With the ever-changing landscape of the internet, it’s hard to predict the future of digital marketing. However, some emerging trends suggest where the industry is headed.
We’ll look at three of those trends and what they could mean for businesses in the future.
The Future of Digital Marketing: 10 Emerging Trends You Need to Know
What’s next for Digital Marketing?
It’s no secret that the era of digital marketing is constantly evolving. What was once considered cutting-edge can quickly become outdated, and new technologies and platforms are constantly emerging.
So, what does the future hold for digital marketers? Here are a few emerging trends to keep an eye on.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning
One of the most significant emerging trends in digital marketing is the increased use of AI and machine learning.
AI-powered chatbots are already being used by brands to interact with customers and provide them with information in real-time.
AI can personalize the user experience by providing relevant content based on past interactions.
As AI continues to evolve, we expect to see even more notable innovations in digital marketing.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
AR and VR are already starting to make waves in digital marketing.
Brands are using AR to create interactive experiences for their customers, allowing them to try on makeup or clothing without ever having to leave their homes.
And, with the release of affordable VR headsets like the Oculus Quest, we can expect to see even more brands experiment with this technology in the coming years.
Personalization at Scale
Another big trend we’re seeing is the move towards personalization at scale.
Thanks to data collected from social media and other online interactions, brands now have more information about their customers than ever.
This data can be used to create highly personalized experiences for each customer.
We expect more brands to use this data to deliver personalized content, product recommendations, and more.
As we move into 2020, it’s time to start thinking about the future of digital marketing.
What trends will emerge? What new technologies will be developed? And how do these changes affect how we market our products and services?
To help answer these questions, we’ve compiled a list of 10 digital marketing trends that will significantly impact the coming year.
So, without further ado, here are ten emerging trends you need to know about in 2020:
Personalization will become more critical than ever before.
Chatbots will continue to grow in popularity.
Video content will dominate social media.
Augmented reality will start to be used more for marketing purposes.
Influencer marketing will become more regulated.
Brands will focus more on cause marketing.
Interactive content will become more popular.
Voice search will become more critical for SEO purposes.
Dark social will be used more for marketing purposes.
Blockchain technology will start to be used more for marketing purposes.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
One of the most exciting emerging technologies is virtual reality (VR). VR headsets allow users to submerge themselves in a completely computer-generated environment.
While VR has been used primarily for gaming and entertainment up until now, businesses are beginning to see its potential as a marketing tool.
For example, BMW created a VR experience that allowed potential car buyers to test drive one of their vehicles without ever leaving the showroom.
And Lowe’s collaborated with Oculus Rift to create a virtual home improvement store that lets customers explore products and get project ideas.
As VR technology becomes more affordable and accessible, we can expect more businesses to use it to give customers unique experiences that will help them better connect with brands.
Augmented reality (AR), which overlays digital information in the real world, is another exciting technological development with massive potential for marketers.
One of the most famous examples of AR is Pokémon GO, which allows players to “catch” Pokémon in the real world using their phone’s camera.
But businesses are beginning to experiment with AR, too. IKEA’s app, for instance, lets shoppers see how furniture will look in their homes before they buy it.
And Home Depot’s app lets users visualize what paint colors would look like on their walls.
We can expect to see more businesses using AR to give customers a preview of what they’re considering buying—which could significantly impact conversion rates.
Chatbots
Another digital marketing trend gaining steam in recent years is chatbots—computer programs that mimic human conversation. Chatbots can be used for customer service, lead generation, and sales.
And they’re only getting more intelligent as artificial intelligence (AI) technology improves. Gartner predicts that by 2020, 85% of customer interactions will be handled by chatbots.
That’s why it’s no surprise that many businesses are adopting chatbots; Facebook Messenger has more than 100,000 chatbots available to its users.
As chatbots become more ubiquitous, we can expect them to become more sophisticated, providing an even higher level of service and engagement than they do today.
Personalization will become more critical than ever before
With artificial intelligence and machine learning development, businesses can personalize their marketing messages like never before.
This trend has already begun with companies like Amazon and Netflix using algorithms to recommend products and shows to their users based on past behavior.
We expect this trend to continue as businesses strive to create more personalized customer experiences.
Augmented reality will become a commonplace marketing tool
Augmented reality (AR) technology allows users to come into contact with digital content in a real-world environment.
We’ve already seen AR used in several marketing campaigns, such as Ikea’s “Place” app, which allows users to see how furniture will look in their homes before buying it.
As AR technology becomes more sophisticated and widespread, we can expect more businesses to use it to engage with customers in new and innovative ways.
Chatbots will take over customer service.
Chatbots are computer programs that simulate human conversation.
They are commonly used in customer service applications to handle simple tasks such as answering FAQs or providing basic information about a product or service.
As chatbots become more advanced, we can expect them to take on more complex tasks, such as handling customer complaints or providing recommendations.
In the future, chatbots will likely become the primary way businesses interact with their customers online.
Conclusion
The future of digital marketing is covered in mystery, but some emerging trends suggest where the industry is headed.
Personalization, augmented reality, and chatbots are just three trends reshaping the digital marketing landscape.
As these trends resume to develop, we expect to see even more changes in how businesses market themselves online.
Digital marketing constantly evolves, so marketers must adapt their strategies to stay on the curve.
The good news is that businesses always have new opportunities to connect with their customers innovatively.
So, if you want your business to stay relevant in the coming years, ensure you keep up with the newest digital marketing trends!