The world of industrial marketing is set for a major overhaul in the coming year. A business consultingthink-tank has come up with a list of trends that are set to define the year 2016. Digital marketing can no longer be identified as separate from conventional as the word digital in itself defines the entire gamut. More organizations dealing with the B2B segment are adding their focus to the oft ignored aspect of final customer experience. Marketing directed via product advocates is all set to grow further. The field of sales is getting better enabled through technological innovations to study the customer more carefully and make detailed observations to be further incorporated in the product. Mobile friendly marketing apps are getting created for delivering content and publicizing tradeshows. The concepts of podcasting, live shows and video shows are similarly showing massive growth levels with increased numbers of subscribers. Brands that are considered thought leaders are promulgating ideas using such concepts. Companies meanwhile are trying to find ways in which advertisements can appear more meaningful to people and to increase the click rate. Email marketing has often been thought of as something that belongs to the bygone era, yet it appears to be on something of a resurgence.

Better Business Bureau has been broadcasting this message across parts of central and southern USA warning people not to get enticed by offers to work for or audition at talent management or search agencies, many of which are fake. Also there exist city hopping vans which call for open talent auditions, most of which do not really execute their promises. This is very common for careers such as modeling, acting or pop music. Lots of unsuspecting ‘customers’ have seen their fortunes dwindled by up to thousands of dollars on the premise of false promises. 

Business research has been conducted to find out the best ways to increase staff engagement and four ideas have emerged. Leaders must ensure they are trusted by their team members. Employees must genuinely feel that the management shares a sincere concern for their own well-being, only then will such trust emerge. Leaders must possess strong and effective communication skills. Crucially, the organization’s corporate strategy must be clear to all and employees must be able to keep track of company progress. Onboarding of recruits is far easier when the organization is doing well and that is demonstrated to the employees.

Business disruptions are now a constant part mainly due to the newer challenges that have taken place. In order to thrive in the existing world, individuals and organizations constantly need to test themselves. A perfect example is that of immigrants to the US, who market research has proven are twice more likely to set up their own venture rather than native born Americans. In fact more than half the firms based at Silicon Valley have an immigrant as one of the promoters. Risk taking also depends on the nature of the individual being prevention or promotion focused.

The ‘sharing’ or ‘gig’ economy is gaining lot of new supporters. Airbnb and Uber remain the top players whose business innovations have sparked massive changes in the market. Such models create mini-vendors out of common people. Uber alone makes a staggering two million trips a day across the globe. Taking inspiration in the town of Wichita, PetBridge has been started which allows potential new pet owners to connect with those who wish to find new homes for their surplus ones. In San Francisco was started Recurrency which is a site that connects artists and musicians with possible donors.

If genuine business analysis is conducted, a trend that clearly emerges is that top leaders believe in the 80-20 ratio. They believe that the vital fifth of the work is what must be focused on as that takes care of around four fifths of the business requirements. The rest 80% matters only for a mere fifth of the total work. That final part must never be neglected, but must be worked on only once the basic nuts and bolts has been taken care of. The trivial activities must be delegated. The team members must develop the right mentality and they must all work towards the areas they are accountable for. 

The middle of the financial year is typically a time for reflection for a lot of professionals and also planning for the rest of the period till next March. This is also the time when individuals must find their true character and not just be stymied by workplace efficiency or profit margins. The task of talent management wings at firms get more complicated by the fact that due to Facebook and other forms of social media, human accomplishments do not get unnoticed and instead create undue additional pressure on people. However at the end of the day it is character and eulogy which must be focused more on rather than an individual’s resume.