The world of digital marketing is constantly evolving. With the advent of advanced technologies and an increased demand for faster results, it’s important to align your marketing strategies with these trends. Here are some of the most important trends that every marketer should keep an eye on in 2019:
Personalization
Personalization is a significant trend that’s been around for some time, but it’s growing in importance. It’s about understanding the user’s needs and wants and offering them products and content that meet these needs.
It isn’t just about knowing what people like—it also means understanding where they are in life based on their age or other factors. For example, if someone buys a new car for an older parent who lives alone (but doesn’t drive), it might make sense to offer them auto insurance discounts based on their age or driving record.
Another example is if you have a dental clinic geared towards tooth replacement, you might want to know if the user has a family and offer them discounts on braces or orthodontics. This type of personalization is also known as micro-segmentation because it allows you to create specific profiles based on specific needs and wants.
You can personalize not only based on demographic data but also behavioral data like browsing history, past purchases, previous searches, and usage patterns of your app or website—and then use this information to send users customized messages at key points throughout the customer journey (e.g., when they first open your app).
Live streaming
Live streaming is the new social media. As more and more people turn to live to stream, brands are following suit and putting their resources into making it a priority. They are popular because they allow you to connect with your audience in real-time, especially if you’re doing a Q&A or answering their questions about products or services. Not only does this give your brand an opportunity for greater visibility, but it also provides valuable information that can help identify potential problems with service delivery—and improve them going forward.
Live-streaming platforms such as Instagram Live and Facebook Live have made it easier than ever before for businesses to engage with customers directly by sharing content that’s relevant to them. At the same time, trust is evident among followers who see how much time goes into creating quality content on behalf of brands they support daily!
Chatbots
Customers expect to be able to interact with businesses online, and this is true regardless of what they are looking for. If you want your business to remain competitive in today’s market, then it’s time you consider integrating a chatbot into your marketing strategy.
They are essentially virtual assistants that can be used for customer service, sales, and marketing. They can also automate tasks like an email response or lead nurturing activities such as calendar scheduling or reviewing proposals (the latter two being two great ways to save time!).
Influencer marketing
Influencer marketing is a form of marketing that involves partnering with people who have a large following on social media or in the blogosphere. They can be paid to promote a product or service, but they can also be unpaid and are often called micro-influencers.
The goal of influencer marketing is to reach consumers through someone they trust and admire (e.g., an Instagram star) who will speak about your brand in ways that resonate with their audience. In addition to sharing fun photos and videos, influencers may also include branded content in their posts. This includes things like original products made by the brand itself and may even link out to your website or landing page directly.
Podcasts and audio consumption
Podcasts and audio consumption are hot trends in digital marketing right now. In fact, they’re growing so fast that they’re outpacing their video counterparts. That’s great news for your business because you can reach out to new audiences and build your personal brand using one of the oldest forms of media: radio.
The best part about podcasts is that anyone can create them—you don’t need to be an expert or have a lot of money to make them work for you. You also don’t need any special equipment or software. There are plenty of free services like Anchor, Podbean and SoundCloud that allow you to record right from your computer or smartphone! The trick is to know how to use this medium most effectively as it relates specifically back to your business goals.
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are still in their infancy. However, both can be used for marketing, training, and education purposes. AR can help you create a more engaging customer experience by overlaying digital graphics in the real world. The most common way to use AR is through mobile phones. However, other technologies like smart glasses and headsets have enabled this technology to become mainstream.
VR has gained popularity in recent years as many people have started using it at home with their devices, such as Google Cardboard or Samsung Gear VR. It has been used in various industries, including healthcare, education, entertainment, and marketing campaigns, that allow customers to experience products in a new way before they purchase them online or offline.
For example, McDonald’s has turned its Happy Meal box into a virtual reality viewer like the Google Cardboard, tapping into younger audiences by leveraging their interest in technology. The Happy Goggles can then be used to access a virtual reality game called Slope Stars, which provides children with an entertaining and educational experience. By turning Happy Meal boxes into virtual reality, McDonald’s has made this technology more accessible to the public.
Final Words
As you can see, there’s a lot of competition in the digital marketing world. While some trends are going to fade away into obscurity over time, others will become just as popular as they were when they first emerged.
