At one time, data-driven marketing, artificial intelligence, and voice search engine optimization were ambitious ideas bordering on the ridiculous. However, these innovative digital marketing trends are given top priority by most business owners today.
And why would they not? After all, if you are looking to remain competitive in the current digital space, you need to adapt to the ever-changing world of digital marketing.
Don’t be mistaken. We are in a time when marketing technology is evolving rapidly and consumer behaviors and interests are hard to predict. Marketers cannot continue working with the same old techniques and expect to get the desired results.
While it is important to hire a digital marketing agency to handle your digital marketing efforts, it is equally important to stay up to date with the current digital marketing trends. These trends will not only help your business to survive but also thrive in this competitive age.
1. Artificial Intelligence
If you are yet to know, 2020 could be the year when many people realize the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI). It will play a key role in the global business and industry in the days to come. In fact, it has already taken over some jobs.
For instance, Uber and Microsoft are using Knightscope robots in patrolling large outdoor areas and parking lots to predict and prevent crime. The robots are able to read license plates, collect data and report any suspicious activity.
AI can analyze search patterns as well as consumer behavior and use data from blog posts and social media to help business owners understand how customers search their products and services.
Currently, artificial intelligence is being implemented in several areas, including:
· Product recommendations
· Basic communication
· Email personalization
· Content creation
By adopting AI in 2020, businesses will be able to cut staffing costs and boost growth. This will give them an upper hand over their competitors.
2. SERP Position Zero
SEO will continue to be a key component of digital marketing in 2020. The browsing and search behavior has changed as a result of the significant growth in voice and mobile search. With featured snippets and other information on SERP, you don’t have to click a website link to get the information you want as you can get it by just doing a Google search.
You can get this on-SERP information in various places, but the most significant position is at the top of the page. This position is before the organic listings and is called the “position zero.”
3. Shoppable Posts (Social Commerce)
Have you been wondering how to get your social media followers to visit your online store? Now, you no longer need to.
Social media commerce involves the buying of products and services directly through social media ads and posts. Shoppable social media posts have gained a lot of popularity in the recent past especially after the launch of Instagram Checkout.
And there is a good reason for this. At least 54 percent of people on social media use shoppable social media posts to research product purchases. Since it is aimed to create fewer steps for shoppers, it helps reduce the chances of sales abandonment.
You don’t have to be an e-commerce brand to use shoppable social posts. Even if you sell a few pieces of branding merchandise, you can still experience a huge impact by adopting social media transactions.
4. Direct Messaging
Many brands are now adopting direct messaging in an attempt to get more personal with customers. As a way of assisting in sales and streamlining customer service, direct messaging is among the most popular digital marketing trends of 2020.
Brands are able to build stronger connections with their clients through messaging apps such as Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, among others. Since most people are used to talking to friends through these platforms, it offers a convenient way to text with the possibility of a phone conversation.
Whether you’re trying to forge relationships, take sales orders, address complaints or just goof around, you’ll find direct messaging effective.
5. Video Marketing
Video marketing is said to be more effective than many other marketing tools. Apart from being convenient and efficient for your audience, online videos offer an attractive and extremely shareable medium to reach your audience.
What’s more, search engines regard videos as high-quality content. Using videos on your main web pages as well as in various types of content is an excellent SEO strategy. For a bigger impact, be sure to optimize the videos with the right keywords, a strong title, and a solid meta description.