It’s hard to believe that we are less than 2 weeks away from 2020! While I am sitting here wondering where 2019 went, I’m simultaneously preparing for 2020. I am sort of a data and analytics nerd and love to look at trends in the data, learn from it and better serve my audience. In addition to data analysis, I think it’s equally important to do some research to see what the latest trends are in general to help guide a growth strategy. These trend reports are heavily researched by experts and while every “tactic” so to speak may not apply to you, it’s really interesting to see what the industry as a whole is doing and possibly open your ideas to new ideas for your planning.
I’ve done some research on 2020 marketing trends and I’m condensing down the most important info to share with you!
Did you know…
Millennials now compromise half of all B2B buyers
There are currently 3.48 billion social media users, which is up 9% since last year
There are more than 590 million active professionals on LinkedIn
Research predicts that businesses will invest $400 million in chatbots in 2021
85% of people are more likely to buy your product after they watch a video about it
Posts with images produce 180% more engagement
Global ad spend will reach $605 billion in 2020. This is a 4.2% increase from 2019
In 2019, US Facebook ad spend reached $25.56 billion. This represents a 107% increase from 2016.
Only 61% of marketers believe their marketing strategy is effective.
Some of these statistics are CRAZY! So what does this mean for 2020? What should you be focused on in terms of your marketing planning? Here are 6 trends that you should consider when developing your 2020 marketing plan.
Personalization
No longer is it a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. This should come as no surprise, but your target audience wants to feel like you’re speaking directly to them and their needs. This means segmenting your audience even more and responding with more direct, personal communication. Audiences no longer accept generic replies or messages. Customers expect convenience, friendly service, efficiency, and tailor options to fit their needs.
80% of consumers said that they’d be more likely to do business with a brand that provides a personalized experience, according to a survey by Epsilon.
With the rise of advanced targeting on social media, you have the ability to customize marketing specifically to your audience and serve them ads at the right times.
Influencer Marketing
Product-based businesses, take note, influencer marketing is here to stay. Borrowing the trust of someone's audience that mirrors your target audience is invaluable. It’s also typically much cheaper than running paid ad campaigns. Influencers do more than just generate leads -- they help advocate brand trust and loyalty. They generate brand awareness and help to convert sales. They’re a salesperson in essence for your product. Niche or micro-influencers are gaining in popularity and working with multiple, smaller influencers tends to cost less and gain bigger and better results.
Chatbots
I wasn’t sure about these a couple of years ago. Their capabilities were a lot more limited and well, less personal. But chatbots have evolved and they are super-efficient for your business. With new opportunities for eCommerce and in-stream buying options emerging on social platforms, they are definitely something to keep your eye on and think about for 2020.
Video
Video continues to be an important part of your overall marketing strategy. According to a Cisco study, by 2022, 82% of all online content will be video content. It goes back to personalization. People can connect better with you on video than a static post. It shows authenticity. You have the freedom with Live video and Stories to show real-time demonstrations, your authentic self and better connect with your target audience. People spend 3x longer watching live video than they do watching pre-recorded video. If you’ve been putting off video, you no longer have the luxury of waiting if you want to grow. Videos are about to completely dominate social media. Start small, use IG stories, pre-record short clips then move into live streams. I promise it’s not as awkward and scary as you think it is.
Expansion of Social Commerce
Because who wants to leave Instagram to buy something when you could just buy it in the app? Social commerce is about to become a dominant retail channel as you’re already seeing it with shoppable posts on IG. Social networks will continue to evolve their social storefronts in 2020 and marketers will need to leverage these opportunities to incorporate social commerce into sales strategies.
AR/VR will go mainstream
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality are gaining more and more traction among brands. Companies are trying to determine the HOW of bringing these devices/tools more mainstream. It definitely provides a more engaging experience for users. It’s no longer just used for gamers, nor does it require a heavy technological investment. Access to smartphones opens up the door for VR -- which is why it’s an important trend to pay attention to.
These are just a few of the top marketing trends I’ve researched for 2020 and believe they will impact marketing strategies the most. These are the ones you want to pay attention to. Will you be using any of these strategies in your 2020 marketing?
Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.
After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.
Katelyn is also a wife, stepmom, dog mama of three furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.
Click here to book a free call to talk more about your business goals and to see if hiring an OBM is the right fit for you.
