2018 is just around the corner – and believe it or not, a lot is changing in the digital marketing world already! Why? Because technology is changing so quickly! This will in turn change many of the methods we use to get our brand seen.
But, don’t get too alarmed just yet! Some of these changes will take some time to perfect and take-off! In the meanwhile, make sure you keep an eye on them so you are one step ahead of the game.
So, where is digital marketing taking us in 2018? Well, according to predictions from the top digital marketing professionals, here are 4 Digital Marketing trends to watch in 2018!
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Facebook Video: If you keep up with our blogs, you may have noticed that we have placed a huge emphasis on using video for your marketing (in all forms). Facebook has also been working diligently at making sure that video is king on their platform.
If you have not noticed just yet – Facebook has recently added a TV-like space for creators and have even rolled out a few Facebook exclusive “TV-Shows” (like Amazon and Netflix). This is only set to expand and grow in 2018! According to Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner, “This could include preferential Facebook News Feed exposure for original native video, generous revenue share deals, and the eventual roll out of a dedicated video app. We also might see Facebook negotiate traditional television deals or even start its own cable television network. If you’re a video creator, watch this space closely!”
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Voice Search: Today, someone can have their hands full – juggling all their belongings in one hand while making dinner with the other – and can STILL do an online search with just shouting out a simple line: “Hello, Alexa” (Or Siri, Cortana, Google… etc). What does this mean for you and your business? Sorry, you WILL at some point need to pay for search engine advertising. The top Google results will be the results of these searches and you need to find ways to get into these coveted spots!
Don’t forget too – having a blog on your website allows you to consistently update your business website – Google likes this and ranks you higher. So don’t give up on creating new content for your business blog! Make sure to utilize Keywords / SEO! If you need assistance with SEO, we can help!
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Shoppable Media: Augmented Reality (AR) is taking over! What is it? Augmented reality is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are “augmented” by computer-generated or extracted real-world sensory input such as sound, video, graphics, haptics or GPS data”. (Think: Pokemon Go!)
According to Adele deMeyer from brand Influencer: “With the popularity rich media format (video, Augmented Reality, etc) we will notice the enabling of more immersive shopping experiences across earned, owned and paid. Like, calls to action that pop-up when you scroll or tap different items in an image or video.”
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Influencer Marketing: While influencer marketing is not new (and we spoke about it here as well), it will continue to grow. Influencers know their audience and have a HUGE sway over their shopping habits! If you decide to work with influencers – don’t ignore them. Take the time to listen to the influencers’ suggestions on how to setup your campaign, again, they know their fans better than you do – and perhaps can help you get better results if you follow their advice.
Also – According to Harry Hugo Goat from FreshPressUK “Video content created by influencers will see a huge shift in distribution, instead of brands utilizing influencer channels, they will use influencers as content creators; becoming video production companies in their own right. This sees a shift from influencers with wide reach, to influencers with high-quality content.”
While there are many more “predictions” as to where digital marketing is heading in 2018, this list gives you a pretty good idea so far and it provides a stepping stone for future marketing plans. Don’t go crazy trying to tackle and master them all! Remember, trends are always changing! Take a look and pick one that you feel is one you can focus on or that interests you more and give it a shot! Or, you can wait it out for a bit as well, and see if a certain trend takes a more promising shift, before you start!
Is there a new fascinating technology & marketing trend that has caught your attention? We would love to know what you think about the future of digital marketing!