New trends in digital marketing evolve as new technology and strategies are developed. If you don’t keep up with these new developments, your business will be left behind. Combining digital avenues with traditional marketing methods will have a significant impact on the growth of your business. This year, COVID has completely changed the business landscape, making digital marketing more important than ever for the survival of businesses everywhere! For those who have managed to weather the storm, staying abreast of current trends in marketing can put you light years ahead of your competition.
Watch for These New Trends in Digital Marketing
Remote workers and brick and mortar companies are now looking for ways to implement new marketing trends in the new year for increased visibility. More people are turning to the internet for their consumer needs and COVID has demonstrated how important it is to have a strong online presence. Now is the time to educate yourself on how these digital tools can drive business revenue and elevate your products and services above the competition in the new year. Take note of these growing digital marketing trends in 2021:
- Artificial intelligence — AI is not new but the way it’s being used in marketing is constantly evolving. When it comes to analyzing data, communication enhancement, and sales tracking, AI has been invaluable in identifying consumer behavior patterns and replacing complex and tedious work tasks done by employees. AI is so common, you may not notice it in your everyday life. If you are a social media or internet user, you may have noticed ads that appear in your match searches.
- Voice Search — Our lives are becoming increasingly busy and we have become more dependent on our phones for almost everything. Using voice search allows us to multi-task while remaining focused on our primary projects or activities. Studies now show that by next year, you can expect over 70% of internet searches conducted to be done by voice. New innovations such as Google Assistant, Siri by Apple, and Alexa by Amazon will all be dominant digital platforms in the coming year. By 2022, experts suggest that over 55% of households will have a smart speaker. To get ahead of the competition, voice search optimization of your business content will make it easier for others to find you on the internet.
- Customer experience — There is a growing trend of customer experience marketing by using app like features for shopping on social media platforms. The idea is to create a smooth and trouble-free shopping experience that will keep customers coming back for more. Since mobile devices account for over 51% of web browsing with over 70% being search activity, you can see why it’s critical to create a positive and easy shopping experience online.
- Video — Youtube has over 2 billion monthly users. This statistic alone should indicate the importance and impact that video has on digital consumer behavior. Over 60% of people indicate that they want to see a visual of the product or service first before purchasing. It increases consumer confidence and engagement with a brand or organization. Video marketing is a growing trend that is highly influential and effective for businesses. This digital tool should definitely be added to your marketing strategy!
- Programmatic advertising — This form of advertising uses software and artificial intelligence to automate ad purchases. The traditional process of ad buying consists of RFP or requests for proposals, manual orders, or human negotiations. Now, programmatic advertising makes the process of ad bidding more efficient and less expensive. It is the future of digital ad buying and may eventually expand to other forms of media over time.
- Content marketing — You’ve probably heard the phrase “content is king”. This is more true now than ever before. Content marketing can take many forms from blogs to videos and everything in between. It is the key to keeping consumers engaged with your website and eventually, your brand. In 2021, content marketing will continue to expand through live webinars and repurposed content across multiple platforms. You want to be ready to make the most of existing and new evergreen content.
- Chatbot — Websites of organizations you’ve made a purchase from now have chatbots to greet you as soon as you open the page. While this can be annoying sometimes, it is highly convenient when you have a question you want to ask. Using AI, chatbots are becoming more human and responsive. It also allows you to support your customers 24 / 7 when you or staff are not available.
- Virtual & augmented reality — This breakthrough technology will make waves over the next few years and is one of the best new marketing trends! Technological improvements have made virtual and augmented reality more realistic and intuitive. If you want your customers to remember you, look into implementing augmented or virtual reality on your sales sites. You’ll be able to create immersive and interactive experiences for your customers that are unique to your brand. In the end, it will speed up the buying process, increase personalization, and increase buyer awareness.
- Bid optimization — Automation in marketing is key. It saves time and money. For marketers, these two benefits are important when looking for ways to increase revenue and visibility within or under budget. Bid optimization refers to an auction model where advertisers bid and compete for advertising space for a specific audience. Now, there is excellent software that will help you with bid optimization like Google Ads, which uses machine learning for better conversion rates.
- Messaging app advertising — You probably use a messaging app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger right now. It’s a great way to connect and easily share social media content in real-time. In fact, 15 billion messages each month indicate the huge popularity of these communication tools. It’s easy to see why advertisers have found an opportunity to connect with consumers through messaging apps. Currently, only 1 in every 5 companies are taking advantage of this opportunity. However, in 2021 and beyond, you can expect that to change dramatically.
Call us for Help Executing New Marketing Trends in 2021
One of the most important lessons to come out of the COVID pandemic has been the need for connection. For this reason, branding has become a focal point for marketers looking to connect organizations with the people they serve. Building a strong brand identity by highlighting a company’s mission and values will help to build a stronger connection. Traditional marketing methods will not be enough to build brand connections in an increasingly digital world. By relating to customers and reinforcing the importance of community, companies can create more accessibility and customer retention.
As a marketing professional with over 25 years of experience, Rosy Strategies understands how to help businesses pivot and build a strong brand presence using the latest technology and marketing tools available. Combining a keen understanding of current trends in marketing with a relentless focus on delivering impactful results, Rosty Strategies has been consistently recognized as a leader in this space. With a personalized approach, we take the time to evaluate your current marketing activities, industry trends, and competition to develop cutting edge strategies that are sustainable.
We provide a marketing game plan that includes maximizing your brand visibility through branding, public relations, SEO, web development, and content marketing. By partnering with company leadership, Rosy Strategies develops and implements marketing solutions that generate revenue.
We can answer any questions you may have about what’s new in digital marketing. Give Rosy Strategies a call for a free audit and let’s discuss how we can position your organization for 2021 and beyond!