Explore Some Interesting Marketing Trends for Your Business in 2018

Published on: 01 August 2018 Last Updated on: 01 August 2024
Business Marketing

How effective is your business marketing strategy? Have you been successful in staying abreast with the latest marketing trends? Have you been implementing effective strategies for measuring your success? If the answers to the above questions are no, do not lose heart. You are certainly not alone on this count. Several small businesses and SMEs do not even bother to find out if at all their business marketing tactics are working successfully. Here we would be examining some of the latest business marketing trends that are dominating the scenario today. You are advised to follow these strategies for gaining incredible business success.

Tune Your Market Strategy :

Tune Your Market Strategy

A small segment of business owners is aware when their market strategies are tanking. This could happen due to lack of planning, poor planning, haphazard attempts at success and no foresight. Successful digital marketers know that a large portion of their budget must go into content marketing on blogs, social media, and emails and so on. Good content must be created and promoted so that the business is noticed and can take off.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Plan, Plan, Plan

Less than 40% of businesses have effective content marketing strategies in place. Some fail due to poor quality content, others because they don’t target their audience properly. A good marketer always tracks activity through each stage of the funnel and ensure that the strategy is fine-tuned when things go wrong.

Tracking & Measuring :

How to gain marketing success digitally for your SMEs could still seem to be a mystery for many of you. A huge percentage of small business entrepreneurs, as much as 46 percent to be precise, actually do not have any idea if the marketing strategies for their businesses are effectively working or not.

Thanks to the present cutting-edge technologies, you are in a position to keep on tracking all your marketing returns, expenses, and debtFor example, you could today find out exactly how much it would be costing your business for acquiring a new customer. You must consider all dollars diverted toward various areas of marketing including social media, website, blog writing, trade shows, direct mail, paid social, etc. you must consider factoring in all you have already spent on all these important marketing elements and then divide the amount by the number of new clients you acquire every month. Moreover, you must find out from exactly which marketing channel you are able to get new clients and more inquiries. It is imperative to consistently track ROI.

Social Media Marketing Is Currently the Rage :

Social Media Marketing

As per a recent study, it has been predicted that 2018 is surely going to be the year of intense social media promotion and marketing. Among the SMEs, an impressive 71 percent is expected to gain new clients by using social media platforms effectively for marketing their brands.  This present marketing trend must be given a lot of importance and most entrepreneurs are appreciating and understanding the effectiveness of social media marketing. Social media is certainly one of the hottest business marketing trends.

Facebook is obviously the prime choice for small businesses as 79% of entrepreneurs would be using Facebook in all their marketing endeavors. Will your business be benefitted if you incorporate the social media marketing plans into your business strategy?

According to some Facebook exponents, Facebook success is all about going mobile.  If you wish to maximize the impact of Facebook in the marketing and promotion of your business, you must dedicate all your efforts at generating and delivering everything mobile-friendly.

Virtual Reality Is Common :

Virtual reality is gaining importance by the day and is, therefore, becoming a common marketing tool for both small and big brands. The actual challenge would be to utilize Virtual Reality or VR in such an effective way that it really makes sense for both your target audience and brand messaging in general. VR marketing actually is an emerging trend and now is the right time for exploring the options that are available to you and getting well ahead of the competition.

More Dependence on Interactive Content :

Several brands, particularly in the B2B sector are relying heavily on PDF content or blog content for generating leads as an integral part of content marketing tactics for their organizations. 2018 is going to be the year of interactive web experiences which ultimately help in boosting engagement. These experiences would be demonstrating amazing thought leadership content definitely in more impressive, visual, and animated ways.

Pinterest :

Pinterest

Pinterest is actually regarded as a niche social networking site. However, it is forecasted to be a huge success. The best way of grabbing marketing attention is by utilizing Pinterest Lens and its versatility and functionality for engaging effectively with consumers and showcasing your mind-blowing style, products, and services.

Artificial Intelligence :

Early exponents of AI or Artificial Intelligence have categorically realized the efficacy of AI in boosting user engagement. However, incorporating AI into any site’s chatbox such as the Facebook messenger could be creating more creativity and it also helps you to understand clearly the target market of the brand. Artificial intelligence would be addressing consumer needs and issues with perfection and the same degree of efficacy as a human agent. Remember it would be quite effective and helpful if the artificial intelligence experience absolutely delights your customers in basically lighthearted and fun ways.

