DISRUPT YOUR INDUSTRY

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A glimpse at brands that have disrupted their industries, how they did it and tips on making change happen in 2015

No one knows the future, but sometimes you can make an educated guess where things are headed. 2015 has arrived and with it comes a new round of success stories and failures. Business is tough, and it’s not reserved for the passive. We count down the business trends that changed the industry landscape over the last 12 months and the brands that made it happen.

1 – Technology

Amazon, Uber, Blur Group

By continually breaking boundaries, these brands have evolved to meet the needs of their customers. As technology shifts consumers expect brands to follow suit. Amazon, which was once an online bookstore, embraces technology and used it as an incentive to create something new with their consumer electronics – Kindle Fire, eBooks, used-books, price-shopping and EC2. They did more than unseat a single King in their field, they wiped them out. Stay curious and invest in technology advances to stay ahead of competitors and keep customers involved in the upcoming year.

2 – Superior Customer Experience

Airbnb, SilverCar, ZenPayroll

Good reviews now take precedence over brand loyalty. By treating your customers well, a review-driven system ensures that your good service is shared across the internet. By building trust, encouraging personal connections and proving your value in an open and honest way, you’ll garner a stronger following in 2015.

3 – Social

Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp

Joining the forces of mobile and social together has garnered a bigger audience that could never have been anticipated. Social is only going to get bigger in 2015, with a focus on paid media which will overtake earned media. Form a social strategy before the year gets truly under way, one which provides a platform where customers can truly engage with your brand.

4 – Content

Red Bull, GoPro, Easyjet

If 2014 taught us anything it’s that content really is king. Investing in fresher mediums such as social, blogging and video helps to engage target markets and drive brand awareness. By giving content a clear purpose and tone, brands have placed content at the heart of their marketing strategy. People love to be entertained and by creating shareable content in 2015 your customers will do your marketing for you.

Now that the countdowns and champagne popping is over (sigh), make sure that you and your organisation are on the list of industry disruptors this year. Establish clear, concise goals for 2015 that push the boundaries, leverage shifting trends and establish change.

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