The new year is but a distant memory and now we’re well into 2019. Welcome to the future. Now that you’re here, it’s time to start thinking about what the year holds for the world of promotions and marketing. How can you and your brand stand out?
Whether you work in the marketing sphere or simply want to elevate your business to new heights, you need to stay ahead of the game. Being in the know when it comes to the latest trends means that you can do just that. Taking the briefest of moments to keep up to date is easy and will help you move forward.
That’s not to say that you will need to change your strategy drastically. However, taking note of the up and coming changes means that you will be ready to embrace them. So, without further ado, let’s get down to it. Get comfortable and grab your pen and paper. Here are some of the biggest digital marketing trends of 2019.
The rise of the chatbots
Does your business site have a chatbot? If the answer is no, it could be time to tweak your strategy. One of the biggest digital marketing trends of 2019 is sure to be the rise of the chatbots. These additions to your site or mobile platform allow your customers to get the answer they want when they want them. While they have been around in various guises before now, the time could be right for them to take over.
More than a quarter of the world’s population will be using messaging apps by the end of 2019, predicts one report from eMarketer. That offers a fresh opportunity for marketers. You can reach out to your customer base in a personal way, using AI technology. While having a bespoke chatbot doesn’t come cheap, it’s will enhance the customer experience.
For example, MobileMonkey is a Facebook messenger platform that lets you build chatbots on Facebook Messenger without writing any code. It allows users to schedule and bulk-send interactive and engaging content, offers, and campaigns to their contacts. These chatbots can be designed to make appointments, answer FAQs, track purchases, and use A.I. to match content to intent via keywords and interactions.
Personalised offers and promotions
How can you make your customers feel special? That’s the question that you should be asking yourself if you want to get ahead in the world of marketing. A massive 62% of consumers say that they are in favour of personalised vouchers and offers, according to stats from Infosys. Harnessing the power of this trend could be simple. For instance, you may try sending your customer base unique deals based on their previous purchases.
The baseline idea here is that people love personal experience. The technological era has centred around anonymity and blanket marketing. However, it’s time to change the narrative. Offering people unique deals which relate to their interests or preferences is a small tweak. When you start doing it, though, you’re likely to see some major returns.
Instagram will remain on firmly top
The popularity of Instagram is booming. Visits to branded Instagram pages surged by a whopping 111% in the third quarter of last year, according to one Merkle report. While marketers traditionally focussed their energy (not to mention, funds!) on Facebook adverts and the like, it could be time for a much-needed shift. Gaining interest and a following on Instagram could be one of the smartest ways to propel your business this year.
Of course, if you’re hoping to tap into this social media platform, you’re going to need a game plan. Much like Facebook, you can start an advertising campaign here using Instagram ads. However, you should not rely solely on sponsored posts to gain traction. Innovative ideas – such as working with influencers and using Instagram TV – will win you points along the way. Take the time to develop a strategy that works for your business.
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The way that consumers use technology is changing. The voice search and smart speaker market grew by a massive 187% last year, according to Canalys stats. More people than ever before now have smart technology – in some shape or form – that they use their voice to activate. With that in mind, voice searches are certain to become one of the most crucial digital marketing trends in the coming years.
So, how does this trend affect your overall marketing strategy? There are many ways in which you may have to adapt your processes and many of them will become clear as the technology advances. One small trick you can employ right now to get ahead of the game is to optimise your meta descriptions for speech. When you’re writing these descriptions, try to make them sound as much like natural speech as possible. Reading them aloud will help you to get a decent grasp on how they sound when spoken!
User-Generated Content is vital
User-Generated Content (UGC) – such as online reviews and photos – are massively popular, particularly with the under-30s market. In fact, 50% of millennials say that they trust UGC more than they would other forms of media, according to a recent review. This content spans a range of sites and platforms. While you will find a load of UGC on social media platforms, it doesn’t end there. Not by a long shot. You should also take into account review sites, such as TrustPilot and TripAdvisor.
Needless to say, this particular type of content provides marketers with a unique puzzle. You can have total control over the content that you create on behalf of your brand. However, it’s quite tricky to take the harness when it comes to what people are posting and saying about your business. One strategy that you may want to use is to encourage customers to talk about you by rewarding them. For example, if you are a vendor, you could offer a small discount when customers post a review about you online.
Live video could be the future
Have you tried live video yet? If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your marketing activities this year, adding this engaging form of visual content could be the answer. It’s an area that is rapidly growing. Around 80% of internet traffic will be video by the year 2021, according to research from Tubular Insights. If you’re hoping to get on board when it comes to the latest digital marketing trends, this one has to be a real priority.
There’s a reason that customers engage and respond to this type of content. It feels personal and that can only be a positive thing. Sharing live videos and clips – via Instagram Stories, for example – offers them an insight into your business. They catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes workings. That in itself is certain to make them brand loyal, in the long run. Start experimenting with this marketing technique and see where it takes you. Being an early adopter of the trend is a sure fire way to success.
Conclusion
Do you feel prepared to take on the rest of 2019 and win? With any luck, our quick guide to the latest digital marketing trends has given you all the information you need. Now that you’re aware of the changes coming your way, it’s time to get planning. Use these insights as a starting point when it comes to your strategy and see where they take you. The more research you do, the better you can promote your business or brand.
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