Failing to track performance, misusing hashtags and not responding to customer feedback are among the mistakes to avoid on social media, writes A.J. Agrawal. "Every startup needs a business plan, and your plan for using social media needs to be part of it," he notes.

Crowdfunding can be an effective method for raising money for a business endeavor, but running a successful campaign will take some planning. It's important to do careful research, select the proper platform and understand your target audience, writes A.J. Agrawal.

Voice search is shaping up rapidly as the go-to platform on mobile devices, and marketers need to adjust their search strategies accordingly. AJ Agrawal looks at how the technology is developing and ways marketers can adapt, including the use of tools that discern people's natural language patterns.

Artificial intelligence can help ensure that quality leads that have been overlooked during lead generation can be reached, writes A.J. Agrawal. AI can also predict consumer behavior through predictive analytics, which in turn allows for better understanding of customer needs and improved service.