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Productivity is one of those things that’s too general to master quickly. You might be trying to get more done in a day, procrastinate less, or accomplish a lot with minimal resources. All of those goals fall under the “productivity” umbrella. So how do you prioritize them?

Depending on where you are in your career, and what your goals are for the first quarter, you might have different productivity goals. Once you know what they are, however, you can prioritize them — and determine the resources you need to knock them out of the park.

We had a look at some of our favorite productivity posts over the past year, and chose the tips we believe will be the most applicable as we work our way through the next few months. Have a look, and see which ones will help you achieve the most this quarter.

11 Tips for the Most Productive Q1 Ever

1) Invest in personal assistant apps.

In 2016, Google Home was released in the U.S., furthering the conversations about voice-activation, AI, and the Internet of Things. But more than that, people wanted to know: Which is better, Google Home, or Alexa?

Technically speaking, not all personal assistant tools are created equal. Each has its own requirements, cost, and features. That’s why we looked at five of them, and evaluated which needs are best met by each one. Curious to know which one will fit best into your day-to-day? Check out our top picks in “5 Personal Assistant Tools That Actually Make Life Easier.”

2) Make the most of your downtime.

Between work and personal commitments, the modern lifestyle can be physically and emotionally draining. After all, that’s why we take vacations — or, at least, the 53% of us who aren’t afraid to take time off.

It’s kind of crazy that close to half of us feel ashamed to use that time, isn’t it? We shouldn’t be — it’s a great opportunity to slow down and do the things that don’t normally fit into our daily schedules. But once you do take a breather, take heed, and don’t overbook.

Instead, use that time to address some of the things that, as my colleague Sophia Bernazzani puts it, “have been collecting dust in your mental backlog.” Things like learning a new language, catching up with friends you’ve been meaning to check in with, or any number of things from her list of 20 ideas for productive things to do during your downtime.

3) Bookmark better resources.

It seems like there are just so many online resources for marketers, and especially for bloggers — just look at what a single Google search yields.

You might already have your favorites among the many options, but if not, here’s another place where you can prioritize according to your goals. Whether it’s staying organized, coming up with ideas, or promoting your posts, that’s what bookmarked sites are for — to keep all of your best, helpful resources in one place.

Not sure where to start? Check out the HubSpot blogging team’s ultimate list of websites that we think every blogger should bookmark.

4) Use browser extensions.

Browser extensions are one of those things that can be so helpful, but not enough of us take advantage of them. They can aid in everything from avoiding weak language in emails, to keeping the internet’s distractions at bay.

That’s why we’re partial to Google Chrome browser extensions, which can be highly valuable to busy marketers who want to make their time online more efficient. Check out our list of 28 of the best Chrome extensions for social media, SEO, content sourcing, blogging, and more.

5) Plan your content.

There’s a reason why 69% of marketers are using social media to build a following — it works, but only when best leveraged. A big part of that is making it manageable, and approaching its use strategically.

Sounds great in theory, but how does one go about that approach? Like many other things in life and in business, an effective social media presence requires proactive planning. After all, nobody wants to become one of those brands whose Facebook Page hasn’t been updated in months, so it’s important to plan and schedule your social media posts in advance.

When you set out to plan your content, check out these nine questions that marketers should ask themselves. They’ll help you break the process into manageable steps, with some helpful tools and resources to make it easier along the way.

6) Use your commute.

Commuting gets such a bad rap when in actuality, every minute spent standing on the train platform or waiting at a traffic light is time that could be spent getting something done. 

Check out our roundup of 15 easy ways to make your commute more productive, and you might even start looking forward to that part of your day. (A friendly note to drivers: We don’t advocate the use of any of the apps on that list that involve reading or typing.)

7) Try a new approach to project management.

Are you a member of the Multiple Productivity Tools Club? If so, you’ve likely spent more time than you’d like on such tasks as searching for an email, assignment card, or document — because you have so many tools and systems. Maybe that’s why over half of us are excited by the prospect of automation replacing tedious workflow tasks.

But in addition to right kind of technology, these tasks can be made more efficient with the right approach to team collaboration. That starts with strong communication among everyone working on the project, as well as the right kinds of tools — in moderation — that make the many pieces of project management more cohesive.

