The way in which consumers shop for goods and services has changed dramatically in the last decade.  Everyone is online today and it is there that consumers can be found and engaged with.  This fundamental shift in consumer shopping and buying habits means that marketers have had to change the way they market in order to reach these people.  Marketers today are changing their overall marketing strategies.  They are shifting their marketing efforts from traditional channels to digital channels and with this shift comes challenges.

In a recent data analysis of association metrics, my mind was blown!

YouTube's popularity is proof that video marketing has always been a favorite channel among consumers. It is becoming even more of a popular platform due to the rise of live videos both on Periscope and Facebook.

For many associations, the summer months can mean a slower time of year - which means greater time for reevaluating marketing efforts and budgets. The number of events held go down, kids are out of school, membership renewal drives have passed. Now is the time to look more deeply into marketing efforts that lead to greater results whether they are greater numbers in members, attendance for events, or engagement with marketing materials for education credits, industry knowledge, and more. It can be a huge asset to have an understanding of what other associations are doing in the market. While I recommend reading the State of Digital Marketing Report in full, here are a few key takeaways to get you started.