New Year, new approach? Whether you're looking to shake up your existing campaigns or enter digital marketing for the first time, the following trends are rising in 2024.
AI
AI is everywhere right now. In marketing, it's mostly used to tailor and personalise a brand's service provision.
Chatbots, for example, can deliver 24-hour customer care that answers questions, suggests products, and offers advice to clients based on their individual needs and preferences.
Additionally, integrating cutting-edge tools like an AI image generator can elevate the quality and appeal of your visuals, enhancing your overall content strategy.
Consumers are expecting more and more personalisation from their brand interaction, and if you want to keep up with demand, AI is the answer.
This is set to be among the major marketing trends for 2024.
TikTok
If you've yet to plunge into TikTok, 2024 could be all the incentive you need.
Shortform video marketing is still gaining traction, and as a platform, TikTok's growth is rapidly overtaking the likes of Facebook and Instagram.
With the rise of short-form content and TikTok's ongoing expansion into long-form content, it's bound to become everyone's go-to for all types of videos and services.
Authentic Brand Values
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, brand authenticity is still set to be a big pull for consumers in 2024.
Recent stats suggest 81% of consumers feel they need to trust a brand before buying from them – and one of the best ways to build consumer trust is to state your values and stick to them.
That means being transparent about your processes and engaging in conversations that matter to your brand to show your commitment to purpose and authenticity- don't be shy!
Conscious consumerism
On the subject of values, the rise of ethical consumption is continuing in 2024 – a good thing for both the planet and its inhabitants.
If you haven't already, consider practical ways you can make your business more environmentally and socially conscious.
Consumers don't just want fancy words, though; they demand action.
Back up your ethical claims with some real social proof and feed this into your purpose-driven marketing plan.
Keeping it local
It's becoming more and more apparent that consumers really do want to support local businesses, whether that's buying locally-made products, or physically attending events held in local areas.
If you want to draw people in, use your location to your advantage. Try using marketing techniques such as local SEO or engaging with your local community to jump on this trend in 2024 and increase your impact!
Digitisation – and digitalisation
This year, we will see businesses crack down on their operations, optimising internal processes and enhancing experiences for their consumers too.
The digital marketplace will only get more competitive, and to attract consumers and come out on top, businesses will have to create seamless digital experiences and processes that make navigating through your website a breeze.
From browsing, to completing a transaction for your product on their mobile, today's consumers won't wait around if your site doesn't meet their standards.
Visual and voice SEO
This one might sound a little technical, but visual and voice SEO are trends you can take on board and implement quite easily.
In today's busy world, people are speaking and snapping their way through searches. If you're not optimising for it, you're missing out.
If you do want to hop on this marketing trend and voice optimise your website or product page for 2024, consider using conversational, long-tail keywords that reflect voice searches of your typical consumer.
Additionally you could even add an FAQ section, answering specific questions, for example 'what are the best lightweight laptops for college students?'.
This will boost your chances of appearing in the search results of a voice query, and then boom- you're in the game!
Customisation and personalisation
This year is the right time to leverage AI and consumer data, as you'll have to think of new creative ways to attract and retain consumers.
With the help of AI and customer data (obtained with their consent), you can create personalised marketing and sales materials to really engage with individual customers.
This will allow you you to tailor your content and services to suit their needs.
For example, you can use AI video to communicate more personally with your customers,you can send emails with products and styles that match their preferences or recent searches, making their journey to buying your product very convenient and purposeful for them.
So, meet your consumers halfway by utilising AI and data to bring your products or services to them!
AR and VR
AR and VR are both great tools that you should use to better immerse your consumers in your product.
Imagine browsing through an online furniture store and being able to visualise how that sleek sofa or elegant dining table will look in your own bedroom.
Thanks to AR tools, leading retailers now offer the exciting capability to virtually place products in your real-world space, boosting the likelihood of a purchase.
Similarly, virtual try-on experiences in fashion and beauty are all the rage, with the technology set to evolve further.
What's great about AR and VR, is that it can really be applied to any sector.
VR has even transformed the travel industry by adding a little more magic to the consumer's holiday hunt, allowing them to virtually explore their destinations- a VR POV glimpse from a hut in the Maldives is bound to take you to the payment page!
By embracing these technologies and marketing trends in 2024, you can provide interactive brand experiences and improve your sales and marketing!
Social commerce
In 2024, social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook will continue to grow and evolve into e commerce-hubs.
Already, we see people making more purchases from TikTok shop, after seeing a popular product reviewed by their peers, and with plenty of affiliate programmes available to reviewers, it’s really going to take off.
But why is it getting more popular?
Well, a notable trend adding to this shift is the rise of user-generated content.
Harnessing the authenticity and credibility of content created by users builds a strong bond between the audience and the product.
Engaging with your audience on their terms, using their language, and offering culturally relatable content not only adds a personal touch but also turns engagement into sales!
Takeaway
So, there you have it - the 10 marketing trends to ride the wave in 2024! This year is not just about resolutions; it's about revolutionising your marketing approach and hopping on the AI train whilst it's still around!
If you'd like to learn more about how to implement these techniques into your business or need some help ramping up your marketing, reach out to us for a chat.