To help you get started, we put together some tips on optimal collaboration, to help marketers approach projects as productively as possible.

8) Experiment with to-do list styles.

Did you know that to-do lists date back to the 1700s? Since then, they’ve taken on many formats but still serve the purpose: to plan what we need to do.

Still, to-do lists are hardly one-size-fits all, and what works best for me, for example, might not be the best style for you. That’s why we compiled seven different to-do list styles to help you make the most of your daily responsibilities.

Plus, if you’re into history, there are some fun facts in there — as it turns out, your to-do list might not look so different from Benjamin Franklin’s.

9) Avoid guilt.

Simply put: Feeling bad about being unproductive will only make you less productive. And yet, we’re living among a guilt epidemic — in fact, one in five people cite it as the reason why they don’t take breaks.

But not taking breaks — and feeling bad about it, to boot — really sabotages the quality of our work. Want to figure out why we keep doing it, and how to stop it? Learn about seven ways we let guilt overtake our productivity, and some best practices for kicking those bad habits.

10) Manage long-term deadlines.

So, we’ve covered the fun facts about to-do lists. But while those can be great for day-to-day tasks, where do long-term deadlines and goals fit in?

As immediate responsibilities arise, it’s easy to lose focus on things like monthly or quarterly deadlines. It’s what Bernazzani alluded to as the “‘doom loop’ — a cycle of putting off tasks, feeling anxiety and guilt, and consequently working with lower productivity and efficiency due to these negative feelings.”

But that’s why she put together a list of tools that’ll help you complete long-term projects on time — without losing motivation. These resources can aid in the consistent progress towards your goals, and prevent you from letting that 90-days-from-now deadline fall by the wayside.

11) Learn more — faster.

Last year, my colleague, Lindsay Kolowich, posed an interesting question: “How long does it take to acquire a new skill?”

As it turns out, there’s quite a bit of misunderstood information out there in response to that question. One 1993 study published by the American Psychological Association, for example, claims that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become an expert.

Look again: That’s to become an expert. Not to learn. To learn, Kolowich writes, “is to take a deliberate, intelligent approach to your learning,” especially when you want to do it quickly. And to help you do just that, she outlines 10 steps to help you make learning a lifelong — and enjoyable — journey.

How Are Those Goals Looking?

Do they seem as insurmountable as they might have when you first returned from the holidays? With these tips, they shouldn’t.

The key is to remember that we’re not superhuman — hence that whole idea behind avoiding guilt — and even the best laid plans often go awry. But no one can expect anything more than your best. And with these resources, your best can be even better.

How are you making Q1 your most productive yet? Let us know in the comments.

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It’s the start of another year, which means you’re probably back in the office after vacation, hard at work on your New Year’s resolution. And if you’re a marketer, you may also be fine-tuning your strategic plan for success in 2017.

We have a variety of resources for getting your marketing plan organized for the upcoming year — between the 2017 marketing strategy kit, the social media content calendar, and the blog editorial calendar, we’ve got your content marketing strategy covered.

But before you finalize your social media strategy for the year, it’s important to look at what’s ahead to ensure that you’re allocating your time and efforts appropriately. In this blog post, we’ll dive into what happened in 2016, what we think social media managers should expect in 2017, and how to plan for these changes.

7 Predictions for Social Media in 2017

1) Live video content will become even bigger.

Live video content is on the rise — in fact, 14% of marketers experimented with it in 2016, according to Social Media Examiner, and 43% plan to use interactive video this year, according to new survey data from Wyzowl.

While there are a ton of streaming sites and platforms out there, both Periscope and Facebook Live are among the most popular — and they have the numbers to prove it.

In its 2016 annual recap, Periscope noted that users watched 110 years of live video every day using the app. And just this New Year’s Eve, live streaming on Facebook reached record-breaking numbers around the globe:

Source: Facebook

In addition to Facebook Live and Periscope, Instagram and Twitter launched their versions of live video streaming in November and December 2016, respectively.

So where should you be planning to focus your live streaming efforts in 2017?

Good question. First and foremost, you’ll want to consider where your audience already spends time on social media — and try to connect with them on those networks.

As for what to broadcast, there are a lot of brands out there that are nailing this strategy across several use cases. For example, many brands are using Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to live stream events. This approach aims to keep your followers engaged with your brand by bringing an event they otherwise might not be able to attend directly to their screens.

