1. Video Content Will Remain Extremely Important
In a recent survey done by Wyzowl, 86% of marketers stated that using videos in their campaigns has proven effective for lead generation. This comes as no surprise as video content is:
- more engaging than text
- more likely to be watched in its entirety
- easier to digest
- more likely to be shared on social media
Video marketing is not limited to Youtube. Social videos like Facebook and Instagram live streams are all video marketing strategies that businesses can leverage.
2. Local Search Will Continue to Grow in Importance
People are searching for local businesses, especially service businesses. The rise of voice search means that people can now simply say what they’re looking for and get tons of local results in seconds, without having to type anything into a search bar or scroll through endless websites.
This is great news for small businesses because it makes them more accessible than ever before. On the other hand, however, it also means there’s more competition than ever before!
3. Artificial Intelligence Will Impact Marketing Decisions
AI is one of the most talked-about digital marketing trends. It’s a hot buzzword, and it’s a tool that can be used by marketers for various purposes, especially personalizing content and improving targeting.
AI will enable you to automate tasks such as analyzing data, which means you’ll have more time to work on other aspects of your business, like customer service or sales. It can be used for automating tasks that would otherwise require human intervention, thus saving time and money.
4. Voice Search Will Become More Important
Not only will voice search become more prevalent on the web, but it’ll also be integrated into mobile apps and used in the workplace.
Voice searches are already becoming more accurate, thanks to advances in AI and machine learning. And as consumers rely more heavily on their smartphones for information, they’re finding it easier to just ask their phones than tap or type a query into Google.
5. Consumers Will Use Mobile Apps a Lot More
Mobile apps are the future of digital marketing. In fact, 75% of people would rather purchase from brands whose apps enable a quick, seamless shopping experience.
When created properly with the user experience in mind, apps are simply more efficient and engaging than websites. You don’t have to wait for them to load up or navigate through multiple pages before finding what you need. Plus, most mobile apps can be downloaded directly from an app store or Google Play Store, so they’re ready to use right away (and if they aren’t, there’s usually an icon on your home screen that takes you right back).
People are already used to using applications on their phones—so why not give them something even better?
6. Chatbots Will Be Widely Adopted
Chatbots are great tools that can help you increase customer engagement and automate repetitive tasks. Customers prefer to interact with bots because they are responsive 24/7, provide prompt answers to customer questions, and keep track of buying history.
In short, adopting chatbots in your marketing would enhance the customer experience.
7. Email Marketing Won’t Die (But It Will Improve)
Email is still an effective way to reach your customers, build a relationship with them, and spread the word about your brand.
In fact, email marketing has been one of the most consistently effective digital marketing channels for years now. But it’s important not to be complacent about this channel—you also need to make sure that you’re keeping up with best practices and keeping subscribers engaged so that they stay loyal over time.
8. SEO and Social Media Marketing Are Not Going Anywhere
You can’t expect to be a successful business owner and marketer without taking the time to learn your way around both search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing.
Although these two things are different on their own, they complement each other in an important way. Social media marketing is all about building brand awareness; SEO is all about helping your website rank higher in organic search results.
Both of these strategies are incredibly important for any business that wants to succeed in the digital world, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to get familiar with both of them.
9. Influencer Marketing Will Continue Growing
Apart from posting your content on social channels like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you also have the opportunity to connect with influencers who can help facilitate the success of your brand by sharing content with their followers or posting things that they like about you or your products/services (including reviews).
Normally, celebrities and social influencers have a ton of followers. Hence, getting them to share your content would drive more eyes to your business.
Keep in mind, however, that influencer marketing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. You need a good strategy in place so you can measure your results and determine which methods work best for you.
10. AR and VR Will Be Game-Changers for Digital Marketing
Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are two of the most exciting technologies in the world right now, and it’s no wonder—they’re both incredibly versatile. And as you might have guessed, they can be used for everything from marketing to education and entertainment to travel.
AR has been used on a wide variety of platforms, including social media, mobile apps, and websites. These include Snapchat’s 3D emoji lenses, which let users turn themselves into animals.
VR has also been utilized on numerous video platforms. This can be seen in Netflix VR, which provides viewers with an experience by placing them inside a movie scene where they fully immerse themselves in whatever may be happening on screen.
11. Businesses Need to Have a Data-Driven Approach
Data-driven marketing is the future, and it’s already here. If you employ a data-driven approach to marketing and sales decision-making, you’re guaranteed to enjoy higher ROI from your marketing spend.
Why? Because data helps you understand your customers better. You’ll know what they do on your website, how they interact with email campaigns and social media posts, and which channels are most effective for acquiring new leads.
Having access to high-quality analytical tools like Google Analytics gives your business access to insights into your competitors’ performance as well as opportunities for improvement that would be impossible without this type of technology.
For an example of a software asset look no further than Apache Spark, an open-source processing system for big data workloads written in Scala. It enables advanced visual analytics, stream processing, as well as business intelligence. To get the most out of this complex tool, it’s best to hire a Scala developer to implement the system and integrate it with your existing tech stack.
12. The Use of AI in Ad Targeting Is Expected to Increase Significantly
Another trend that will only continue to grow is the use of artificial intelligence in SEO, ad targeting and personalization tasks.
AI can help you target ads more effectively by analyzing user data from various sources and using it to match your audience with more relevant content. It can also be used to personalize content so that users see different things based on their preferences and behaviors, which helps you boost engagement and improve conversion rates.
Digital Marketing Trends Require Businesses to Adapt Constantly
It’s important to keep up with the latest trends in digital marketing, as they can help you stay ahead of your competition. You may even find that some trends are worth pursuing because they can help you grow your business in unexpected ways.
It’s a good idea to try out new things and keep an open mind about what works for your business. This doesn’t mean that every trend is right for everyone, but it will give you a better understanding of what works best for your specific needs and goals.
Guest Blogger
Robb Fahrion is a Co-Founder and Partner of Flying V Group. He is passionate about helping businesses grow using the power of the internet. Robb graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA and currently resides in Costa Mesa, CA. Robb enjoys writing about digital marketing, helping his clients turn their dreams into reality, and he is a HUGE Mike Trout fan.