Conclusion :

This year marketing trends have focused on honesty and authenticity. The latest marketing trend is to focus on stark reality or brutal honesty and this marketing trend is winning a lot of acclaim and appreciation. Marketers could discuss their products and explain clearly how advantageous those products or services are. They must, at the same time, tell their target audience the scope for improvement and the flaws that may still exist. All these statements could be supported by truly objective customer reviews. Authenticity for brands is the hottest marketing trend today. Around 86 percent of the customers feel authenticity is of utmost importance while deciding and evaluating the brands. Around 60 percent of consumers believe that user-generated content is the best form of authentic content.

Read Also :

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Which marketing mix element deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management?

Retailing and marketing channel management: A key marketing mix element

Question: Which marketing mix element deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management? Correct Answer: Place Which marketing mix element deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management? Actually, marketers don’t promote; they demonstrate the worth they offer to the customers.  The term marketing mix is a foundation model for businesses, historically centered around promotion, place, price, and product. The marketing mix helps you to know the marketing elements for prosperous positioning your store offer.  Besides, price is involved in the capture of value in the marketing exchange. The right arrangement of marketing mix by marketing managers plays a vital role in the success of a firm. There are many companies that consider marketing mix as a set of strategies and actions in order to promote their goods and services.  Which Marketing Mix Element Deals Specifically With Retailing And Marketing Channel Management? The answer to the question “which marketing mix element deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management?” is place. This marketing mix is concerned with the channel that is used to deliver goods and services to the customers. Keep in mind; marketing mix is a combination of 4Ps i.e., Place, Promotion, Product, and Price. Each of these factors has different objectives and significance. You can also consider marketing mix as the set of marketing tools that a company utilizes to pursue its marketing goals. You need to understand that place is a vital factor because signifies where marketing takes place and which path customer uses to deliver goods and services to them.  Four Elements Of Marketing Mix That You Should Know As already discussed above, the 4Ps of the marketing mix are the key elements that include in the advertisement of a product or service. Product, Place, Price, and Promotion are restrained by internal and external factors in the overall business environment, and they interact with one another.   A lot of hard work requires in finding out what customer actually wishes and recognizing where they do their shopping. One of the best places to start is the marketing mix when you are thinking through your plans for a service or a product.  Now, let’s discuss the top four elements of the marketing mix that you should know in 2021. 1. Promotion Promotion includes promotional strategy, public relations, and advertising. The objective of promoting a product is to talk to customers and know what they actually need. At the same time, they should pay a certain amount for it. On the other hand, you must know how do your competitors promote their products and what are strategies they implement to target the audience. There is always the best time to promote your goods and services and this is a vital element for a successful business.  2. Place Every marketing firm makes a decision for the place where they will sell their product and deliver the same to the market. Actually, the place is important because this is where buyers look for your product or service.  Marketing of goods can be done anywhere: online and offline. In many situations, placement may refer to the act of including goods on web pages, films, television shows, etc. Therefore, this is the reason why the place is important in the marketing mix. This is the element that deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management. 3. Price Price is the cost consumers pay for goods. Marketers must link the price of the goods in real and must also include supply costs. They may also raise the cost to make the product look more luxurious.  Keep in mind, a small gain or decrease in price can affect your market share to a great extent. However, you can offer some seasonal discounts to your customers and increase your conversions.  4. Product Product refers to goods and services that a firm offers to customers. As a part of the marketing industry, you need to understand the lifecycle of a product and must include a strategy that takes your business to the next level of success. At the same time, make sure that you offer genuine products to your customers so that you can increase the loyalty of your customers as well as conversions. The type of product determines where should the owner promote his products and how he can target his customers to buy the same. The Final Thoughts A place is an answer to your question “Which marketing mix element deals specifically with retailing and marketing channel management?” The above-described information highlights the reason for this and if you have any queries, mention them below in the comment section. Read Also: How to Get More Traffic to Your Amazon Listings Is Clothing/Shoe/Accessory Stores A Good Career Path [2021 Updated] Five Ways to Help Your Trade Show Booth Stand Out From the Crowd

