Do you find it difficult to keep up with changes in digital marketing? Don’t worry, the experts have to work hard to keep on top of it as well. Just as soon as you get settled into one feature, something else pops up and older techniques become obsolete. This is a good thing, though, because it means it is adapting to new technologies and methods, and that you have more channels through which to reach your potential customers.

Every year there are new trends to keep an eye out for, and 2019 will be no exception. Let’s have a look at how we can expect digital marketing to change in 2019 and beyond.

Chatting with Machines

Have you tried answering your social media channel messages yourself? Depending on the number of requests you get, it can be difficult to keep up with. There’s also the problem of messages coming in when you are not available to reply. What you really need is a member of staff that can answer multiple queries at once while working 24/7. The great news is that such staff are readily available, and they don’t even expect to be paid overtime.

They are, of course, chatbots and it can be difficult to differentiate between talking to them and talking to real people. The latest algorithms allow chatbots to work out what is being requested and then select an appropriate response from a pre-determined database. With vast databases to choose from and algorithms that allow them to choose the appropriate response, the results are impressive.

Bear in mind that they should be used only where appropriate, such as in handling general queries. The system is not perfect and it can be necessary to have that human touch in certain situations. You wouldn’t want to have a bot saying the wrong thing where sensitive issues are concerned. Regardless, if you do have active social media channels and you are struggling to keep up, a chatbot could be the answer to your prayers.

More Voice Searching

In so many futuristic movies, people are able to speak with advanced computer-like AI systems without even a keyboard. All they have to do is talk. What’s even better is that the AI usually talks back. Well, guess what: That’s becoming a reality as well.

Devices such as Siri from Apple are gradually becoming household items. Indeed, one survey has shown that nearly one-third of all Google searches performed were done with a voice search. These figures are only likely to rise in the future. It would be wise not to miss the boat.

The dynamics of voice search are quite different from using a keyboard. For starters, the requests are more likely to be impulsive, with no effort being required to request a search. What’s more is that whereas a standard keyboard search carried out on a screen will produce many results, voice searches are likely to produce just a few. Sometimes, there will even be only one result. While this is great for click-through rates, it does mean it will be more important than ever to make sure your site is listed high-up.

Micro-Moments

Many people spend hours every day on the internet. Most will expect to encounter ads in one form or another. In fact, the number of ads on the internet is often somewhat of an ongoing joke among internet users. Most are quite generic and generally try to plug a product or service that they hope the users will be interested in. The vast majority are easily ignored.

If these ads are available to the right person at just the right time, though, then their impact is considerably enhanced.

In digital marketing, micro-moments are those moments when you will give the user just what they need, and when they need it. For example, if somebody is looking for something to eat, the right ad to a nearby restaurant can make all the difference. If they are shopping for clothing then, again, if your ad is there at the right time then it can directly influence their purchasing decision.

Standard ads of the type you find on websites are unlikely to hit the spot, though. Instead, you want your ads to be where consumers that are on the go will spot them. This includes places like Amazon where people are browsing for items to buy, or maybe google maps for people that are looking for a bite to eat.

User-Generated Content

Of all the ads you see, how many are telling you that the product is not worth buying? Asides from very few that are using clever psychological ploys, the answer would be pretty much zero. It is to be expected that ads will speak favourably about a product. They want you to buy it, after all.

While this does not necessarily mean the ad is lying, it does mean that some buyers are unlikely to be swayed by it. Many are intelligent, experienced shoppers and know full well that an ad is a tool being used by those that want to sell something to you.

Coming over as authentic in advertising can be difficult. Get it right though, and you will have a marketing campaign that can make a considerable difference. What’s even better is that you can get your own customers to help you.

User-generated content is marketing material that is produced by happy customers of yours. With potential customers effectively getting great reviews from existing customers, your marketing campaign can really help push the right buttons. Think of GoPro as an example. Every piece of content created using a GoPro camera is a user-generated ad that hits the bullseye where authenticity is concerned.

Augmented Reality

Virtual reality is edging closer. The technology is available, but not yet quite affordable enough to become mainstream. Slightly ahead, though, is augmented reality, which is far more accessible. Augmented reality is similar to virtual reality but does not offer the full immersive experience. Basically, you can still see the world around you, only it has been enhanced with digital images. Do you remember the Pokémon Go craze? That was an example of augmented reality.

With just a little creativity, augmented reality can be an incredible opportunity for marketers. While products like google glass failed to meet expectations, other manufacturers are still well in the race. Regardless, as Pokemon Go has already shown, augmented reality opportunities are already very much here already. 2019 could very well be the year that digital marketers, and others, are able to take full advantage.

If you would like to know more regarding digital marketing trends in 2019, please feel free to contact us at any time. We will be delighted to let you know how we can help your business to flourish.