Where has 2016 gone? It feels like just yesterday we were preparing for the sixth season of "Game of Thrones" and bargaining with the powers that be for Jon Snow's death to be a horrible, awful prank. Now look at us. We're rapidly approaching 2017 and figuring out what sort of marketing strategy we need to have in place to make it the best year yet.
Don't give in to the anxiety and start freaking out; you've still got time to plan. In fact, now is the perfect time to start thinking about your marketing efforts and developing your content strategy.
There's no time like the present, and here's why:
1. You can start building a solid foundation.
Think about how much easier creating next year's content will be if you've already got a foundation to build upon. Now, consider that one of the biggest benefits of this strategy is how content can build value over time. Start working on content now while you've got the time, and lay the foundation for a successful strategy (and valuable returns) next year. And you can make it even easier on your team by using a knowledge management template to store and organize content ideas for the future.
2. You have time to find the right content partner.
Seventy percent of B2B marketers plan to increase their content output in 2017. Now, you may have noticed that a lot of content was produced this year, so pulling off an increase like that without sacrificing quality might be hard to do on your own. Companies tend to hire a content firm at the beginning of the year once they realize they need help. Get a head start by vetting your options early. That way, while your competitors are busy starting their search for the right partner, you'll already have a strategy in place.
3. Your content wins and misses of 2016 are still fresh in your mind.
While you should be tracking the success of your efforts all year by matching your content goals to metrics, the end of the year gives you a chance to look at your efforts as a whole. With that assessment of your content strategy success and missteps fresh in your mind, you'll be better able to identify (and plan for) what you can do better next year.
4. Audiences are less engaged, which takes some pressure off your efforts.
The holiday season is perfect for engaging with family and friends, but chances are you'll see a drop in engagement with your audience online. While that may sound like a bad thing, it actually gives you a great opportunity. With less pressure to engage your audience with content every day, you can focus more of your time and energy on planning your content strategy.
We know you may be stressed right now, but you don't have to go it alone. Our team at Influence & Co. knows content like the back of our hand. It's what we do day in and day out. Just because 2016 is coming to a close doesn't mean our watch has ended (see what I did there, fellow "GOT" fans?). So start planning now. Contact us, and we'll help you through it.
Click the link below to set up a time to chat about your content strategy!
.jpg)
