The year 2018 is just around the corner and just as 2017 we are expecting lots of changes in the world of online marketing.Along with 2018 new trends are entering the marketplace and marketer need to pay attention and adapt to the changes as soon as possible. 2017 was all about the power of social media. According to the reports, Facebook has referred more traffic to the websites than Google search. Although SEO is still crucial for the website to grow organically, the major source of marketing expenditure went on Social media marketing. The major challenge for any digital marketer last year was, how to stand out in the niche among millions of websites. The majority of the firms choose to spend heavily on social media marketing and image building which did not work well for everyone. In 2017, we saw a big hike in advertisement prices. There is more competition than ever for advertising, and the networks like Google and Facebook are pushing up prices across the board.
The year 2018 will come with a shift in digital marketing. New trends will enter the market and you need to pay attention to every change in the market. With the need to become more visible and reach more customers, the digital marketing of tomorrow offers advancements in emerging technologies as consumers demand a more integrated experience.
Top Digital Marketing Trends 2018
#1 More Influencer Marketing
Although Influencer marketing is not new, we are going to see much more of it in 2018. We can see businesses invest more in a few selected social influencers, even more than famous Tv celebs. I believe we will see more of that across the market. The brands are now approaching few select individuals who drive results or move to organic grassroots promotion. So if you are an influencer marketer you have to bring your A-game in 2018.
#2 Videos will rule over text
As our attention spans decrease, marketers are heavily relying more and more on creating video content to boost search engine rankings, increase engagement and website traffic rates. In 2018 it will be more prevalent as the video is the most preferable and effective medium to provide information to the customers. In my views, there will be sophisticated and professionally produced video content in 2018 not only by brands and businesses but also by small digital marketers.
#3 More Interactive User Interface(Artificial Intelligence)
In late 2017 we have seen the rise of Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, Microsoft’s Cortana, chatbots and others. I think the same trend will continue in 2018 also. Conversation is the real user interface. It allows brands to interact with customers who want information in the more natural way. Artificial Intelligence like chatbots will play the crucial part in Marketing in 2018. Tools like Intercom and Drift, marketers can use artificial intelligence powered live chat tools to communicate with customers. As this technology continues to improve, it is likely that more brands will use AI live chat to better service website visitors.
#4 Live Videos
As we discussed earlier informative videos will be on trend in 2018 but not just videos professional live video will also become bigger in 2018. Every social media platform is giving live video features and adding new features to their platforms. Live video is a great way to connect with your audience directly. Live videos will also play a major role in influencer marketing.
#5 Native Advertising
Engage your audience by utilizing native language which will lead to developing a more involved relationship with your target market. As placements have become more and more standardized, even the most contextually-relevant ads struggle to engage the typical viewer. And poorly placed or non-contextual ads are flat out ignored. Unlike traditional banner advertising, Native Advertising meets buyers where they are specifically seeking out information. Rather than simply aligning your ads with the editorial content
Companies seeking to enhance market reach, brand relevance and improve overall engagement can benefit greatly by implementing native advertising into their digital marketing strategy.
#6 Voice Marketing
As per Google, 20% of its mobile queries are voice searches, and that number is expected to grow as consumers getting used to Amazon’s Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Digital Marketers need to prepare strategies by creating content that captures these types of searches.
#7 Innovation in Content Marketing
Content in 2018 needs to be more interactive and integrate with other UI features. With new formats evolving every day and the popularity of videos, content marketing is no longer about writing blog posts and listicles.
#8 Ads with Specific Purpose
People already have very less attention span these days and getting served with so many ads on daily basis. I think ads will become more singularly purposed in nature, with a very specific goal and goal conversion place in mind, whether it be a mobile or desktop experience. I also think that the mobile ad platforms will show major growth in 2018, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc
#9 Be more Personal
Days of hard selling are gone. Impersonalized email blasts and ads are going to die in 2018. Becoming hyper-targeted and focusing on personalizing every interaction is becoming important. Personalized landing pages should be connected to every one of your advertising campaigns.
#10 Understand Your Data
Digital Marketing is a data-driven business and will continue to be so in 2018. Use data to know where your consumers will be on every step of their purchasing path, learn what appeals to them, and design your marketing to touch them all along their journey.
Conclusion
So, this was our list of top 10 Digital Marketing Trends and Tactics you need adopt in 2018. Digital Marketing is all about how well you adapt the changes because it is an ever-changing industry. The digital marketing is likely to become more analytical, new social media marketing techniques will enter but it will continue to be focused heavily on organic search, improved AI capabilities and influencer-based campaigns. Also, in 2018 you have to be more flexible with your approach and be ready to face lot more changes.
