Digital Marketing Trends in 2020

Shake up your digital marketing strategy this year with these top twenty in 2020 digital marketing trends.

1. Voice Search and Conversational AI – is code which can offer personalised and instant responses to web queries which give the user answers and information as required adds up to a better UX.
2. Personalisation – includes using targeted emails based on previous sales or interests using data (analytics). In response to this data, you can offer your customers personalised rewards and recommendations which are more relevant and likely to result in further conversions and sales.
3. Video Marketing – still on the up and up with video being the highest-rated method of learning about a new product or service. Creating live content via Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn are ways to stay ahead of the game.
4. Influencer Marketing – sending products or gifted items to rising stars online such as minor celebrities or Youtubers who may feature your business or brand online to their existing (and often a large number of) followers.
5. Visual Search – optimise your online content for visual search as the trend of searching using Google Lens or Pinterest’s Lens & Pincodes are making waves amongst younger demographics.
6. Social Stories – using Instagram and Facebook ‘Stories’ and Youtube’s ‘Reels’ are a cost-effective way you can offer increased brand awareness and engagement with customers.
7. Browser Push Notifications – have been around for some time but continue to be a trend with the inclusion of GDPR information/pop-ups and are best used for both sending and delivering well-timed content to engage users.
8. Creative-led Campaigns – work on the same level as personalised marketing and includes targeting consumers and analysing insights to create flexible and creative campaigns for better measurement.
9. Data-driven Marketing – introduces automation and machine learning to create a targeted and focussed approach to be used alongside personalised messaging. Automation only is a sticking point for many customers who want to speak to (and be treated as) a real person.
10. Brand Transparency – behind the scenes information your customers can identify with and honesty about how your company operates often results in a bond of trust, plus conversions.
11. Mobile Customer Experience – as the trend for consumers buying using their mobile devices rather than on a computer increases, ensuring their mobile experience is as easy to navigate as possible should be a priority. Tailor the experience if possible and encourage sales across multi-platforms.
12. Inclusive Marketing – means creating a platform that is accessible for all. Consider whether your brand is accessible, diverse and inclusive for all identities and cultures.
13. Short Format Video – say hello to TikTok! (other apps are available). Short format videos which include clips and snippets are hugely growing in popularity as they are quick and easy to consume and simple to curate. They invite engagement and are the perfect opportunity to show off your creativity.
14. Shoppable Posts – are becoming more widespread on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest, so are worth considering adding to your marketing campaigns for 2020 if this includes your platform of choice. By using these platforms you’re reaching potential new customers and are a great way to drive traffic to your website.
15. Immersive Technology – like AR and VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality respectively) are quickly growing in popularity and with the right apps and integrations, you can exercise your creativity to advertise to your customers and allow them to interact with your brand.
16. Interactive Content – gives consumers a reason to stay on your website or social media page which increases brand awareness. People love to interact with and share these types of content, which includes, for example, videos, shoppable posts, Virtual Reality, quizzes, polls and competitions.
17. Social Messaging Apps – like Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and WhatsApp are becoming popular ways to communicate with customers by building relationships, inviting customers to exclusive events and sales, and providing personalised customer support.
18. Chatbots – are commonplace on a lot of websites now and have replaced personal interaction. However, utilised correctly, the use of chatbots looks set to rise and can enable your customer interactions to become faster and more efficient.
19. User-Generated Content – is content created by your customers which they typically post on their social media. You can encourage these brand ambassadors to post their own UGC involving their use of your services or products to increase your popularity and brand awareness. Try competitions, sponsorships or partnerships with influencers to create the widest reach.
20. Content Marketing – should continue to be used to showcase the originality of your brand and personality, and to demonstrate knowledge and expertise to potential customers. Plus content marketing is super important for your SEO, so focus on keeping your digital marketing updated consistently.

Hopefully, the above list has given you some insight into the Digital Marketing Trends in 2020 based on changing customer behaviours and new technologies. Which ones do you already have successfully implemented and which ones are you going to try?