The online content you know today will be different tomorrow. With mobile devices more prevalent than ever before, people are consuming content on the go in just about any place. This has created a demand for instant access to content. The faster your web pages load on desktop and mobile, the better. Consumers also expect companies to be active and respond to their comments and requests via social media in real time.
We are now in a period of major change. Social media is shifting to a more interactive focus, allowing people to now broadcast live video (Facebook Live, Periscope, Instagram Live, etc.). There are also a number of new innovations in AI, bot platforms and voice-based search. All of these changes are going to have a dramatic impact on how marketers, as well as businesses, carry out their online marketing strategies.
So how can your business stay ahead of the competition and position yourself for success in the future, especially with all of these new technological advancements? Make sure you do the following things:
Provide instant access to content: The faster your content can be available to consumers, the more likely they will stay longer on your website, which could then turn into leads, conversions, and sales. If your web pages take too long to load, you could potentially lose a lot of business. Both Facebook (Facebook Instant Articles) and Google (Google AMP) are offering new services to businesses to provide more instant access to content. Facebook Instant Articles allows consumers to access a company’s online content within the Facebook app, which in turn increases view rates since they don’t have to go to a third-party website. Google AMP integrates a company’s content within search queries so people can access the information quicker. Both of these services provide faster access to content and page load times are cut significantly.
Conduct live video sessions on social media: Many social media channels are a pay-to-play game nowadays. But with live videos, businesses can still reach audiences organically without paid efforts. You can reach the most amount of people via a Facebook Live due to the social media network’s large number of users (over 1 billion to be exact). When doing any live video broadcast, however, make sure that the topic is engaging to your audience.
Update and maintain your website: If your web pages don’t load fast enough, you’ll likely lose many viewers. That’s why it is important to constantly update and maintain your website. Make sure the images and videos on the site don’t slow down the loading time. You’ll also want to be sure to continually optimize your site for search engines so people can find you easier online.
Continue to be creative and innovate: With the new technological innovations such as AI, bot platforms, live video and voice-based search, it is absolutely imperative that all businesses continue to innovate in order to stay ahead of the competition as well as cater to the needs and interests of their customers. In the future, it is likely that devices and the internet will be more incorporated into our daily lives. Businesses should take advantage of these new technologies and discover how they best can deliver messages to their audiences wherever they may be.
Are you ready for the future of online content? If you follow the four items of advice above, you will be well positioned to stand out online. And who knows, maybe you will be the first in your industry to implement the latest technological trends and be far ahead of all of your competitors and that would provide numerous business opportunities. Overall, what really matters is that you are prepared for the changes coming and that you don’t hesitate to implement them within your organization.
What are your thoughts on the future of online content? Leave a comment below.
