best of 2017

This week was the last #ContentWritingChat of 2017. *cue the tears* We’ve had a tremendous year growing this community and connecting with so many amazing content creators from around the globe. Throughout 2017, we’ve had amazing guests and topics week after week. And it’s only going to get better from here! However, before we move forward into 2018, we wanted to use this week’s chat to reflect on the past year. So, let’s dive into the recap! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Best of 2017 with Gini Dietrich & Madalyn Sklar Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, December 19th to celebrate the end of 2017! ? @ginidietrich and @MadalynSklar will be our guest hosts! pic.twitter.com/9llbBIIeTU — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 13, 2017 To wrap up the year, we wanted to make sure we brought on some powerhouse guests. Two ladies that came to mind were Gini Dietrich and Madalyn Sklar. Both of them have hosted #ContentWritingChat in the past and provided great value to the community. It only made sense to have them join us again! Q1: Which content marketing and social media trends really stood out in 2017? What was worth the effort for brands to implement? To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share the top trends they believed were worth the effort in 2017. Was it live video, podcasting, or something else? Here are a few responses we received: A1: Lots more video marketing and Facebook Live—both good and bad. #contentwritingchat — Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017 Gini knows that video marketing and Facebook Live broadcasts really stood out in the past year. There’s no denying that this will continue to grow in popularity during 2018. A1: A larger shift toward paid media to amplify content. #contentwritingchat — Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017 She also said there’s been a greater shift toward paid media. With the algorithms social media platforms have put in place, it’s almost become a requirement if you want your content to be seen. A1: The trends that stood out for 2017 was video, podcasting and livestreaming. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/9ZjnF8cbTf — Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017 Video, podcasting, and live streaming are the three trends that caught Madalyn’s attention this year. A1: I’d say video was the most-talked about topic in 2017 – everyone looked so interested in starting their own journey on YouTube and similar platforms!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WygMq2z20e — @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) December 19, 2017 Video was certainly one hot topic this year! As Andrea said, more brands started creating YouTube channels and sharing video content with their audience. A1: Live streaming and video content stood out the most in 2017 for brands. A trend that won’t go away and will only become more popular in 2018. #ContentWritingChat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 19, 2017 Besides YouTube channels, live streaming has been pretty popular. Brands started using tools like Facebook Live and Instagram Live. A1: Live streaming was huge in 2017, which is pretty easy for brands to do to connect to their audience. Live streaming 2018 will only grow off of that. #ContentWritingChat — Allegheny Answering (@Answering_Svc) December 19, 2017 But why was live streaming such a big deal? It’s a great way for brands to connect with their audience. If you haven’t tried it out, it’s worth it! A1. Live Video, Short Video, VIDEO! (also paid content). Live/authentic videos allowed audiences to connect with brands and paid put that content infront of their audience. I don’t think either will going away anytime soon. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/j0cXJnZ8x3 — Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) December 19, 2017 Brands were even using videos in their paid content on social media. And let’s face it, this isn’t going away anytime soon. A1. I’ve noticed a shift in tone from the stiff and boring to more conversational and edgy. Companies have finally figured out that they have to be “social” and a little less corporate to build real relationships with their targeted audiences. #contentwritingchat — Doris Shadouh (@DShadouh) December 19, 2017 Doris said she’s noticed a shift in how brands communicate with their audience. Many have taken a more conversation appreciate instead of being stiff. Q2: Were there any trends or platforms that kind of died off for you in the past year? Was there anything you stopped doing in 2017? Were there any platforms you said goodbye to? Check out what a few of our chat participants ditched this year: A2: I stopped using Snapchat completely in 2017. My two cents: there’s no need for it unless you use it to chat with friends. But that’s what Facebook is for. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/wD0SFAAwSb — Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017 Madalyn said she stopped using Snapchat in 2017 and she isn’t alone. A2: For me personally, it was Snapchat. I tried and tried, but it was just one more thing that added more noise. #contentwritingchat — Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017 Gini also dropped Snapchat this year. A2: Snapchat use def dwindled for me, but that said, while that platform itself died off for me, the concept and use of “stories” has grown #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/KgmJf9VFZZ — Mike Connell (@themuna) December 19, 2017 Even Mike said that Snapchat dwindled for him as well. Although the platform is still active, many people have ditched it in favor of others. The “Stories” concept that Snapchat created has simply become more popular on Instagram. A2 We started off the year trying to push Snapchat and Geofilters and then decided that it wasn’t really worth it. Instagram has made significant improvements, and I don’t think I’ll be trying Snapchat again. #ContentWritingChat — Cristy (@lacristysalinas) December 19, 2017 Cristy said her team was pushing Snapchat and Geofilters at the beginning of the year, but realized it wasn’t worth it. As she pointed out, Instagram made major improvements which really stood out and drew more people in. A2: As live streaming became a hit, I think organic Facebook posts took the backseat. The platform itself … Read more