How to keep up with content marketing trends

We are operating in a digital landscape that is constantly evolving, with change the only thing you can really count on. These shifting trends and ongoing innovation are having a big impact on how to approach digital marketing.

At Azendo – where we are heavily invested in the digital success of our offshore staffing partners – keeping up with, and ahead of, the curve is increasingly prioritized. 

The challenge of changing content marketing trends

What worked yesterday might not necessarily work tomorrow.

That is now one of the biggest challenges faced by businesses like ours – and yours. Staying up-to-date with what are rapidly changing content marketing trends. It’s a fast-paced environment that requires quick action to maintain relevance and gain a competitive edge.

Working in this field for the last 10 years, I’ve witnessed the aftermath of many companies failing to adapt. The struggle to resonate with their audience can often mean losing ground to competitors, and ultimately face a decline in their market position – or worse.

The time you invest in, and the effort and resources you put into, a content strategy can all-too-quickly feel redundant, at least for businesses who neglect the importance of keeping informed of content marketing trends. Consumer behaviour evolves in tandem with technological advancements so falling behind can mean losing valuable engagement, leads, and revenue. 

Despite what we’ve made sound like doom-mongering, there are solutions, and the first one you have already accomplished by reading this far – acknowledging the challenge in the first place. 

We’re going delve into the strategies and approaches that Azendo is adopting to keep up with – and thrive in – the changing face of content marketing. We’re not just adapting in response to change, we have a proactive strategy that keeps us ahead of it.

Recognizing the need for adaptation

Digital marketing is a fiercely competitive domain, and falling behind with your content strategy will have consequences.

Picture this: your competitors are delivering consistent, fresh, engaging content tailored to their audience’s evolving needs, while you stay loyal to your painstaking designed, long-planned strategy.

The result? A gradual decline in visibility, then engagement, leading to a negative impact on revenue. All while your competitors steal that market share by staying relevant.

When you fail to keep pace with content marketing trends, you risk losing your audience’s attention to competitors who are quicker to adapt. This loss of engagement translates directly into missed opportunities for lead generation, conversion, and even brand loyalty.

Moreover, outdated content can damage a brand’s credibility which will also lead to a decline in search engine rankings and online authority.

Real world examples of a failure to adapt

I see organizations falling behind in every industry. In fact, there are some very high profile, real-world examples of companies that failed to adapt in their market.

Blockbuster, for example. Once a powerhouse in the entertainment industry, Blockbuster’s reluctance to embrace the digital shift to streaming led to its demise, paving the way for Netflix to dominate the market.

In the same mould, Kodak’s failure to pivot towards digital photography in the face of emerging trends ultimately resulted in bankruptcy. These cautionary tales underscore the importance of agility, and embracing innovation in today’s increasingly digital landscape.

The importance of staying ahead

The stories of Blockbuster and Kodak serve as reminders of the consequences of complacency. As a forward-thinking company committed to digital excellence, Azendo are guarding against falling into the same trap. The lessons learned from examples like these two underscore the importance of staying ahead of the curve, and not least in content marketing.

By remaining vigilant, adaptable, and responsive to changing trends, Azendo can position itself as a leader in the offshore staffing industry, capturing and retaining audience attention, driving engagement, and ultimately, achieving sustainable growth.

Staying ahead is important for survival, but essential if you are to thrive.

Strategies to use to keep up with trends

As I’ve said, digital marketing trends can change at a fast pace. 

If you view it as a journey – an ongoing process of adaptation, learning and growth – your strategy will be more effective in navigating new trends. At Azendo, at the forefront of the offshore staffing industry, we foster a culture of ongoing learning. 

We consider it essential for our growth, and for yours too.

New algorithms, emerging technologies, and shifting consumer behaviours demand a proactive approach. By investing in continuous learning programs, Azendo ensures its offshore teams remain equipped with the latest insights, strategies, and best practices, helping us maintain a competitive edge.

