Digital marketing is moving quickly and with new technologies and advancements emerging each day, it’s safe to assume that the industry won’t be slowing down any time soon. In order to keep generating the best results, businesses and marketing professionals need to stay ahead of the curve, looking forward to the following year in order to plan and prepare for achieving your goals.
With 2019 rapidly approaching, we thought it would be a good idea to look ahead to the future and gain an insight into the top marketing trends of 2019 and how they might change the digital landscape in the next few months.
Rise In Smart Speakers & Voice Search
With more people purchasing smart speakers each year, it’s no surprise that voice search is rising in popularity and with it the need for a search that is more focused on user intent and contextual results. As more and more searchers welcome Alexa, Google Home and the Apple HomePod into their lives we’re likely to see more online creators and publishers embracing voice-based results. Often focusing on long tail keywords including words such as “who”, “why”, “where” and “when”, these results allow websites to answer more specific questions, asked through voice search.
It’s also looking plausible for these platforms to start monetising voice search through their own advertising platforms – think Google Ads but for your Google Home. These platforms would allow advertisers to optimise their ads specifically for smart speakers and voice search, making it much easier for brands to buy space.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) has been growing in popularity for a number of years now, with it becoming more prominent since the release of Pokemon GO! However, over recent years it’s become much more widely used by marketers, introducing their own augmented reality apps and tools in order to promote their products and services. In 2016, IKEA introduced their own shopping app featuring AR which allows users to view specific furniture inside their house, letting them see exactly how this furniture would fit into real time. This app lets users experience the look and feel of having the furniture in just one click.
In 2019 we’re likely to see brands incorporating more augmented reality and virtual reality tools in order to create more realistic experiences for website and app users, creating a more valuable experience and encourages users to fully explore what they have to offer.
Transparency
For a long time marketing had a relatively negative stigma surrounding it, often perceived as a self-serving industry, who make impossible promises, milk benefits and are often unethical in how they engage with consumers. Because of this, consumers are becoming harder to reach and are more reluctant when it comes to believing marketers and buying into a product or service. Over the last few years, and into 2019, we’re going to see brands adopt a transparent approach, admitting to everything and addressing any negativity directly.
Social influencers have truly highlighted how necessary it is for brands to be transparent regarding paid promotions, ads and sponsored posts and it’s likely that this will continue into the future. With Instagram, Youtube and possibly Facebook changing how sponsored content is displayed, marketers need to be aware of the importance of being transparent.
The future of digital marketing is looking bright, with a number of opportunities available for brands looking to inspire consumers, increase engagement and become much more responsive to the needs of their audience. As brands become more comfortable with the latest technology, they can deliver better results and experiences, helping them achieve their goals and continue to grow.
So why not start adopting these trends now, keep well ahead of the game and boost your potential for success in 2019?
