Digital native marketing has been around almost as long as the internet itself, and even though sponsored content has taken on a lot of different permutations over the years, one thing is certain: This type of advertising is continuing to grow at a massive rate. According to Business Insider, native advertising will drive 74 percent of all ad revenue by 2021, which is truly a staggering number. With so much competition, it's easy for marketers to feel the pressure when it comes to this popular marketing method. However, by observing some interesting new trends in native advertising, marketers can stay ahead of the curve and ensure that their efforts don't get lost in the shuffle.

Online native advertising has been around in some form since the birth of the internet, but this marketing tactic picked up steam in the past decade. Now, it's considered an important component of a modern digital advertising campaign. Native advertising trends have changed quite a bit, with spammy, keyword-filled articles giving way to more sophisticated text and video content that seeks to both inform and promote in an advertorial style.

It looks like 2017 will be another transformative year for native advertising. Here are some key trends to look out for in the coming months:

In an age of pre-installed ad-blockers and near-universal rates of  banner ad blindness, it's no wonder why native advertising campaigns have experienced tremendous growth over the past few years. This style of marketing, which takes the form of sponsored content — video, text or image — fits in seamlessly with the content that frames it, and is already widely available online.

However, Business Insider reported this advertising media is projected to get even bigger, driving 74 percent of ad revenue by 2021. So with native advertising's near ubiquity looming ahead, how can you ensure your small or midsize business' native content stands out from the crowd?