2015’s word of the year? Content marketing. If you don’t believe me, ask the Association of National Advertisers. Thus, it’s no surprise there’s a surfeit of articles analyzing the content marketing developments that defined the past 12 months, and countless pieces that make predictions about what’s to come. I rounded up some of the best in content marketing, digital and tech news to help inform your 2016 marketing strategy.

Looking back: Content marketing in 2015

Native advertising 101: The Good, the bad and the ugly, ClickZ
A useful overview of one of the year’s hottest marketing trends.

2015 retrospective: 8 major developments to note, The MediaBriefing
A thoughtful, global examination of the year’s most significant media and tech happenings.

The best native ads of 2015, Outbrain
The 7 best native ads of 2015, HubSpot
The Best Content Marketing of 2015, Contently
Examples of native advertising done right. Use these to inspire your next campaign.

7 of the industry’s biggest stats in 2015, ClickZ
Important data pertaining to ad spending, social media, e-commerce and more.

F.T.C. Guidelines on Native Ads Aim to Prevent Deception, The New York Times
This isn’t a Year in Review piece, but the industry is a buzz about the F.T.C’s recently released guide on native ads. Its goal is to protect consumers from deception, which shouldn’t be a bad thing for those advertisers producing content that is truly high quality and useful.

Looking ahead: Content marketing predictions

5 Big Ways Content Marketing Will Change in 2016, Contently
A must-read! Contently’s editor in chief calls out the “sweeping trends” likely to affect our industry. My favorites? Marketing won’t be the only department investing in content, and media budgets will start to flow into content marketing initiatives.

The top marketing trends to watch for in 2016, Hubspot
“Marketing is becoming more localized and more personalized. Snapchat has exceeded many marketers’ expectations…We’re seeing a rise in wearable tech, which is giving marketers a ton more consumer data to work with.” This infographic provides a closer (visual) look at these trends.

35 content marketing statistics you need to know in 2016, Forbes
Making the case for a larger B2B content marketing budget? Bookmark this article for ammunition.

A Look Ahead: Content Marketing in 2016, The Content Council
Industry leaders share their predictions in this quick read. Don’t expect any earth-shattering revelations, but it’s worth a gander.

10 content marketing game changers to look for in 2016, Mashable
NewsCred CEO Shafqat Islam shares his predictions, which include the rise of “living” content, virtual reality and messaging platforms, such as WeChat and Live.

Prediction rankings: The most likely media and tech developments in 2016, The MediaBriefing
An in-depth look at some of the changes in store for the media industry.

15 crucial web design trends for 2016 and beyond, eConsultancy
A credible look at budding design trends. Keep this in mind so you can present your quality content in the best way possible.

Trends for 2016: Five Predictions for What Won’t Happen, eMarketer
eMarketer calls out often-cited predictions that probably won’t come to fruition (at least not yet), such as young people abandoning Facebook in droves.

Have I missed something? Let me know! Tweet @jlisk1 or drop me a line at info@jrlisk.com
Image: http://cdn.diginomica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Crystal-ball-currency-money-price-business-predict-future.jpg