At INBOUND 2016, HubSpot shared Facebook Live interviews with speakers so our followers who couldn’t join us in Boston still had the opportunity to learn from the experts:

Brands can also use live video for customer service by hosting Q&A sessions and product demonstrations. These videos drive engagement because hosts can ask for comments, questions, and feedback from the audience.

Brands can also stream multiple live videos in a series, providing more opportunities for engagement, which Facebook said happens at a rate 10X higher with live videos. Here’s an example of a weekly series from Allure, where hosts demonstrate and review a new type of lipstick and ask the audience for questions and what they want to see in the next installment:

This year, keep an eye out for new features rolling out to the different live streaming platforms to amp up your video strategy. For example, Facebook Live is launching 360-degree capabilities, which would be a neat way to record a crowded event, a beautiful landscape, or a behind-the-scenes tour.

(Read more about successful strategies for Facebook Live in this blog post.)

2) Brands will lean on messaging apps more than ever.

If you’re only thinking about messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat as alternatives to traditional text messaging, think again — messaging apps are used by 4 billion users worldwide, and there’s tremendous opportunity for brands to leverage this presence.

More specifically, many brands are using messaging apps to communicate one-on-one with customers, which is completely changing the way customer service gets done. These apps provide a faster and easier way for customers to get the assistance they need, rather than being placed on hold or waiting for a returned email. Deploying messaging for customer service is more scalable and cost-effective for businesses, and by providing a better experience for the customer, brands can solve their problems quickly and retain them more easily.

For example, Hyatt uses Facebook Messenger for 24-hour customer service, where guests can make reservations, ask questions, and get recommendations for their trips:

Source: Digiday

HubSpot Vice President of Marketing, Meghan Keaney Anderson, predicts that messaging apps will eventually become a part of every online interaction. “Maybe we shouldn’t be thinking about messaging in terms of apps at all,” Anderson notes, “but rather as an evolving infrastructure.”

So far, Anderson’s theory is well-supported by the stats: A quarter of all apps that are downloaded are abandoned after just one use — except for messaging apps. In 2017 and beyond, marketers should anticipate less social networking and more messaging for instant, real-time connection with audiences.

3) Social media ecommerce will become a powerful avenue for sales.

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest offer ways for users to purchase products from directly within their apps, and Snapchat started testing and rolling out ecommerce features in the spring of 2016. Check it out below on Instagram:

According to a survey from Aimia, 56% of consumers said they followed brands on social media to browse products for sale, and 31% of online shoppers say they’re using social media specifically to look for new items to purchase.

Brands should leverage these shopping habits when thinking about their social media strategy for 2017. People come to social media to interact with interesting content, so instead of sharing a photo of a product on Instagram with a “Buy Now” call-to-action, share gift ideas and product trends (24% and 16% of survey respondents relied on social media for these, respectively) and encourage online shopping without directly asking for it.

Another idea? Product demonstration videos on social media. According to research from Animoto, 4X as many customers prefer to watch a video about a new product, so share them on social media to encourage online shoppers. Here’s an unconventional “Will It Blend?” product demonstration from Blendtec to get the wheels turning:

4) Virtual reality will find its way into more and more marketing experiences.

Virtual reality is still new to the marketing scene, and in 2017, we predict the market will get even more popular. What’s unique about virtual reality is that it encourages engagement by offering an immersive, memorable experience unlike any other medium — and brands are quickly recognizing that value.

For example, TOMS uses virtual reality to shed light on the mission and impact customers are having. Its mission, “One for One,” refers to its pledge to match with each pair of shoes purchased a new pair for a child in need around the world. While visiting children who received new shoes during a trip to Peru, TOMS shot the following 360-degree virtual reality video to create a firsthand account of the impact this initiative is making:

What’s so great about this video is how transportative it is. Most customers might not be planning a trip to Peru, but all of them can see the direct impact of their purchase. The experience is improved when they use a VR headset or viewer, but the video is still viewable on mobile or desktop devices, so the brand can effectively share its story.

This year, video streaming will represent almost 75% of all internet traffic, and since audiences want more video content, brands should continue experimenting with different formats — including virtual reality — to see which audiences respond best to.

5) Ephemeral content will continue to find its place and purpose.

