The digital marketing landscape across the world has witnessed a dramatic shift in 2019. About ten years back you could have dismissed artificial intelligence or influencer marketing as a gimmick but you cannot do it any longer. There are new trends in the marketing industry that involve high-end technology and businesses need to use them to achieve their long term professional goals. Digital marketing is one thing you cannot overlook if you want to succeed in the business.
Here are 9 key marketing trends for the year
1. Artificial intelligence
Undoubtedly at the top of the list, artificial intelligence is going to rule the world. Artificial Intelligence can analyze search patterns and consumer behavior through data from different social media channels. It helps the users find new products and services and allows businesses to market their products efficiently.
2. SEO A/B Split Testing
Marketing is about testing and this is why SEO A/B split testing is a part of the list. Split testing will allow you to isolate the variables which increase traffic so that you can take a targeted approach with regard to your content. You will be able to find pages that have a high impression count but a low click-through rate and this can be improved. Once you know where you are going wrong, you will be in a better position to improve your SEO.
3. Programmatic Advertising
When you use AI in order to automate ad buying, it is known as programmatic advertising. It helps target a certain audience and is known for real-time bidding. It is very fast and efficient which leads to high conversions and low customer acquisition costs.
4. Content is the king
Quality content sells in every form. It is still the king and will remain so in the coming period. Interesting and engaging content in the form of articles, blogs and guest posts will help you attract traffic to the website. You can opt for guest post service to a target audience using backlinks and keywords. Content will remain an important part of the digital marketing industry in the coming years.
5.Chatbots
Chatbots are an important part of digital marketing. It is an AI based technology that uses instant messaging to chat in real time with the customers. 80% of businesses across the world plan to implement chatbots by 2020. It can help save a substantial amount of expenditure in the healthcare and banking industry. A lot of consumers prefer using chatbots since they are very responsive and answer promptly. They offer excellent customer service and automate repetitive tasks.
6. Video Marketing
No matter the size and type of your business, video marketing will make a huge difference to it and it is here to stay. 70% of the consumers have shared the video of a brand and about 72% of businesses say it has improved their rate of conversion. A lot of consumers prefer to watch product videos before making an online purchase. It makes them feel confident about the product they are planning to buy. Video marketing is not only about YouTube, it goes much beyond that. You can use video marketing on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Live video has also gained popularity and brands are using it to share interviews and product demos.
7. Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a form of word-of-mouth marketing that stresses upon the message of the brand and drives it to the wider market. Instead of marketing to a group of consumers, brands simply pay an influencer to do that for them. The influencer will get the word out and ensure that your products are noticed. Influencer marketing has become a large part of the digital marketing industry and it is expected to rule the industry in the coming years. Influencers are people who have a strong following and a voice that reaches out to others. They use different social media platforms to spread the word about your products and services.
8. Voice search
There is an increase in the use of voice search and companies are rethinking their digital marketing strategies to include the same. It is believed that there will be maximum voice searches by the end of 2020 and majority of them will be on Google. Voice search adds convenience for the user and plays an important role in providing relevant information to the people who are searching through an audio content. Artificial Intelligence is getting smarter and this has led to a rise in voice search. There are voice assistants like Google and Alexa which have become a part of our life. Brands will have to include voice search in their digital marketing efforts in order to reach out to the target audience.
9. Visual Search
Visual search is going to take the experience of a user to a new level. In case of visual search, a user can upload a picture in order to conduct a product search and will be shown very specific results. There are visual search tools which allow users to take pictures of the product they are looking for and they will be shown where to buy it online or they will be shown similar products. It works for business cards, books, landmarks, products, and even painting.
These are the most important digital marketing trends in 2019. They have made a huge impact on the brands and has made it possible for brands to reach out to the consumers. Digital marketing will remain an important part of the marketing activities of every business and it is important for business owners to adapt to the changing preferences of the consumers. In order to reach out to the target audience, it is important for brands to use different marketing channels and invest in technology like Artificial intelligence and visual search. This will make it easier for the target audience to identify the brand and to make a buying decision with regard to the product or service offered by the brand.