The Latest Trends in Digital Marketing

by Donna Werking, Owner, Northern AZ Social, LLC
At one time, data-driven marketing like voice search engine optimization and artificial intelligence were considered far-fetched concepts. In 2020, these pioneering marketing trends are being used by growing companies as a standard approach to their marketing strategies. Here are our top three growing trends in marketing for 2020. 
Chatbots: A chatbot is a piece of software that conducts a conversation via auditory or textual methods. Many customers choose to engage with chatbots because they are responsive 24/7, give answers promptly, are accurate and never lose patience. These virtual assistants offer a high level of customer service by meeting expectations and automating tasks. 
Many brands already use chatbot technology, including Starbucks, Dominos and Lyft. Oracle found in a survey that 80% of businesses desire chatbots for e-commerce in 2020. If your business revenue is driven by online sales, this is a marketing avenue you may want to explore.
Influencer marketing: This form of social media marketing involves endorsements and product placement from influencers, people and organizations who have a purported expert level of knowledge or social influence in their field. A prime example is Verizon’s famous “Can you hear me now?” guy who switched to Sprint. The company has collaborated with musicians, entrepreneurs and actors to gain the attention of a massive audience.
So, can you execute influencer marketing on a local level? Absolutely! There are many influencers who have acclaimed notoriety in smaller demographics. They are often seen on multiple social media channels and are very engaged in community events. Who would you partner with to promote your local brand? 
Content marketing: Content marketing is a form of marketing focused on creating, publishing and distributing content for a targeted audience online and continues to dominate SEO in 2020. In 2019, Google updated its search algorithm. This included the new BERT system, which aids Google in its efforts to understand people’s natural search behaviors. Our advice? Keep blogging and provide engaging content on your websites. Also, try interactive content in your strategy. Ninety-one percent of buyers are seeking interactive content because it’s fresh and original. 
Keeping up with the latest trends in marketing can be difficult, even for a marketing agency. A few helpful tips: Be sure to know your competition; understand how your competitors market and sell their products or services; set up trend alerts using RSS feeds and social media; read industry news; and continue to network and get your customers’ feedback. 
Fact Source: SingleGrain.com