READ MOREDetails
DOOH Advertising

Why DOOH Advertising Should Be A Part Of Your Multi-Channel Marketing Strategy

In today's hyper-connected world, consumers are constantly bombarded with advertisements across multiple channels. To effectively engage your target audience, it's essential to adopt a multi-channel marketing strategy that integrates various touchpoints. One channel that should not be overlooked in this approach is digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising. With its unique ability to captivate consumers in public spaces, DOOH offers several compelling reasons why it should be an integral part of your multi-channel marketing strategy. Extended Reach and Increased Visibility: DOOH advertising provides an opportunity to expand your brand's reach beyond the confines of online and traditional media. By leveraging strategically placed digital displays in high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, airports, and transit stations, you can expose your brand to a larger audience. Unlike other advertising channels that are limited to specific devices or platforms, DOOH has the advantage of reaching consumers when they are outside their homes, making it an effective way to generate brand awareness and increase visibility. According to a study conducted by Nielsen, DOOH advertising has the potential to reach 90% of the population in some markets (1). By including DOOH in your multi-channel marketing strategy, you can tap into this vast audience and ensure that your brand message reaches a diverse range of consumers. Targeted and Contextual Messaging: DOOH advertising allows for highly targeted and contextual messaging, enabling you to deliver relevant content to specific audiences. DOOH networks often provide advanced targeting capabilities based on factors such as location, time of day, and audience demographics. This level of granularity allows you to tailor your messaging to resonate with the specific audience present at a given location, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of your campaigns. For example, a sports apparel brand can display ads promoting its latest collection near gyms or sports facilities, targeting fitness enthusiasts. Similarly, a cosmetics brand can showcase its products in high-end shopping districts to attract its desired demographic. By leveraging the targeting capabilities of DOOH, you can ensure that your message reaches the right people at the right time and place. Seamless Integration with Digital Channels: DOOH advertising seamlessly complements your digital marketing efforts by bridging the gap between offline and online channels. With the rise of technologies like near-field communication (NFC), QR codes, and mobile integrations, DOOH campaigns can drive engagement by encouraging consumers to interact with your brand through their smartphones. For instance, a DOOH ad can display a QR code that leads consumers to a landing page or a mobile app where they can learn more about the product, make a purchase, or participate in a contest. By integrating DOOH with digital channels, you create a cohesive brand experience and increase the chances of converting offline interactions into online actions, ultimately driving customer engagement and conversions. Enhanced Creativity and Engagement: DOOH advertising offers unparalleled opportunities for creativity and audience engagement. With dynamic digital displays, you can deliver captivating and visually appealing content that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression. The ability to incorporate motion, animation, and high-resolution visuals enables you to tell compelling stories and convey your brand's message effectively. Moreover, DOOH campaigns can incorporate interactive elements such as touchscreens, motion sensors, and augmented reality (AR), enabling consumers to actively engage with your brand. These interactive experiences foster deeper connections, increase brand recall, and encourage social sharing, amplifying the impact of your marketing efforts. For example, an automotive brand can create an interactive DOOH display where passersby can virtually customize the features of a car and visualize it in real time. This hands-on experience not only generates excitement but also allows potential customers to interact with the brand in a memorable and engaging way. Measurable and Data-Driven Insights: Like other digital channels, DOOH advertising provides valuable data and insights that can inform your marketing strategies. Metrics such as impressions, dwell time, and interactions can be tracked and analyzed to gauge the effectiveness of your campaigns. By leveraging these insights, you can optimize your DOOH messaging, make data-driven decisions, and allocate resources more effectively. In addition to these basic metrics, DOOH can leverage advanced technologies for even more granular data. For instance, facial recognition technology can provide demographic information about the audience, allowing you to gauge the composition and characteristics of the viewers. This data-driven approach helps you understand your audience better, refine your targeting, and tailor your messaging to maximize engagement and conversions. Unique Brand Experiences: DOOH allows you to create unique and memorable brand experiences that are difficult to replicate through other channels. Whether it's a large-scale projection, a digital billboard takeover, or a stunning interactive display, DOOH enables you to captivate audiences and differentiate your brand from competitors. By providing immersive and innovative experiences, you can create a strong emotional connection with consumers, ultimately driving brand loyalty and advocacy. For example, a fashion brand can collaborate with an artist to create a mesmerizing digital art installation that showcases their latest collection. This visually striking display not only attracts attention but also associates the brand with creativity and innovation, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. In conclusion, digital out-of-home advertising should be an integral component of your multi-channel marketing strategy. By incorporating DOOH into your overall marketing mix, you can expand your brand's reach, deliver targeted messaging, seamlessly integrate with digital channels, foster engagement, gather valuable data, and create unique brand experiences. By leveraging the power of DOOH alongside other marketing channels, you can maximize the impact of your campaigns and effectively engage with your target audience in both offline and online environments. Read Also: What is a Digital Marketing Agency and What Can It Do For You? This Is Why Social Media Is Essential in the B2B Sales Process 5 Benefits of Digitalization in Marketing

