Though content marketing is maturing as an industry, 2015 is likely to see some wild new trends. Our content thought leaders dish on everything that lies ahead this year, from futuristic concepts like "smart content" and wearables to throwbacks like custom print magazines.

1. CONTENT MARKETING
PREDICTIONS FOR
FROM THE MINDS OF
2015

2. For some enterprise marketers, content marketing will
become simply marketing. Content is the center of all of their
marketing efforts. The ones who institutionalize an ongoing
content marketing strategy and governance will leave their
competitors scratching their heads wondering, ‘How do they do
it?’ Ongoing strategy and governance is the difference
between random content posts and a content program that

3. Deep industry
expertise will become
the price of entry for content
marketing agencies to engage
clients. Thought leadership is
the coin of the realm.

4. Unable to sustain the
necessary journalistic standards for
success, at least one major ‘brand marketing
publisher’ will give up in-house operations of
its content marketing in favor of engaging an
outside content marketing agency.

5. Strategically-focused content,
with unique calls-to-action for segmented
audiences will take the lead. The days of
distributing the same message to one
audience will be obsolete.
Strategically-focused content,
with unique calls-to-action for segmented
audiences will take the lead. The days of
distributing the same message to one
audience will be obsolete.

6. Custom print magazines will make a
resurgence as a premium content
delivery channel due to decreased print
competition and a desire by audiences
to re-connect with tangible, high
quality publications that offer
deep content expertise that fills their
needs, surprises and delights them.

7. Agencies who lack deep journalistic
talent will continue to fall behind as
marketers realize that success does not
come from producing large quantities
of content but rather from deep
content that provides
deep value by engaging and
motivating their target audiences.

8. There will be an increased implementation of clean, yet creative
design in the content marketing digital space. Instead of using
flashy visuals, gimmicks or attempting to bring real life to the
screen, designers will revert back to and emphasize simplified,
consistent and classic design principles. The focus of design
will be on the content not the clutter.

9. As traditional media continues to
fragment and fade, the best and
brightest emerging from top
J-schools will find in content marketing
endless possibilities for putting their
creativity, skills and passion to work.

10. Content will become more closely linked to technology so
that content can be updated and distributed in real time as
the information in it changes. The life of infographics
and case studies will be lengthened and amplified
by the automation of data updating.

11. Reversing a decade-long trend, businesses will
begin to focus their efforts and distribute content on
fewer social platforms. However, they will create
more sophisticated and automated content and
distribution strategies for the platforms they keep.

12. Podcasts will grow listenership at a faster rate
than in previous years, spurred by a growing number of
ways for audiences to listen during their commutes via
mobile software, wearables and in-car technology.

13. For more content marketing insights,
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