HubSpot Social Media Marketing Manager Marissa Emanuele artfully coined the term “Frankenfeatures,” which are born when a social media platform launches its own version of another platform’s successful feature.

One example? Snapchat started the ephemeral, or disappearing, visual content sharing trend, and Instagram recently launched a similar disappearing video feature — but with the ability to share live ephemeral video, too.

Another distinction between the two features? Instagram can save a group of users to send repeated disappearing messages to, versus on Snapchat, where users have to individually select who to send snaps to every single time.

We’re not suggesting that you abandon professional photography and marketing video production, but ephemeral content on Snapchat and Instagram is a great way to showcase the “other side” of your brand’s personality with authentic, unscripted, unpolished content. Content ideas for ephemeral stories include:

• How-to videos
• Behind-the-scenes looks
• Contests and giveaways
• Recipes
• Interviews
• “Takeovers,” or when a different user chooses what content to share
• Live events
• Daily or weekly video series
• Holidays
• Announcements or product reveals

“The most important part of ephemeral content is to be human. This is a unique opportunity to show an unpolished, lighthearted side to your brand, so don’t be afraid to share content that’s humorous or otherwise ‘flawed’ in some way,” urges Emanuele.

(For more ideas on how to brainstorm ephemeral content ideas for Snapchat or Instagram, here’s a roundup of some of the best brands on Snapchat right now.)

6) Many brands will make the shift from Snapchat to Instagram for Stories.

Instagram introduced its Stories feature in August 2016. After just two months, BuzzFeed News reported that Instagram Stories were experiencing 100 million daily active viewers — this represents two thirds of Snapchat’s total user base, period. For this and other reasons, Emanuele predicts that brands will start transitioning from Snapchat to Instagram for sharing Stories (photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours).

At 600 million users, Instagram offers a vastly bigger audience than Snapchat at 150 million users. And because Facebook owns Instagram, Instagram advertisers can target based on Facebook and Instagram insights, which means there is a bigger target audience on Instagram than Twitter.

Not to mention, Instagram lets users publish photos and videos in a permanent portfolio in addition to ephemeral Stories, so users can more easily share content with their friends.

BrandFire CEO Adam Padilla agrees with Emanuele’s prediction, also noting the adoption of Instagram by a larger number of celebrities and public figures, and a slicker Instagram interface.

Despite its rapid growth and sheer volume of content being shared, Snapchat offers fewer means of measurement and analysis for social media marketers, so Instagram may offer greater ROI in 2017.

7) Mobile advertising will grow more competitive.

In 2017, marketers should expect greater investment in mobile advertising. Here’s a rundown of what that will look like on some of the largest social networks:

Facebook is the behemoth when it comes to social media ad revenues, bringing in more than $7 billion last year — 80% of which came from mobile ads. Facebook’s News Feed algorithmic changes now prioritize content from friends and family first, so the 75% of brands on Facebook that pay to promote ads will have to get creative and design visual, engaging ads to get noticed first.

Twitter’s ad revenue is increasing, especially in the mobile format, and in 2017, they’ll likely continue experimenting with visual content, such as sponsored hashtag icons and stickers, to provide a variety of ad options to users.

As we’ve discussed previously in this article, Snapchat and Instagram will be competing for a lot of attention this year, and advertising revenue will be no exception. Where do they stand in terms of developments? Well, Snapchat recently launched a new advertising API that makes it easier to buy ad space, in addition to a greater variety of video ads and sponsored filters. Instagram, on the other hand, is doubling down on ecommerce with the introduction of Shoppable Instagram, a feature that lets users buy products directly by clicking on a CTA in the app.

According to an Adweek survey among millennial Snapchat and Instagram users about their experiences with ads, the results are roughly split — with a few noteworthy distinctions. While a greater percentage thought Instagram ads were more memorable than those on Snapchat, more millennials loved Snapchat ads than Instagram ads:

Source: Adweek

In short: Marketers should experiment with ads on different platforms to see which perform better among their audience and take advantage of the cool new features each rolls out.

What’s Next for Social Media Managers?

Social media is constantly changing, and one prediction we didn’t include above is to prepare for anything. And if you’re not sure where to get started with your social media plan, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered.

What are you including in your 2017 social media plan? Share with us in the comments below.