Ahmad Kareh

The integration of virtual reality (VR) is gaining more ground across all industries, and your company will have to decide pretty soon whether the technology is beneficial for interacting with your customers.

With 30% of consumers likely to buy a product recommended by a non-celebrity blogger, according to a study by Collective Bias, investing in influencer marketing just makes sense. It can be the push in taking you to a new level of awareness with your customers.

Picking the right agency for your business takes some effort and homework on your part. You need to find a company that meshes with your personality and your business style, but you also want an agency that is affordable and in tune with your industry.

In the modern world, flawless design and functionality of digital assets – including your website, social media content and marketing materials – is essential to keeping customers engaged. A top-notch product or thoughtful blog post will go ignored and unseen if it's housed on a site with a poor user experience. To that end, it's important for web developers and marketers alike to keep up with the latest trends and consumer expectations. Members of Forbes Agency Council offered their take on popular design trends popping up in this space, and how you can integrate those trends into your branding.

Many professionals say they want to "work smarter, not harder" to make the most effective use of their time. This is often easier said than done, though – without a clear plan and strategy for your workday in place, most people end up overcommitted, overwhelmed and overworked.

For retailers, the line between online and offline shopping experiences no longer exists. Today's consumers expect consistent branding and service across all platforms, whether they're physically in a store, browsing products on a website or reaching out on social media.

Every business, regardless of industry, is going to face challenges that impact its team members. When that challenge happens to be a difficult client or campaign, it can really take a toll on employee morale. Working day in and day out with an aggressive or overly demanding client, or a campaign that's just not producing the desired results, might make your team feel helpless and hopeless, which could even lead to some turnover.

The written word is a powerful tool. A well-written piece of content can educate, influence and build a sense of trust and connection. Poor writing, on the other hand, can alienate readers and destroy all credibility.

One of the most important activities any agency can engage in is branding. And we're not just talking about developing and promoting a corporate brand, but also establishing your own personal brand, positioning yourself as a credible industry expert and thought leader.

As you review your marketing strategy for the new year, you may be making a push toward experiential marketing as it can provide more ROI than traditional advertising sources. According to an AdWeek article, experiential marketing can help forge lasting relationships with your customers, increasing the sales cycle over the long haul.