As we approach a new year, we can’t help but reminisce about marketing trends...both those that are fading into the rearview mirror and trends that are without a doubt taking the marketing world by storm.
Our team has put together a quick list of areas we see as fading as well as new strategies to embrace and emerging strategies to monitor in 2020.
Top 3 Marketing Trends to Leave Behind
- Organic Only Social Media Outreach - With Facebook and Instagram continuing to limit businesses' organic posts, you are only reaching a small fraction of your followers; think 2% - eek! To reach more of your followers in 2020, know that you will need to diversify your efforts.
- Traditional Pop-up Ads - The truth? The majority of the population is wising up to outdated digital marketing methods. Pop-ups feel intrusive as they stop the consumer in their tracks. It’s the equivalent to getting cut off in traffic - no one likes it! Customers will find what they want on your site, let’s not cut them off mid-trip.
- Everyone is your customer - Ever had an ad pop up over and over advertising for a product you would never buy? After the third time, you are annoyed, by the tenth time, you likely have a hatred for the brand - we know how it is. Our digital space is becoming so personalized that when we receive an ad that is completely unrelated, we feel the equivalent to a stranger sitting down at our table while we are out with friends. There are so many ways to target your ideal customer in this digital world (see #1 below), that the lack thereof is not only annoying, it is a waste of money!
Marketing Trends to Embrace
- Artificial Intelligence - AI technology is truly the wave of the future as we can now analyze consumer behavior and search patterns, as well as data from social media platforms and blog posts to understand how consumers make purchasing decisions and so much more. Techgrabyte reports, “Artificial intelligence is the biggest commercial opportunity for companies, industries, and nations over the next few decades” and “will increase global GDP by up to 14% between now and 2030.”
- Smart Speakers - We have been watching the growth of smart speakers and voice assistant devices for a few years; in 2020 we expect to see another large spike as these speakers continue to sell at an affordable price point. The relationship between this technology and consumers will continue to grow, allowing marketers to (at some point) effectively reach their target audiences with personalized messaging and content.
- Micro Influencers for the Win - Micro influencers grew in popularity this year and we expect to see continued growth in 2020. In all honesty, most of us can sniff out an ad within seconds. With micro influencers, businesses have the ability to feel down-to-earth and approachable while still exposing their audience to new products and companies. Plus, technologies have improved immensely; companies can now be better equipped at fielding and managing large networks of high-engagement, low-following micro influencers.