In most of your website analytics, you are looking at the past to see what has already worked for you in the Internet marketing game. While this is a valuable use of your time, it does not tell the whole story. Some aspects of the market are bound to change during your upcoming marketing campaign, and you need to be ready for them. Here are a few ways you can plan for the future.
1. Trending Topics
Trending topics and trending videos on social websites can give you an idea of the next big thing. You may have to wade through a lot of chatter and silly ideas that are destined to be no more than fads. However, there are trending topics that will tell you about the newest ideas on the minds of people everywhere. Some of these are problems for which no solution has yet been created. Just think: you can be the first to solve the problem with a hot-selling new or repurposed product.
2. Developing Patterns
Patterns are all about the past, right? Well, actually, no. The individual bits of information making up the pattern are a part of the past, but the overall curve usually marches on into the future barring any new developments. It is graphs over time where you will see where your marketing efforts are heading.
Look up a keyword in Google Insights that you might use for your business, and see how it has fared over the course of the past few years. If there is a recurring pattern, use the keyword in your SEO articles and on your website in the next such period of time. For instance, if you sell textbooks, you might see a spike in the keyword phrase “used textbook” just before the start or right after the end of a college semester. Use that information to employ that keyword heavily at exactly that time.
3. News Stories
Keep up with the news, both general news and industry news. You will want to be the first to know when something is happening that will affect your business. Do not wait for the information to filter down to you through casual channels. Go out seeking enlightenment on the subjects that are pertinent to your business. You will stay ahead of many of your competitors, and you will know what your target audience wants the most.
4. Talk to Everyone
Talk on Facebook, Twitter or whatever social networking sites where you have accounts. Bring up hopes, plans and needs for the future. Share your expertise, but most of all, listen to what your target audience is saying. They probably know what they want better than you could ever dream to. All you have to do is give them the time and the respect of listening to their ideas.
Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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