READ MOREDetails
Mobile Marketing

4 Ways to Use Mobile Marketing in a B2B Marketing Strategy

Did you know that four out of five business-to-business (B2B) marketers are using mobile marketing? It’s true! Mobile video has become an essential part of any successful marketing strategy. The rise of apps, social media, and other forms of mobile consumption has given marketers more ways to get creative with their video content. But it’s not always easy to figure out what video content will work best for your business. And it can be even harder to find the time and money to create that content and make sure it gets in front of the right people.  With more companies adding mobile marketing strategies to their toolbox, it's important to understand the many ways to use B2B video as a component of your marketing strategy. Simply put, mobile video is where your customers are — and it's a great way to reach them with the right message at the right time in their buying journey. While marketers have been quick to embrace social media marketing, many are still struggling with how to best incorporate video into their overall digital marketing strategy.  While we could certainly spend an entire day telling you about this topic, we're going to boil it down to 4 of our favorite ways to use mobile marketing in a B2B marketplace 1. Social Videos One way to use video marketing is by creating social videos. These are short, bite-sized pieces of content that are perfect for sharing on social media.  You may often think that you need to create one big long brand story and then push it out into the world, but in reality, you need to be thinking about producing a whole lot of smaller pieces of content. For example, when you're starting to think about launching a new product or service, create a series of quick videos that help illustrate why people need it or how to use it.Videos shared on social media are a great way to develop a deeper brand identity, and they are generally already optimized for mobile viewership. Take advantage of the opportunities that social media trends offer to get your custom video message in the face of the consumers that you are seeking to reach.   2. Add Video to Sales Meetings Sales meetings are prime opportunities to show off your brand’s personality and make a personal connection with prospects. But they can also be difficult to schedule — and even more difficult to keep interesting once you do meet with a prospect. So what can you do? Get creative with video! Instead of relying on typical Powerpoint slides or printouts for your sales meeting, create a short video about your company, its products, and its mission. This approach is one of the best ways to use video in your business-to-business marketing strategy — because it can help build relationships from the start of the sales process. 3. Use Mobile Video Marketing for Lead Generation Video is an extremely versatile tool that can be used for any part of the sales funnel, from lead generation all of the ways through the final sale and into post-sales maintenance of your customer relationships. For lead generation, you'll want to create videos that showcase your product or service in a way that's engaging but also informative. Video content is more valuable than ever.  Not only does video marketing have a major impact on lead generation and on converting leads into customers, but it also can be used in a variety of ways to help you get your message across. The more effectively you can communicate your value proposition to prospective customers, the more leads you can generate.  4. Make Your Calls-to-Action Prominent and Easy to Use If someone wants to get in touch with you — whether it's on your website or in response to your email — make sure you're giving them every opportunity to do so by clearly displaying your contact information (including phone number.)  You want prospects to be able to contact you easily on the go — especially if they're having trouble using their desktop or laptop computers at the moment. Your call to action should always include a simple way for potential customers to continue their journey down your sales funnel — and contacting you is a major step forward.  If you represent an enterprise-level business looking for a sophisticated solution or a smaller business looking for an easy, effective way to create high-quality video content as part of your marketing strategies, mobile marketing is the smart way to go. Read Also: 10 Ways To Earn Money From Your Mobile Device8 Powerful Reasons You Need To Use Video MarketingThe 7 Most Common Email Marketing MistakesWhy Should You Hire a B2B Digital Marketing Consultant?

READ MOREDetails