Digital marketing trends are always evolving, and it is important to stay ahead of the curve in order to create successful strategies.

Here are some trends to watch out for in 2019:

1. Advances in voice technology

Today’s virtual assistants can do virtually anything!…Rapid advances in NLP (natural language processing), voice interfaces, automation and robotics, AI , machine learning and deep learning processes have empowered virtual assistants with high-tech capabilities. It is suggested that almost one-third of the 3.5 billion searches on Google every day are voice searches, and this number is set to increase.

Voice search differs from the typical desktop or mobile search in that Siri minimises the number of search results, unlike Google which turns up hundreds of pages of results for a typed out search. Voice searches typically give you just one result, and it really pays if your website is on top of the list. It is therefore critical that you should tailor your SEO strategy for voice search. Make your search phrases more conversational and think of what your customers may speak, rather than what they may be likely to type out.

2. Chatbots and AI continue to improve

Chatbots that are integrated with AI can greatly improve customer service, as they are quick to answer requests and give data-related information. They offer one-on-one personalised service and can even respond with humour! Your website, applications and social media platforms can be scaled up by adding Chatbots, which will also be useful to tailor marketing strategies. Statistics have shown that in the next 5 years, around 80% of business communications with customers will be performed through bot messengers.

3. AI and machine learning

The introduction of artificial intelligence tools is a major innovation in the digital marketing industry – it serves to streamline marketing processes and heighten businesses profitability. A study by QuanticMind shows that 97% of leaders believe that the future of marketing lies in the use of machine-learning based tools.  ML and AI have resulted in efficient data analysis, which means that customers can get personalised interactions which will create better customer relationships and high rates of satisfaction. Through ML-based algorithms, marketers have a dependable way to create unique experiences for individuals.

This year, it is expected that marketers will look at setting up predictive lead scoring, deploy trigger-based campaigns and invest in more dynamic content to serve customers better through the user lifecycle.

4. Video is still the most successful medium

Customers have short attention spans, and engaging videos are still the most successful way of getting brand messages across. People prefer to see a video rather than read a blog, and live video/ podcasts/ads have proven to be very effective as they directly connect engaged consumers to products and services.

The use of videos in social media platforms like Facebook Live , Instagram etc is gaining momentum , giving marketers a direct connection with end users. Original, interactive and innovative video marketing that fully engages and captures the imagination of customers is going to be the order of the day, and will be what helps to make your brand stand apart. Video outperforms other mediums in almost every aspect of marketing, so incorporate video marketing into your strategy to see marked results!

5. Choose your reality: AR or VR

Augmented reality and Virtual reality can be used to create a more visceral experience for consumers. Interior designers and architects are already using these techniques to give customers a virtual experience of the finished design before it is actually built, and this experiential marketing is going to hit the big leagues in 2019. Through realistic immersive experiences that even include senses and emotions, customers can get engaged and totally convinced about the product.

This new technology is being leveraged by smart businesses to create brand awareness and sell individual products. For example, IKEA has been using VR gaming technology since 2016 and through its shopping app, IKEA VR Experience, customers can try out different solutions before choosing them. Nivea, Starbucks and Volkswagen have also tried to use AR to make their customers ‘feel’ their products before buying.

Conclusion

Your business would profit from using some of these new-age digital trends. The possibilities are endless! Take a look around to see what your competitors are doing, and choose the technology that will give your business a boost. If you want some help with your campaigns, the team at MWT Technologies has your back!