Marketing trends are constantly changing. Navigating through the latest trends, from new technologies to different marketing techniques and everything in between, can be the key to business growth and keeping your company current and relevant in the marketplace. Although some of 2020’s marketing trends are advancements with technology and move at an ever-evolving quick pace, others remind us that keeping a connection with your customers is always important.
Current Trends
Let’s look at seven trends to watch for in 2020 that are making changes in how we run our businesses this year and into the future.
1. Video and Live Streaming. Companies are using videos more and more to engage customers and get them looking at and talking about their products. In 2019, one report found that 87% of companies used videos to attract consumers, which is an increase from 81% the year before. It makes sense: according to the same report, as many as 80% of consumers said that they would prefer to watch live videos from a brand over reading a blog.
2. Voice Search. As more and more people are utilizing voice search programs on their phones or through apps or devices like Alexa, technology has been shifting to track searches on voice boxes. Creating content to assist voice search in finding your business’s product has become imperative, as have tracking search statistics, returning customers and sales. Programs like Jetson.ai are on the forefront of this technology, assisting companies with tracking consumer activity and purchases, but we will be seeing an increase of these types of programs in the coming year(s).
3. Personalization. When it comes down to it, your customer wants to feel connected to you. This is not a new idea, but as technology can make the human touch seem more distant, it continues to be vital to your business. Breaking away from general email blasts and pinpointing a customer’s specific buying history with your company is a great way to ensure they will return.
4. Analytic Program Shifts. With the rise of new ways to market, shop, and purchase, options on how to analyze these trends have also expanded. Moving beyond Google Analytics to learn more about specific patterns of consumers is another trend to watch for. According to Co-founder of NP Digital, Neil Patel, these new ways of marketing and purchasing have “caused companies to start using analytics solutions that tie into their database better, such as Amplitude. Or better yet, you are seeing a big push into business intelligence. In 2020, you will see more companies adopting business intelligence solutions… from paid ones to free ones like Google Data Studio.”
5. Social Media Shopping. According to The Social Commerce Report from Business Insider, 36% of internet users in the United States use social media to research products and make product choices. Influencer marketing has grown exponentially in the past year. Social media influencers have a large and loyal following; therefore companies sponsor these influencers to create specific content to bring brand awareness and potential sales to their product and company. Marketers have found extremely positive results through Influencers, with 89% of those who use this approach finding the ROI (Return On Investment) to be comparable to marketing through other approaches.
6. The flywheel approach. CEO of the Greenleaf Book Group, Tanya Hall suggests moving beyond the funnel approach in 2020 and adopting the flywheel approach. Just as the funnel approach is great for getting new clients and customers, the flywheel approach goes beyond the funnel. Hall explains, “The flywheel approach continues to attract, engage, and delight the customers even past the point of purchase, meaning the company continues to interact with customers instead of treating them as one-time-only prospects.”
7. Automated SEO. There is still some trepidation about whether automated SEO really works and the cost of many of the programs that implement it. With more and more programs becoming available, such as Clickflow and BrightEdge, if your company can afford it, it may be worth giving it a shot. As Neil Patel warns, “the marketing playing field is getting more even. And if you want to do well, you are going to have to leverage AI and automation.” He believes it is worth paying for these programs, although he also believes more free programs will become available in the future.
Although trends in marketing are constantly changing, having dynamic content for your consumer audience will always be on trend. As for some of these latest trends, it will be exciting to see which 2020 trends stick and which ones fade away; making room for the next wave of technology, programs and strategies to find their way into the spotlight.
The marketing experts at Jennasis & Associates are available to help you understand and put any of these practices into play for your business. Contact us today: digitalmarketing@jennasisassociates.com.
We can help you get your marketing plan moving into the new decade!
