As 2017 comes to an end it?s always good to have a marketing strategy figured out for the year to come. To help our merchants prepare, we spoke with our friends at K4 Digital Marketing, a South Florida digital marketing agency, to identify key marketing tips that will be useful in 2018.

Tip 1- Increase your online reviews

In almost every type of business, positive online reviews go a long way. According to Search Engine Journal, 88% of consumers have read reviews to determine the quality of a local business, and 39% read reviews on a regular basis. With that said, it?s important to get as many 5-star ratings from clients as possible.

To do this, make it as easy as possible for them. Ask for a review when you know they are happy with you, and send them a direct link where they can leave a review. Some common review sites are Facebook, Google, and Yelp, and each industry also has their own unique sites.

Tip 2- Boost your video strategy

This shouldn’t come as a shock, as it’s pretty clear that social media is being overrun by video content. You can’t scroll through more than five social media posts without coming across a video these days.

Videos are a more engaging way to get your audience?s attention, and social platforms are realizing their popularity and ?rewarding? video posts over photo and plain text posts. This means that video posts see more organic reach on Facebook. No matter what niche you?re in, it is possible to get creative and make fun, engaging videos to promote your business. Think video testimonials, explainer/how-to videos, and videos that show off your company culture. If we can make credit card processing seem colorful and exciting through video, so can you!

Tip 3- Consider chatbots

We expect to continue seeing an increase in companies integrating chatbots on their websites. In fact, it is estimated that 85% of interactions will be with chatbots by 2020. Chat bots are driven by a predefined workflow, and they help drive customer engagement and facilitate faster conversions by answering questions or offering basic customer support.

We’re looking forward to 2018 being another exciting year for new and innovative ways to reach consumers and increase brand awareness, especially when it comes to our new digital currency processing capabilities. What will your company?s marketing strategy include in 2018?