We measured some of 2013’s biggest digital booms through the lenses of top research by iMedia, Adweek, and Forbes. Curious? Settle in and see how your brand stacked up in 2013! Then, take a look at some of our suggestions to discover how you can make 2014 your most active digital marketing year yet.

1. How did you stack up
AGAINST THE DIGITAL TRENDS OF 2013?

2. How Digital is Your Brand?
Last month we shared our expectations for the top
14 Digital Trends in 2014. We predicted mobile expansion,
growth in digital and social commerce, and an
increasingly smart world around us. In short, a growing
world that continually pushes the limits of digital and social.
That’s all fine and well, but talk is cheap. How did your
brand measure up against the hot trends of 2013? We
measured some of 2013’s biggest digital booms through
the lenses of top research by iMedia, Adweek, and Forbes.
Curious? Settle in and see how your brand stacked up in
2013! Then, take a look at some of our suggestions to
discover how you can make 2014 your most active digital
marketing year yet.
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3. Accelerated Move
Towards Digital Spend
Today, 25% of marketing is digital. Brands are spending huge
quantities of their advertising budgets on online channels,
which means that digital advertisers must continually up the
ante to ensure conversion activity. In order to stay on top,
digital marketers must consider how to evolve and elevate
their advertising to ensure that customers make the leap
toward engagement and online purchase. Fortunately,
digital is here to stay, as mobile and digital shopping
increasingly trend upward.
How did your brand handle its marketing budget this year? If
you’re on trend and spending 25% or more in digital, give
yourself a point and a pat on the back. For 15-25%, sit tight,
and for less than 15%, please join us in the 21st century and
use your abacus to remove a point.
-1
I currently spend less than 15% on digital marketing.
0
I spend 15-25% on digital marketing.
+1
SOURCE:
I spend 25%+ on digital marketing.
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/35555.asp#singleview
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4. An Increase in Mobile
Web Traffic
Companies have been presented with a unique growth
opportunity. Their customers are ALWAYS connected.
Selling hours are no longer 8-5, in-store only. People love
their smartphones, and they’re never far from them. It
shouldn’t come as a surprise that mobile is nearly half of all
website traffic. The real question is, if you don’t have a
mobile site, what are you waiting for?
-1
I still do not have any form of a mobile website.
0
I have a mobile website or mobile app for my brand.
+1
I have created a fully responsive web experience and
mobile-first strategy.
SOURCE:
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/35555.asp#singleview
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5. Social as a Paid Channel
Before 2013, advertisers typically ignored social as a paid
option and focused on the greatness that was a “free”
marketing channel. However 2013 changed that. Most
social platforms had investors with high expectations for their
return on investment and in return launched a variety of
paid social tactics – largely making paid a mandatory
aspect of any social media campaign. How did you evolve
your social strategy in 2013?
-1
Paid media on social channels is an afterthought.
0
Planning incorporates all elements of Paid, Owned,
Shared, and Earned Media.
+1
SOURCE:
Innovating, testing, and learning with at least one new
paid social media opportunity.
http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/35555.asp#singleview
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6. Think Like a Publisher
Ironically, the hottest trend in the ad world right now is trying
to distance itself from being called advertising. Great
content marketing, content that both promotes your brand
and is interesting in its own right, is taking the advertising
world by storm. Experts are recommending thinking about
creating this content from a journalistic perspective, not
from the perspective of an advertiser. Brands across the
board have become content marketers this year, and their
aim is to think like publishers and journalists. By creating
conversation based on interesting and engaging content
that references brands, but does not read as an advertising
push, brands are achieving huge success.
Think about your brand. Are you actually creating content
or just filling up space on the internet? Give yourself a point
for the former and take one away for the latter.
-1
The only content I create is my print ad, my banner
units, and my social media posts.
0
I have a content strategy that includes a robust SEO
keyword strategy.
+1
SOURCE:
I have content partnerships and a content distribution
plan that incorporates ambassadors who help me cocreate.
http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/eight-digital-trendswatch-2013-146070
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7. A Move to Integrated
Marketing Campaigns
With the surge of widespread adoption of content
marketing, paid social, and mobile implementations,
developing a marketing strategy that integrates them
seamlessly is key. Because 2013 marked such a vast
improvement and focus on these areas, leveraging a
cross-channel digital campaign is even more important in
order to emerge on top of competitors. Integrated
campaigns typically result in a cost effective, unified
strategy.
-1
My brand has silos internally and externally that make it
difficult to select truly integrated ideas.
0
I haven't had any luck but we keep trying to figure out
how to get our teams collaborating.
+1
SOURCE:
We have a clear understanding of our brand and our
brand's purpose which makes inter-agency
collaboration more effective.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/20/follow-themoney-digital-marketing-trends-for-2013
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8. So… Drumroll… How Did You Do?
(-5 through -2): With digital and mobile marketing at an all-time
high, now is a perfect time to boost your current marketing
strategy. In the last year alone, MEplusYOU has helped brands
like Verizon, Torani, and World Vision develop social and
content strategies, move visitors from experience to conversion,
and build integrated marketing campaigns. Some digital trends
your brand might benefit from focusing on include developing
an understanding of social shopping and taking a look into a
repurposed e-mail strategy. If you feel that your brand could
use a boost learning how to navigate the complicated waters
of digital marketing, give MEplusYOU a call.
(-2 through +2): Clearly your brand is aware of the churning
trends in digital, however, MEplusYOU can help you push
through the clutter to implement a cohesive, integrated
campaign that touches on all the hotspots proven in 2013 and
predicted for 2014. Seemingly minor changes in strategy—
including focused efforts on mobile and content curation—can
cause dramatic results. We have experience helping brands like
Rescue Remedy, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt emerge as
leaders in their fields through their digital strategy and
campaigns. We would love to set up a conversation to see
where your brand is sitting now and how we can help you
elevate things to the next level.
(+3 through +5): Congratulations! Your brand is well on its way to
a healthy, successful marketing strategy for 2014. Throughout
2013, MEplusYOU helped many big name brands find ways to
authentically connect with their fans. Last year, MEplusYOU
helped to reinvigorate Louisville Slugger, including relaunching
the iconic brand for the first time in 129 years and embarking on
a movement we call Leave Your Mark. This movement
encourages players and fans alike to leave their mark on the
sport and tell the world about it. Strategizing on how to market
in the new channel of the internet of things, and how to
promote (RE)Commerce could be an excellent way to
differentiate your brand while also providing a serious valueadd to your customers. We love helping brands continue to
make meaningful and authentic impacts and we’d love to
chat about how MEplusYOU can help achieve all of your 2014
marketing goals.
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9. Contact Us:
www.meplusyou.com
E: Marketing@meplusyou.com
C: 214-224-1000
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