It’s officially 2019 and with the start of a new year, we’re seeing the landscape of digital marketing undergo a bit of a shift. Let’s face it, you can’t ignore digital marketing in today’s business world. Advertising is all about attention, and if your brand is looking to capture a prospect's attention you need a digital presence, everyone’s online.
You probably know how important digital marketing is by know. You’ve probably already dipped your toe into things like SEO, Content Marketing, or PPC. While these strategies are great and the foundation for a good digital marketing strategy, there are a few other things you should focus on as well this year.
Streaming content, AI, & chatbots, are all things you’ve probably heard people talk about in the last few years. While 2 or 3 years ago you may have dismissed these as gimmicks or solutions that wouldn’t catch on or bring value, in 2019 they’re not only things you shouldn’t ignore, but things you should be focussing your digital strategy around.
Here are some digital marketing trends to focus on in 2019
Chatbots are getting popular
We’re living in the internet age. An age of instant connectivity, from Facebook Messenger to Slack, the average internet user now expects to hear back sooner than later. We thrive on that instant communication. What do both of those products have in common? They both overwhelmingly use chatbots.
A chatbot is a computer program or artificial intelligence that conducts a conversation via auditory or textual methods. They’re a virtual concierge, and they’re showing up everywhere and will only get more popular in 2019. With 1.4 billion people already interacting with chatbots, many businesses have put plans in action to ether begin use or increase the usage of chatbots.
Facebook’s getting older
Facebook may have had an interesting 2018, however, it’s still the #1 social media platform in the US and is holding steady. While Facebook’s dominance hasn’t changed in some time, what has changed is the breakdown of the platform’s users. Currently, 41% of users are over the age of 65. Facebook’s getting older.
This is something you’ve likely noticed over the past few years, now it’s time this fact is reflected in your marketing efforts. Certain Facebook campaigns may be unsuitable for younger audiences, while certain campaigns geared toward older demographics might do well. While certain Facebook campaigns may not work with some younger audiences, their other property Instagram might be the place to be, with 31% of users between the age of 18-24.
Video is a necessity
In 2018 73% of Americans engaged with YouTube in some way. With over half of the country viewing videos online, if you aren’t utilizing video, 2019 is the year to start. But don’t just think YouTube, to achieve higher engagement with your video marketing look to post on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn. It’s also worth looking into live video.
One of the biggest digital marketing crazes of 2018 was live video, due in part to the massive spike in streaming services, as well as its effectiveness. When used correctly live video can be a great tool, especially when paired with influencer marketing. Whether a local celebrity or a social media influencer in a specific field, having a live stream with an influencer interacting directly with viewer is a huge draw for audiences.
Email needs to be more personable
Who ever said email is dying needs to check their stats again, with billions still using it, email continues to be a major channel of communication. Email’s here to stay, and email marketing in 2019 is as important as ever, however, the way we do email may need to change a bit.
Email marketing has evolved over the past few years and the generic email just isn’t going to cut it in 2019. As we’ve become more sophisticated internet users automation & personalization have become the future of email. Triggering an email to send based on a specific action, as well as, personalizing as much as possible for the user is hugely beneficial. Email is often times the final step to motivate an action, particularly when retargeting is utilized.
What’s Next?
Digital Marketing in 2019 will be all about consumer experience. With AI, personalization, automation and more playing huge roles in capturing attention and turning leads into sales online.
Be on the lookout for part 2, detailing more trends for 2019!