You can’t afford to misfire on your digital marketing.
According to the Drum, $118 billion will be spent on digital marketing by 2021. That’s a lot of money to spend without the requisite return.
Which is why staying on top of the trends is so important. Simply, with this much money at stake, you need to know you’re investing your resources into the most effective strategies possible.
Keep reading to discover 8 digital marketing trends of 2019 and be ahead of the game.
8 Digital Marketing Trends for 2019
Here are 8 essential trends for successful digital marketing in 2019.
1. An Increase in AI
AI, or artificial intelligence, is big news for digital marketing in 2019.
We’re on the cusp of an AI revolution and are only beginning to see it’s potential. For instance, AI already enables easy analysis of data and a better understanding of consumer practices. And through innovations such as chat bots, for example, you can automate interactions with customers.
Costs to your time and money will be significantly reduced in the process.
2. Blockchain’s Gonna Be Big
AI is one thing. Blockchain’s another.
Blockchain’s a big topic. But the basic premise is that multiple parties work together through a form of a digital database, sharing information and so on.
It’s likely to have all sorts of implications, including for digital marketing. For instance, the world of blockchain may well change the way everyone’s data gets collected.
Right now we search the internet through web browsers and ISPs, which collect our data and can essentially learn everything about us. And advertisers can pay to access it.
Blockchain could change this current system. Through some clever mechanisms, it can allow users to keep control of their own personal data. Data stays with them instead of being stored on servers belonging to applications.
Imagine the challenges to advertisers who currently rely on having access to user data. It could represent a major shift in how online advertising operates.
3. Visual Search Is Coming
Ever wanted to search for an answer in Google, for example, but you’ve not known the search terms and phrases necessary to find it?
No matter what you type in, the words you use just don’t stimulate the right results. Frustrating, right?
This is where visual search comes in. Thanks to AI, people will soon be searching in Google through images instead of words.
This trend could be big for marketers. Consider a merchandiser who has visual user data, showing exactly what type of products people search when shopping. They can personalize their products and advertise accordingly.
What’ll happen to SEO, where keywords are typically so important? An increasing use of images in search is sure to impact this.
4. Things Will Get Personal
Gone are the days of generic, one-size-fits-all marketing methods.
In 2019 your digital marketing efforts should emphasize a personalized approach. Think custom content and real-time emails, all based on a customer’s behavior. Whether it’s content or products, use all the data at your disposal to personalize everything you put out into the world.
5. Video’s Key
Video content is dominating the field in terms of engagement and conversion.
Consider this stat from Forbes: half a billion people watch video on Facebook every day. That’s a lot of video. It’s no wonder that video content is used by 87% of marketers.
Take advantage of this trend by incorporating both recorded and live content into your digital marketing strategies in 2019.
6. Influencer Impact Needs Leveraging
Influencer marketing isn’t new. But it is essential to your 2019 marketing efforts.
People don’t want to be sold to. It’s no longer possible to utilize old-fashioned ‘shove-it-down-your-throat’ style advertising to successfully sell. It’s all about trust.
Influencers (whether micro or massive) have earned that trust from a loyal following. Utilize it.
7. Mobile Experience is Vital
Marketers need to ensure their content is fully optimized for mobile.
Check this out…
According to Emarketer research, people will spend more time on their mobile phones than on TV. And attention spans are only decreasing.
8. You Can’t Afford to Lose Your Voice
Voice search is an ever-increasing domain. Marketers must consider it in 2019.
It’s said that 50% of searches will be by voice by 2020.
Simply, the way people are searching for content online is changing. This has an immediate impact on critical SEO features such as long and short-tail keywords.
Time to Wrap Up
There you have it: digital marketing trends you should know about for 2019.
You’ll be on to a winner if you’re up to speed with AI, in the know about blockchain, personalizing your marketing efforts, incorporating video, optimizing for mobile, utilizing audio and visual search technology, and leveraging influencers.
Now we’d like to hear from you! Which trend do you think will be most important to your business?
Be sure to let us know in the comments!
