Marketing efforts are always evolving. One item that you can count on not changing is the innovation of marketers and marketing influencers as they take advantage of new technologies. These individuals are always looking for ways to connect with their audiences. Explore some of the top marketing trends that you should be watching for next year.
Virtual Reality
Only a short time ago, virtual reality was a sci-fi gimmick limited to movies or people who were able to afford expensive gaming computers and setups. Now if you open an applications store on your phone or tablet, you’ll discover several games with virtual reality features that anyone can download free to use. Virtual reality is a great marketing trend that you can use for your product, service, or influencer campaigns.
Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) have changed the way that some brands are staying in touch with consumers. The brands that use this technology are offering a fun way to connect customers with brands so that they can ask questions and get more information.
Chatbots can be installed with standard responses. They can point consumers in the right direction for questions or concerns that go deeper than what AI has been programmed to handle. Chatbots are a fun and quirky way to set yourself apart from what everyone else is doing.
Content That Stands Out
Content is another area that is trending. People want to see material that offers useful information that they can connect to on a personal level. Consumers don’t want to be talked down to by the brands that they interact with regularly. Instead, they want simplified information that gives them the answer they’re looking for.
You can take your marketing efforts up a notch by using personalization in your email marketing efforts. With all of the user data available to you, it should be relatively easy to create a more tailor-made email that feels more personal than a mass-produced email. People like to feel special. A personalized email is an easy way to incorporate a few features about them that can separate your email from all of the others in their inboxes.
Videos Are Hot
Video marketing is a huge trend that’s continuing to grow. Attention spans aren’t what they used to be, which is something that video can address. Many consumers would rather watch a video than read an article. Studies suggest that about 80 percent of web traffic will be video by next year. Videos are versatile. You can tell someone about a new service or product. You can demonstrate how a product works. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a landslide.
Have you started incorporating the marketing trends described above in your efforts now and for the coming year? Early adopters often get a more significant response thanks to the novelty of these trends. Consumers enjoy trying out new ways to connect with their favorite companies and brands. Plus, they often offer the option to bring in new clients who are intrigued by what you’re doing.
Image via Flickr by nan palmero
