9 Key Digital Marketing Trends You Can’t Ignore

Digital Marketing is a tricky business.

Technology has brought the marketing field a long way. To stay on top is forever advancing into different strategies and approaches. Marketers need to work faster to keep up with the preferences of digital audiences. There is a multitude of tools, which have been developed for marketers to use on the Internet.

A lot of the advancements come from constant analysis and evaluation of what a customer likes to see or read. In a blink of an eye, the marketing strategy you have been using could become outdated. So it’s important to know exactly what changes are happening now and how those changes are affecting you and your company.

Digital marketing trends that will shape the future of digital marketing in 2016 and beyond

1. Search Beyond Search Engines

At the forefront of expanded search are social networks that have integrated search algorithms and capabilities into their features. It gives better mileage to marketers as reviews, tweets and other social content can now be indexed by Google and be visible beyond the confined of the social network.

2. Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things, a concept that puts connectivity and interactivity to gadgets and other things people use on a daily basis. A wearable technology survey highlighted that up to 70% of customers are ready for wearable technology, which is expected to be $19 billion market by the year 2018.

3. Trendsetting with Mobile Marketing

As a new cornerstone for digital marketing, mobile marketing provides an innovative and highly engagingway to connect with customers because of its increased personalization features. 2 Billion users are expected to have their own smartphones by the year 2017 so marketers should expect great things coming from Mobile Marketing.

4. Social Media

It has come of age and is mature enough to become an effective digital marketing tool for engaging on an interactive, two-way basis. Many consumers now look to social media as a source of information to know more about company.

5, Gaming Apps and New Marketing Spaces

A great opportunity for digital marketers who can turn gaming into new marketing space through carefully executed product placements. It can be practically available on every app that offers some value and appeal to customers.

6. Website Responsiveness

In April 2015, when Google rewarded mobile-friendly websites; the stage was set for biggest digital marketing trends in 2016. Responsive websites are no longer an option but now are truly a necessity.

7. Marketing Automation

While marketing automation has been on the scene in the U.S. and Europe for a few years, adoption is exponentially climbing. By the year of 2016, approximately 70 percent of companies in the western world will be leveraging a marketing automation platform and offering more sophisticated solutions for companies and organizations. This is one area, where Asia is lagging behind.  It holds tremendous potential for businesses in Asia.

8. Content Marketing

Content marketing is not a new trend, but content will remain the most dominant force for digital marketing in 2017 and beyond. 88% of B2B companies are using content marketing and 78% of which have raised their content since 2015.

9. Interactive Content

Interactive content is an effective way to connect and engage with target audiences, far better and more effective than what ordinary texts, photos or videos can do. Consumers feel that they can get the right information they want to help them make informed purchasing decisions.

So, before you start implementing some of these trends, it is important that you understand who your target audience is and their demographics.

If you don’t recognize changing technologies, you might have a very difficult time keeping up, which could be the biggest marketing mistake.

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