Latest Digital Marketing Trends and Innovations in Baton Rouge
Technology has connected us to one another, making the world feel like a smaller place. Even the smallest brands can launch an ecommerce site and generate business from all over the world! It’s amazing, really, and we can expect to see new and innovative technological advances to continue shaping the way we do business.
At WSI Star Web Solutions, our digital marketing agency in Baton Rouge uses technology every day to automate tasks, run analytics, gain insight on targeted audiences and more. Below are some of the hottest digital marketing innovations for 2020.
Artificial Intelligence
AI refers to machines and robots that perform the same tasks as humans. These robots can handle complex tasks and track and improve advertising campaigns. By freeing up time, AI allows you to focus on the most important aspects of your business while ensuring that your marketing campaigns are targeted and effective.
If you think AI is too far-fetched to be used in your everyday business, think again. You’re probably already using lots of artificial intelligence, including chatbots and voice assistant software like Siri or Alexa.
Personalized Marketing
Personalization remains an important part of your digital marketing strategy. With so much advertising out there, people are getting better and better at ignoring most things. By personalizing your messages, you can capture your audience’s attention and move them through the funnel.
It’s also important that your customers feel like you “get” them. By understanding their pain points, you can build a strong community with lots of loyal fans and brand advocates. Keep in mind that personalization goes beyond a name – it involves knowing about each customer, the mood they’re in and how your products can improve their life.
Messaging Apps
Social messaging apps are widely popular this year, with billions of users on both Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. These apps offer a practical way for businesses and customers to talk directly. This adds value to the online shopping experience and allows customers to get the information they need to make a confident purchase.
Another benefit to messaging apps is that customers have the opportunity to contact your business before posting negative feedback online. Be prepared to give customers the best service by immediately responding to the message and using a professional tone. If there’s a problem, be courteous and offer the customer a number of solutions to make things right.
Social Influencers
An influencer strategy is a form of word-of-mouth marketing that uses key leaders to boost your brand. Influencers are often celebrities or famous people, but they don’t have to be. The goal is to partner with someone who has a large, engaged and relevant following that would be interested in your products and services.
To build an effective influencer marketing strategy, it’s best to work with a few different influencers who can get your brand in front of as many relevant leads as possible. There are a number of tactics you can use, such as by asking an influencer to review your products or having them use your products in a giveaway contest.
Chatbots
Chatbots are a type of personal concierge for online shoppers. These bots (which are powered by AI) pick up on specific words and phrases to handle queries. People generally use chatbots while they’re on a website researching products and services. A small chatbot pops up and users are able to type in their queries.
With this attentive customer service, it’s easier to keep people in the funnel, increase conversions and grow your bottom line. Plus, chatbots take pressure off your customer service teams, allowing them to focus on more complex customer queries while the bots handle the basic, repetitive questions and concerns.
Interactive Content
People are on content overload, which means they often ignore what’s in front of them. To capture attention and create engagement, interactive content is a practical solution. This type of content allows users to interact by swiping, clicking, watching, answering questions, etc. Examples of interactive content are quizzes, infographics, videos and calculators.
Interactive content is very popular this year because it allows businesses to share information without having to be present. With the novel coronavirus transforming the way we do business, interactive content is even more valuable. It can help build relationships and form memorable connections, even when brands and customers aren’t physically connected.
Video Marketing
Video marketing continues to grow, and we’re not surprised to see this. Videos are easier to absorb than written content, and they deliver a lot of information in just a few minutes. People rely on videos to learn how to do things, discover new product features or be entertained.
YouTube is the most popular platform for videos, but there are others as well. Experiment with Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc. to see what offers the best engagement. Like other forms of content, video content can humanize your brand by showing customers behind-the-scenes footage of your company, doing short interviews with key employees, documenting your production processes and more.
VR and AR Technology
VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality) are two types of technology that can help bring your business to life. VR and AR are more mainstream than ever before, allowing marketers to utilize this technology in their everyday marketing efforts.
For example, you can create a video game that keeps users engaged while teaching them about your business. You can also use this tech to put your products and services directly into the hands of consumers. As an example, if you sell bathroom remodeling services, you can show your work through VR or AR. Or, if you’re a travel agent, you can take people through various hotels and resorts to get a firsthand feel for what to expect.
Want to learn more about one or more of these innovations? Contact our digital marketing agency in Baton Rouge for a free consultation. WSI Star Web Solutions understands the local market and how to help grow your online presence.