Digital advancements have been reshaping our world in many ways. In most cases, these changes have translated into a range of amazing opportunities for every industry, and the marketing industry is no different. While 2020 was not a very exciting year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the marketing technology trends are expected to pick up this year.
As per research, 26% of the total marketing budget of 2021 will be spent on marketing technology.
So, let’s look at some major marketing tech trends that will drive growth and sales for businesses in 2021.
AR and VR will transform the way brands connect with the customers
As predicted by most marketing experts, augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will play a major role in marketing in 2021 as brands look for newer ways to enhance customer experience while keeping them safe.
In these times of social distancing, Virtual Reality’s role has become even more important. The companies will use it to promote their products and services while offering a digital experience in place of a physical one. Brands will also use Augmented Reality to give customers unique experiences, which they will be able to enjoy just by tapping into their mobile devices. Using AR, consumers will even be able to try the products and visualize them before buying.
Increased usage of chatbots
A study suggests that 69% of the customers living in the United States like using chatbots for interacting with brands. That said, this trend is expected to grow even further this year. Chatbots are capable of answering customers’ basic questions and are available 24×7 to solve customer queries.
Chatbots will be used even more for enhancing customer support and expanding contact strategy with a controlled message. Another way they will help the marketing industry is by gathering and analyzing customer feedback and data. Marketing agencies can then use that information to remodel their marketing strategy to focus more on customers’ needs.
AI and machine learning will make marketing more targeted
We cannot talk about the revolutionary marketing tech trends of 2021 without talking about Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Artificial Intelligence will help marketers to utilize detailed information on the customers’ buying patterns and behavior. Machine Learning, on the other hand, will help marketers predict risks and prevent them, and make PPC campaigns, content campaigns, and email campaigns even more targeted and effective.
AI and ML together will help marketers get high-quality leads and make their marketing campaigns more optimized and cost-effective using data.
5G will be a game-changer in several ways
5G is ten times faster than its predecessor, 4G. So, what this means for the marketing industry? A lot! Firstly, 5G would force brands to rethink their mobile experience. Brands will be required to prioritize website speed optimization and performance. The advertising will become more platform-specific. As with 5G, there will be no lag issues when streaming videos; marketers will focus more on video advertising. More and more content will be created for smartphones, and the content will become more conversational and FAQ-themed to help the audience find all the information on the go.
[Also Read: Bye Bye 5G, Welcome 6G?]
Voice Search will continue to increase in popularity
Voice searches make up 20% of mobile searches. This year, as voice search services, such as Alexa, continue to grow in popularity and demand, we’ll see more marketers adjusting their content strategy to be conversational and answer questions in simple and easy-to-understand language.
Besides that, as the voice search has a direct impact on SEO, it will impact the way content is marketed too. But as different voice assistants use different data, the marketers will also have to consider the search engine being used in order to devise a more powerful content marketing strategy.
Final Thoughts
Technology has already shifted much of the traditional thoughts around marketing. By understanding how technology can complement old and tested marketing strategies, marketers can make their campaigns even more effective.