Trend monitoring tools

Tools like Google Trends, BuzzSumo, and SEMrush can unveil valuable insights into what topics are trending, where the audience’s attention is shifting, and how competitors are positioning themselves.

By integrating these tools into your strategy, you can tailor your content to meet the current demands of your audience, and enhance your visibility and relevance in your sector. 

Social media has tools of its own. Checking competitor’s Facebook Ads Library, and regularly checking trends on TikTok and Instagram Reels, will ensure you don’t miss any new trends. This way, you constantly have an eye on what your competitors are doing and what is and isn’t working for them. 

We also make sure we use these tools to see what works in other industries, in case we can adapt them to our audience.

Industry networking

This isn’t new, but the benefits of industry networking cannot be overstated. Connecting with fellow professionals, thought leaders, and influencers in content marketing opens doors to a wealth of knowledge.

It is also a valuable way to find opportunities for collaborations. At Azendo, we frequently organize networking events for our offshore staffing industry partners. This helps us stay up to date of what is working in our industry, exchange relevant ideas, and also develop those partnerships.

These connections we make within the industry is helping us remain a leading player in offshore staffing.

Find the right experts to follow

It can be challenging to find the right experts to follow, as you can’t follow everyone, everywhere. I mostly follow leaders in our field on LinkedIn, but not just those who post their opinions. A good place to start for me was to find experts who qualify their content with data and case studies. 

Being selective over who you follow, and are influenced by in your content marketing strategy, will help you stay ahead of those who aren’t. Analyse if who you are following is qualifying their content too, or just posting for the sake posting. Review whether it is offering you or their audience value, and can be trusted.

The future of content marketing for Azendo

Our strategy for content marketing is focused on anticipating shifts, and to proactively adapt when they happen. With this constantly in mind, we avoid the consequences that come with producing stagnant, outdated content.

We plan to stay abreast, if not ahead, of content marketing trends and even shape content for our industry. Search engines increasingly favour websites that consistently deliver fresh, valuable content, and we plan for Azendo to lead the way in offshore staffing content.

Maintaining relevance, capturing the attention of our target audience, and staying ahead of competitors will always be fundamental to our strategy.

You can start adapting today!

I’ve underlined the importance of staying ahead in content marketing trends, and if your strategy isn’t allowing this then it’s time you take decisive action.

The longer you stick with an outdated long-term plan, the more opportunity for competitors to seize the spotlight. So, I urge you to take some time now to design and implement a content marketing strategy that allows for agility.

Consider the strategies we are using at Azendo, and consider how you can to adopt them in your sector. Start with engaging your team, which in itself creates energy in your business, and involve them in staying up to date with trends in content marketing.

Immediate action spreads. Taking action now will be just the start of a more proactive approach when trends shift in future, and they will, and are!

Invest in tools and resources 

Whilst change can be daunting, you don’t have to tackle it alone.

I recommend leveraging resources and tools that aid and guide you. They will save time, and deliver better results: 

–   Invest in advanced analytics tools to track trends, participate in industry forums to stay up to date, and monitor your competitors activity online.

–   Consider enlisting the expertise of digital marketing professionals, if you don’t have any in-house, who keep ahead of the trends and can design tailored strategies for you and your audiences.

–   Establishing a culture of continuous learning within your team is going to be key. Foster an environment where staying updated on industry trends is not just another task, but part of the routine.

There are an increasing number of resources at your disposal now. It’s going to be how you harness them within your strategy to maximise your content’s impact on your audience. 

Stay at the forefront of content marketing trends

Adopting a content marketing plan that can quickly adapt will not only help to keep you in line with competitors in your industry. You can stay ahead of them with an agile approach.

Digital marketing is evolving faster than ever, and this provides countless possibilities and opportunities. By staying at the forefront of trends, you have the power to shape the narrative for your sector, reach new audiences, and outshine competitors.

Change really is the only constant. Embrace innovation and implement agile strategies and there is little reason why you can’t become the needle in content marketing in your industry.