Thanks to modern technological advancements, digital marketing has evolved from being a gimmick into one of the basic foundations of any big or small business. It's very hard to keep up with the updates that revamp the whole field of marketing as the branches are too many to count. Algorithms, functions, and marketing techniques are not things that can be taken for granted, no matter how seasoned of a marketer you are.
We've created this guide to get you up to speed on the newest and most popular marketing methods and trends to give you the upper hand on your competitors.
1. Alternative Platforms
Certain social media channels like Facebook and Twitter have been dominating digital marketing for a while, but it seems their grip is getting looser as people have taken to alternative platforms for more creative niches. Marketing campaigns like pay-per-click (PPC) are beginning to be more relevant than ever on niche-specific platforms. You can check this
URL to understand how it can be used to maximize your ROI. Pay-per-click, as the name suggests, is a model whereby a business that has placed an advertisement on a website pays a sum of money to the host website each time the ad is clicked.
Furthermore, it's crucial to combine old methods with newer ones to be able to make the most out of your marketing campaign. Even though the main platforms are great for business, it doesn't hurt to augment a base in alternative platforms like Reddit, Pinterest, and Snapchat.
2. Social Commerce
Social media have shaped digital marketing for years to come and marketers started to take advantage of the potential social media can provide to their brand. Countless brands have been marketing for their websites and apps on social media, but the newest trend is "shoppable" posts, which reduce the steps customers take to purchase an item from an entity.
Instagram Checkout was one of the platforms that made this method come to light last year. According to statistical research, more than half the people on social media conduct research on social platforms before they purchase items.
This is a very productive marketing technique for those who do not have a full-fledged shop and would like to sell branded products. It's easy to link shops to social media platforms, and you'll get to make as many returns as possible without the costs of traditional operations.
3. Direct Messages
Digital marketing has been trying to be closer and cozier and direct messaging was a considerable win in that cause. To streamline customer service, sales, and even technical support in one go, brands have been taking it to the DM to settle all matters as quickly as possible.
Brands use different platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and many more to send messages to their customers with more details and help. Some take advantage of the extra engagement and exposure this method provides and rely on direct messages to provide prices for different items.
4. Micro-Influencers
Influencers have been no strangers to the scene of marketing in the last few years. The rising trend of micro-influencers is looking to overshadow even the most major influencers' campaigns as it's more engineered and suitable to audiences. Many small businesses and brands have taken to micro-influencers who may have smaller but more loyal followership to help them advertise products and services that fall within their niche.
5. Enhanced Emails
Emails have been used in marketing since the dawn of the internet. Many people thought that their time has come in an age where digital marketing is constantly being shaped and changed, but it seems emails have made a strong comeback.
Emails have one of the best returns on investment possible in any marketing scheme. Polished and interactive emails are replacing bland ones to impress and convert customers.
6. Analysis of Feelings
Social media has provided marketers with a tool that was so hard to come by back in the old days. Social listening is the analysis of the reactions of the viewers of a post on social media. The black-and-white assessment is not enough to give a clear view of how your potential customers view your products and advertisements. Artificial intelligence is beginning to pick up certain hidden nuances in slang and emojis that even experts may miss.
Since direct messaging is becoming the norm, coming up with a way to serve huge masses of people efficiently was a must. Chatbots use AI to analyze the messages to provide customers with the information they're looking for instantaneously. It's believed that chatbots will dominate the majority of customer services by the end of next year.
Final Words
Marketing is not something that you can learn and forget about. You'll always have to be on the lookout for the newest trends and methods available to make sure your business stays afloat, especially if it's a small business. Take inspiration from the methods mentioned above and use what's more convenient to push your sales.
