Hello, September! It feels as though we only just finished our New Year’s celebrations, yet 2016 is nearly over. Summer is coming to a close, and we are opening our arms to embrace the autumn season. The fourth quarter is an important season of the year for a business and it is quickly approaching. End-of-year is a time to wrap up sales and marketing objectives, set sights on the year to come and work hard to finish the current year strong. That’s a lot to squeeze into three months!
We’ve got a few tips on helping you make the most of the remaining months of the year and making your content shine in the months to come.
Finish 2016 Strong
While there is much talk of looking ahead, it’s important to not ignore what is in front of you. This is your business’s chance to end the year with a bang. For many brands, October through December is a whirlwind because of the holidays. Before the fourth quarter begins, solidify your ideas and plans for how to capitalize on the holiday season with your audience. Consider how you can incorporate sales, social media campaigns and email blasts into your content marketing strategy. There is never a lack of content for your blog or website at the end of the year!
Assess Your Budget for Next Year
2017 will be here before you know it, so now is the time to assess your budget as you craft goals for the coming year. Content is quickly becoming a top marketing priority for business owners. To stay competitive, it is imperative to incorporate content into your marketing strategy. Taking a hard look at your budget is part of setting yourself up for success in the coming months. Decide how and where you want to spend your money. What can you do internally? What do you need to outsource? Do you need to invest in a better website? What portion of your budget do you want to use to increase the quality and reach of your blog?
Figuring out how you’ll spend your marketing budget is the first step to creating achievable goals that start on January 1.
Set Goals for 2017
If you haven’t jumped onto the content marketing train yet, now is the time to set yourself up for success in 2017 with content. Once you’ve settled on your budget, it’s time to craft your strategy. Start by making sure you have the right resources in place (our Content Marketing Checklist is a great place to begin). Next, identify the audience to whom you want your content to speak, and then create an editorial calendar that will help keep your content plan on track. If you’re not sure what goals you should be working to achieve, we’ve got a few to get you started.
2016 has been a great year. 2017 is going to be even BETTER. Are you ready to dive in? We’re here to help you achieve your online marketing goals in the coming year. Learn more about our Dish Works services.
Photo credits: top, PicJumbo; bottom: Libre Shot