At the start of the year, there were many predictions about which digital marketing trends would evolve. Now that we’re in the middle of 2013, we’ve seen some trends emerge and others phase out. Even though we’ll see changes over time, digital marketing remains a vital component for today’s marketers.

Worldwide mobile advertising revenue is projected to double from 2012 to 2016. Consumers rely on companies to produce mobile-friendly websites, industry-related apps and social media opportunities. The message behind all of this is that mobile is where you need to be.

Let’s take a look at the top four digital marketing trends.

1. Mobile Marketing

Did you know that by 2015, more people will access the web through a mobile device rather than a computer? This trend has been taking place over the past few years as more people rely on their smartphones and tablets. With this being the case, your company has no choice but to be present on mobile platforms. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through mobile app development.

Already, 42.8 percent of marketers plan to increase spending on mobile marketing this year, and for good reason. With 64 percent of mobile time spent on apps, it makes sense to put more money into app development. And, mobile apps work well on Facebook, with 48 percent of app installations coming from Facebook ads – which brings us to our next trend!

2. Social Media

In 2013, 87 percent of marketers reported that they use social media to distribute content. Marketers are also taking advantage of the social tools that are available, such as Sponsored Stories and Promoted Tweets. Even though Facebook remains one of the most popular social media sites, there are several others that marketers are utilizing, including Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google+. The advantage is that you can connect with a new audience on each site.

3. Content Marketing

Content still trumps all else, as it’s the one thing that provides information, shows your knowledge in the industry and gives your company a personality. Beyond traditional blog posts and news articles, marketers are focusing on white papers, infographics, case studies and e-newsletters to relay information. Just remember that creativity really shines here, as a whopping 91 percent of marketers use content marketing.

4. Author Rank

To those who may not be familiar with author rank, it refers to the level of engagement that an author has achieved through content posting and social media channels. The goal is to create great content, contribute to guest posting, find your individual niche and use Google+ on a consistent basis. You may already be doing some of this, but it’s time to focus on it more, as author rank is one of the criteria that Google’s algorithms use to rank sites.

Mobile marketing, social media, content marketing and author rank; there’s no doubt that a digital marketing revolution is upon us!