Change...the only constant in life.

One thing we can count on is change. Change happens every day all around us. In relation to the business world, consumers are constantly bombarded with why they need the next big thing, the out-with-the-old / in-with-the-new ads, etc. This can really cause problems from a business standpoint IF said business isn’t doing their due diligence in keeping up with the constant changes. One major way to help your business is by using different ways of communicating with your clients in person, by mail, e-mail, text, phone calls, PR, other forms of advertising, through your website or App, blog, podcast or video.

Another way of engaging today involves social media. According to Brandwatch, there are 2.3 billion active social media users as of 2015. 2.3 Billion! Not only that, but 91% of retail brands use 2 or more social media channels. Given this fact that many businesses know the importance of social media, how much competition is there for your business now?

So what does a business do with consumer expectations changing at phenomenally fast rates? How can a business keep up if there isn’t a ton of time to figure out what is working for the business? Daniel Newman, Forbes Contributor, gives 10 trends to put into action that may very well help keep your business ahead of the game. Here are just a few…

• The Customer Experience.
• Those businesses that are successful at keeping up with these changing times are the ones making the customer their focal point. What do your customers leave feeling like after they’ve done business with your company? Research that answer in detail & do what you can to adjust things so that customers experience a “piece of heaven” so to speak.

• Video, the new content form.
• Online content on social media sites (ie – reviews, blog posts, etc) still remain the core of a company's social media presence.  Brandwatch shows there are 8 billion average daily video views from 500 million users on Facebook! Real-time video & live-streaming are really starting to make an impact with consumers. Posts that include videos of company events, activities, product demonstrations, etc show a more human & more real side to your business.

• Personalize it!
• Do you want to make consumers purchases simpler & more responsive? Research the trends of your consumers lifestyle characteristics, online habits, & their purchase behaviors. Knowing the answers to these research points allows your business to make a very personal experience for your consumer by marketing communication based on the subjects said consumer is interested in at any given time.

As you can see, it is extremely important to engage with your consumers continuously so to be in-the-know of what they’re looking for & what they want in the moment. If the thought of all this overwhelms you, we at The Mullikin Agency are here to help & happy to do so!