As we approach a new year, it’s always the perfect time to look back on the year that’s just past. In a business sense, 2016 threw up so many trends - especially in marketing. The interesting question is whether or not these trends will continue into the new year.

In this piece I will provide you with what experts are tipping as the top business marketing trends of 2017:

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Content Marketing

An entire article on content marketing was written not too long ago on this website. Feel free to give it a read if you want to understand the ins and outs of this marketing trend. In 2017, the emphasis will be firmly set on producing content for audiences to enjoy. It’s fair to say that 2016 was a breakthrough year for content marketing. Companies realized how effective it was and sought out new ways to produce content. In the years to come this trend will continue, and there will be new and innovative ways of getting content out there. One thing many experts think will happen is a rise in live content on social media. This includes live streams your audience can watch in real-time.

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App Marketing

Apps have become a huge thing in the last six or so years since the smartphone boom started. Nowadays you can’t walk down the street without seeing someone using an app on their phone. Businesses are now starting to make the most out of apps and app marketing. Simply creating a mobile app for your business is one brilliant way of increasing your marketing efforts. You get part of your company on someone's phone and in their pocket. This enables you to send push notifications and reach them in new ways. In 2017, app marketing will start moving to new heights. There are whispers that augmented reality could be a big thing for business apps in the future.

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Search Engine Marketing

Search engines have been around since the dawn of the internet. As the years go by they continue to be important for business marketing strategies. The majority of people find new websites and information via search engines. So, your company needs to market your website for search engines. Make it more search engine friendly and improve its ranking. There’s a reason so many SEO companies like theHOTH are popping up nowadays. The focus is firmly on search engine marketing and things such as SEO and PPC are a big part of that. This is a trend that will continue into 2017 and possibly become even more important as businesses fight for ranking spots.

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Social Media Marketing

It’s no secret that social media marketing is a massive trend in 2016. 2017 will see this continue and adapt in many ways. It’s thought that the emphasis will be on paid marketing and advertising through social media. This year has shown how effective promoted tweets and Facebook ads can be in gaining a larger audience. Expect this to continue as more small businesses get involved with paid social media marketing.

It’s a good idea to start focussing on these trends now so your business is more prepared come 2017.