As the longest running content marketing predictions source on the planet (I’m not kidding), I’m proud to announce our 2014 Content Marketing Predictions eBook. (For the record, you can also view our forecasts for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).
My favorite part about these predictions is that I’m usually wrong — and I don’t mind going out on a limb again this year. That said, I really feel my content marketing predictions are on the money this time around:
- Microsoft will buy one, maybe two, media companies in certain industries. The outcome of these moves will pave the way for further media purchases throughout the year by non-media companies.
- Red Bull will announce a series of daredevil movies to be produced by Amazon.com.
- At least three Fortune 500 brands will hire a Chief Content Officer.
Aside from my own “stretch” goals above, we have compiled 2014 content marketing predictions from 50 other content marketing thought leaders. Here are some of my favorites:
Bigger success, less content. That’s the motto I expect to see more and more content marketers embrace in 2014. With more and more organizations taking a more strategic approach to driving sales and higher-quality leads, we’ll see brand marketers create content brands designed to build subscription-based relationships with a loyal audience. Subscriptions that demand higher-quality content, delivered consistently and shared widely. —Andrew Davis | @TPLDrew; author of Brandscaping (and keynote presenter at Content Marketing World 2014)
In 2014, more brands will partner with publishers beyond the ad buy. I am not talking about ‘native ads’ that consumers ignore, but true content partnerships where brands and publishers will co-create sponsored content for both the publisher and brand websites and the social web (paid, owned, and earned). —Michael Brenner | @BrennerMichael; VP, Marketing and Content Strategy, SAP
There is a definite trend toward small. If we can’t get big chunks of content through a limited ‘pipeline’ of brain cells, maybe we can get grains of sand through. This would explain ideas like Vine (6-second videos), infographics, and even Pinterest, which is simply easy on the eyes without a lot of processing. —Mark W. Schaefer | @markwschaefer; author, Return on Influence
I predict that the need for translated content will increase, perhaps exponentially, into 2014. More customers are translating more content into more languages all the time. It is no longer acceptable to reach international markets with an English-only strategy. —Val Swisher | @contentrulesinc; CEO, Content Rules, Inc.
Check out these, as well as the 46 additional predictions in our content marketing predictions eBook below.
What are your predictions for the content marketing industry in 2014? Let’s hear them in the comments below.
(Note: If you would like to download the PDF, select Save via the SlideShare link.)
