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Marketing and advertising are constantly changing to meet the needs of businesses each year and adapt to the prevalence of digital devices and content throughout culture. At the end of the day, every business requires marketing. This could be marketing for doctors, food products, makeup, hair treatments, the latest tech and gadgets or anything else. In the future, there are many exciting trends that experts predict will stand out as effective marketing strategies. Many traditional means of advertising are beginning to fade away in favor of more effective methods that use digital content and other aspects of the internet to educate consumers, spread brand knowledge, and develop a company’s identity. Here are 10 marketing trends to look for in 2019.
1. CEO Visibility
Before the internet age, it was rare for company CEO’s to step out of the boardroom and into the spotlight and speak directly to consumers. Today, it’s becoming frequently common for business CEO’s to address the general public. Expect to see more instances of company CEO’s and leaders stepping up to spread news about their business directly. This approach helps give the company a more specific voice and identity to their customers.
2. Live Video
Live video is also gearing up to expand in 2019 as an effective marketing strategy. Today, live video is used to help entrepreneurs stand out and get instant attention with an audience that has a very short attention span. Live videos help boost sales, build customers, and make a brand more exciting and hip in today’s world.
3. Chat Advertising
Another interesting marketing trend that may expand in the future is chat advertising. Web visitors today are sick of traditional ads that get in the way of their content viewing experience. Some companies are looking at more creative ways to not just get a potential customer’s attention but create an engaging experience. Some websites use chatbots to engage with potential customers and start conversations about a product or brand.
4. Video Ads
Besides live video, there are additional ways digital videos may be more common in the future of advertising and marketing. Video ads outside of a consumer’s television set may be more prevalent in 2019 and beyond. Big cities are using more video billboards to give consumers a more media rich experience outside of their smartphone. Transit stations are also employing more impressive video ads to pull people out of their routine and get them to notice a message.
5. Social Media
Social media will also continue to lead the way in marketing and advertising for the time being. Social media allows companies with limited resources to access powerful marketing tools and find some success. Traditional social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, are also adjusting their advertisement models to make marketing investments more effective for companies. Expect to see more engaging content throughout social media and more viral marketing stories to help promote brands and products.
6. Advertising Stories
Advertising companies are also looking for more effective marketing strategies that employ stories and make an emotional impact. Powerful story ads, like some of the work from marketing wiz Mark Crumpacker for Chipotle, stick with potential customers much longer than traditional commercials and advertisements.
7. Smart Speakers
Another exciting trend to look for in 2019 is the use of smart speakers with consumers. Products that use voice command and control, such as Alexa, have the potential to unleash even more marketing power for companies that use this technology effectively. Instead of simply inserting ads randomly into a smart speaker’s regular program of entertainment, companies need to be creative in developing effective search techniques to teach consumers how to look for products and get what they want.
8. Augmented Reality
Augmented reality is another powerful tool that could change the field of advertising forever. Today, this technology is mostly used in gaming, but marketing strategies could be developed that use the digital technology to help consumers find products and services. Advertisers need to get beyond the novelty of augmented reality and find unique ways to lasso this exciting tool.
9. Native Advertising
Today’s average digital consumer is also pretty savvy when it comes to spotting ads. They don’t want advertisements ruining their content viewing experience, so they employ things like ad blockers to keep them away. Native advertising gets around this phenomenon by creating advertising content that blends in with other types of content. This type of marketing looks less like a commercial and more like a real content post that a consumer would normally read or view.
10. Influencers
The last trend that is poised to grow in 2019 and the future is the power of online influencers. Businesses are partnering with powerful consumers who have developed a leading voice and online presence through blogs. Influencers post product reviews and testimonials for items in a real, raw voice and share this information with their followers. This type of advertisement is an effective way to spread the word about a new brand or product.
The world of marketing has plenty of new technologies and ideas ready to take over the world in 2019. Some of these trending strategies may expand and evolve as consumers change throughout the globe.