Marketing trends that SMEs can adopt in 2017
As online marketing techniques take strides in the year 2017, their availability is no longer limited to big corporations. Technological advancements have ensured that smaller business units or SMEs can take advantage of marketing practices to push their products further. This article will tell you about four practices that small businesses should already be doing and then take a deeper leap into the evolving patterns of the same.
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Websites optimized for mobiles
If history or trends are any indication, then it is of the fact that the world is getting as small as the palm of your hands. Small businesses who have understood this pattern, have consistently worked to make their websites mobile friendly and those who haven’t are at risk of losing customers. Check whether your website is optimized for mobile devices, if not, make it happen because Google announced that it is planning to split their search index into two: a mobile index and a desktop index. Better be on board before the ship tanks completely.
Mobile apps
With the emergence of affordable mobile app tools and platforms, small business now have a greater customer reach. But since there is a clutter of apps, SMEs must keep relevancy in mind before signing on. Relevancy is something that can be moderated using app store optimization or ASO, it just depends upon the name of the app, keywords, icon, location and category.
Search engine optimization
SEO listing remains to be a major factor in determining a business' online presence. But this year there are two factors - mainly popups and page speed, that need to be considered.
Popups
As far as popups are considered, they have so far had a rough rollercoaster ride in the internet’s history. In 2017, Google announced that it would give lower ratings to websites using popups and other techniques affecting mobile device accessibility. You can use Google Webmaster tools to test how mobile-friendly your website is.
Page speed
It is common knowledge that the faster a website page opens the better its listing would be. You can use Web Page Test to determine and identify specific performance issues if any. This test also provides remedial measures to help eliminate bugs.
Native and Live Videos
Snapchat and Facebook started it and everyone else joined the bandwagon. Last year was clearly the year for live videos across social media platforms. Gone are the days of long form articles, in today’s day and age, it is video chats that are going to help appeal to a larger audience. So, in 2017 small businesses must start looking at live videos not only as a social media strategy but also an e-commerce strategy.
The online marketing trends are changing very rapidly and every business must keep track of these advances to stay ahead in the game.