few weeks that will become a veritable flood by December.
There’s nothing wrong with looking to the future. After all, the future is notorious for becoming the present and the past, usually faster than we’re comfortable with. As sophisticated marketers, we need to stay ahead of the curve.
This week’s roundup of marketing content features some truly futuristic thinking. None of these posts are predictions posts per se, though: They’re more practical than that, more concerned with what you can do with your marketing right now that will make everyone else think you come from the future.
Read on to learn a new model for content marketing, how “context marketing” can enhance personalization, and more.
1. It’s Time to Rethink the Content Business
Learn how content marketers can redefine an “active user,” and take inspiration from traditional publishing to help prove ROI, with this article from HubSpot Principal Marketing Strategist Sam Mallikarjunan.
2. Cannes Lions 2016: 9 Inspiring Trends Spotted among This Year’s Winners
Marketing can do more than create demand for products and services. As this SlideShare from marketing blogger Natalia Hatalska shows, marketing can entertain, improve people’s lives, and even help save the planet.
3. Why Context Is Digital Marketing’s Next Frontier
Personalization has been an effective tool for marketers, but you can only personalize so much without becoming off-putting. Conglomotron LLC’s Rebecca Lieb explores how to increase relevancy in a way that avoids the creep factor.
4. Is the Way We’ve Been Doing Marketing and Sales Broken?
Yes, says Drift’s Dave Gerhardt. Fortunately, he offers ways to change both processes to more closely fit the new buyer’s journey in this SlideShare presentation.
5. Here’s How to Use Your Daily Habits For Writing Better Content in Less Time
Lack of time is one of top 5 challenges for 51% of content marketers, while 50% face the challenge of producing truly engaging content. Not to worry marketers. Lesley Vos has found different tactics to become more productive and efficient, as well as optimize our work to achieve better results.
6. The 3 Biggest Mistakes Marketers Make with Buyer Personas (2016 Edition)
A persona is only valuable insofar as it helps marketers understand how a buyer makes a purchase decision. Buyer Persona Institute CEO Adele Revella identifies three ways you can make your personas a more useful, relevant tool.
7. Dr. Robert Cialdini – Influence
Marketers know the quickest way to a customer’s heart is providing value. But how and when you offer value could mean more than what exactly you offer. Bestselling author Dr. Robert Cialdini explains three major motivators in this 20-minute video.
8. How to Get Your LinkedIn Ads to Reach More Small Businesses
Learn how to use LinkedIn Ads’ exclusionary filters to reach a better-targeted audience with this Social Media Examiner guide from B2Linked’s AJ Wilcox.
9. The Ultimate Guide to Creating Effective Landing Pages
Sevillana Publishing, LLC’s Michelle Lowery starts this post with an admission that her headline is hyperbolized to provoke reader action. The rest of the post keeps that refreshing honesty, offering practical advice for creating pages that move your audience to act.
10. What B2B Marketers Can Learn from IKEA
Fans of flat-packed Swedish furniture, rejoice! This fun infographic from LookBookHQ will tell you exactly how many meatballs and Allen wrenches Ikea sells every year. But along with the trivia, you will find solid marketing advice you won’t have to assemble yourself.
For more forward-looking marketing advice, subscribe to the LinkedIn Marketing Solutions blog.
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