As investors, business owners or entrepreneurs, it’s important to understand the shifting sands of the top growth industries in today’s marketplace. Identifying and exploring these industries are critical to uncovering new opportunities, recognizing emerging marketplaces and identifying potential customers.

Technology Industries Reign Supreme

In our age of technology, each year brings new and powerful changes to the business world and our day-to-day lives. New technology will almost always reign supreme regarding investment and research in advancement. In 2018, we’ll see a rise in several tech areas including:

• Virtual Reality: While the first thought when it comes to virtual reality usually centers around in-home use for gamers, potential uses are endless in realms such as therapy, job training, education, digital marketing and safety testing.
• Drones: Research and development on these machines started in the military. Now, drones are designed for both personal and professional use. Applications are continually on the rise with the development of industry-specific drones for construction, firefighting, agriculture, cinematography and mobility.
• Biotechnology: The medical industry is always investing in researching new methods to aid our livelihood. Biotech has been in the forefront of medical innovation for years and continues to grow in 2018. Taking on huge efforts such as increasing  crop yields to diminish world hunger or developing regenerative medical tech takes time. Meanwhile, the industry continues to progress.

Sociopolitical Innovators

Outside of tech, innovation can also stem from social, cultural and political changes. Certain industries are both aided and hindered by current sociopolitical trends such as:

• Medical and recreational marijuana. With the rising legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in the US, investment in both development and research in the product booms. Any time a product or practice is shifting in legality, education and research is necessary. This is because little to no research can be accomplished on illegal substances. Investing in content about the product is necessary to regulate properly and educate the public.
• Green energy/environmental services. It’s no question that our practices change the world around us. The energy sources we use are still a subject of controversy. As political initiatives and opinions shift, so do the industries that support them. Our energy consumption processes are still attempting to shift. In order to make changes, it’s important to complete research. In order to initiate change, inform the public of the research. This is where content makes a difference.

Best Marketing Practices for Innovators

The growth leaders in every industry understand that all the work and investment into development and growth means nothing if no one is exposed to their message. Thus, content marketing continues to be an essential part of strategic plans for innovators and followers alike. Content marketing rakes in conversion rates six times higher than other methods. Furthermore, 96% of B2B buyers want content with more input from industry thought leaders, so position yourself as a leader and communicate consistently and effectively with target audiences. Creating and distributing bylined articles, white papers, case studies and blogs is the foundation for an excellent content marketing strategy.

Why Marketing for Innovation Matters

These are some of the most highly favored industries in today’s market climate. The only way to stay on top of these rapidly shifting trends is to keep reading and to stay updated regarding the latest market movements. Trends can seemingly change overnight, so monitoring current signals is vital. Any industry that needs to expose new, developing or even controversial ideas needs to communicate their concepts and thought leadership with their target audiences. It’s advantageous to share new notions. Content marketing, especially when published digitally, is a type of exposure that encourages sharing and discussion. Combining well-developed content with a strong marketing strategy is the key to increasing credibility and converting leads into clients. So get out there and create content that showcases your innovation.