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4 Marketing Trends for 2020 Every Business Owner Should Know

Written by The Alternative Board | Jan 2, 2020 4:00:00 PM

All signs indicate that technology with marketing applications will continue to evolve in 2020. Savvy business owners understand the need to keep pace with these changes, especially if they are marketing to customers who eagerly embrace new trends, such as augmented reality (AR) and 5G technology.

Here’s a quick look at marketing trends to watch for in 2020 and beyond:

5G Technology

With the advent of 5G technology, there will be a transformation in “how consumers access and use content,” notes Chief Marketer, “meaning mobile usage will dramatically increase among global audiences.”

Furthermore, leveraging 5G technology indicates that:

  • Consumers will feel empowered to connect to a wider array of devices simultaneously.
  • Voice search functionality will become more accurate and personalized.
  • There will be greater interaction between users and advertisements seen on their TVs and mobile devices.

It’s anticipated that 5G will also “create a massive opportunity around better location intelligence,” notes Forbes. This leads to faster, more accurate service with IoT (Internet of Things) devices “slated to hit global markets over the next few years,” while setting “the stage for a whole new class of innovation in offerings and services.”

Plus, of course, streaming product videos and related content will be much faster than ever before.

Social Media

Experts predict further growth in the creation and distribution of social media stories, such as seen now on Instagram, Facebook, and elsewhere. Social media stories boost brand awareness, build a more reliable engagement with followers and can significantly propel traffic back to a company’s web page.

Also, on sites like TikTok, users produce their own videos which go away after a proscribed period of time, thus heightening marketers’ ability to leverage consumer FOMO (fear of missing out).

Want additional insight? Download Harness the Power of Social Media to learn more

Content

In 2020, the content businesses share on social media platforms and elsewhere will favor higher quality over quantity. Inc. suggests that businesses “diversify your content strategy and change up the way you attract customers by creating more video and interactive content.” At the same time, don’t neglect “regular blogging or longer forms of written content as they are key contributors to driving visibility and strong SEO.”

What type of content is best suited for resonating with your desired audience? Generally speaking, words and images that stimulate an emotional response are far preferable to dry, jargon-laced text. Consumers respond most favorably to information delivered in an informal manner that centers on relationships, not a hard sell.

Also, going back to FOMO, Business.com suggests sharing images or short videos related to your products or services “for a limited time period, like 24 hours”—a sort of ticking clock approach that “compels users to take action and buy immediately.”

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is no longer a futuristic technology, but rather a digital method for introducing your products or services to prospective customers right now.

Through AR—most simply defined as “computer-generated content overlaid on a real world environment”—potential customers can “test-drive” everything from new clothes to new cars without ever leaving their homes, and better understand and experience what you have to offer.

For your business, this can mean creating a “whole new level [of customer interaction] with simulations, virtual tours, AR-based case studies, and other experiential forms of advertising that can transform … the entire buyer’s journey,” notes MarTech Advisor.

By acquiring a deeper understanding of exactly what emerging technologies have to offer, you can radically alter the ways in which you reach out to prospects and demonstrate to them just how beneficial your products or services are. And that can translate into new buying urgency on the part of these potential customers.

Want to refine your marketing efforts in 2020? Join us for our free TAB BOSS Webinar, “How to Connect Your Business Goals to Your Marketing and Measure the Results.”