Top 5 digital marketing trends for 2021

-Evita Godinho

Digital marketing has made rapid strides since the pandemic with firms using AI to offer greater personalisation and technologies such as video advertisement, voice search and Google ads to maintain a strategic edge.

The year 2020 saw brands and advertisers stumble to escape the unforeseeable events that have occurred. Despite these unpredictable days, digital marketing has been a bonus for businesses. Although the new era has already begun to transform lives across markets and across vertical lines; much of the present year has seen it expand exponentially.

For companies who had to be forced to shutter their stores and activities; digital media was the option to remain on top of the customer’s minds.

The COVID era transformed the way companies used to run and shaped a modern marketing system for them. When we go on, digital marketing can be used by even more firms to keep existing clients, produce more income and result in a quantum rise in revenues.

Mentioned below are a few trends that the industry would want to see in the coming year. Check it out.

Artificial Intelligence trend

AI is being applied in a range of areas through various corporate structures and marketing. It can be used to enhance interactions, evaluate available data, monitor processes, and forecast consumer activity trends; while helping to minimise manual work. AI can mostly be used to boost customer loyalty as it can help to quickly read what consumers want.

With advanced technological growth, AI has become more business-friendly, making it a very useful platform for advertisers. It also affects the customer’s decision by making appropriate decisions on the basis of taste and desire.

It helps to grow the brand by satisfying the needs of the consumer.

Google verified listing for local SEO

For local companies such as plumbers, tailors, mechanics, etc the easiest way to create a digital identity; have a presence on the Google My Business (GMB) profile. This would also send the users checking the geographical location. It is important to search the Google listing and keep it up to date.

GMB’s profile will mean a greater chance of having Google’s top search results. It also helps to respond to company requests, reviews, etc.; making it easier for a client to opt for a service.

Using video advertising

App developers are now upgrading their features to a degree that would build user satisfaction and reduce the change between multiple apps. A few of such examples are the Instagram reels and the LinkedIn story. App companies are pushing these features on their own to get consumers hooked; making it the best choice for advertisers to highlight their product/service.

Besides being insightful and interactive, they often communicate a vast volume of information in a short period. Thus, video ads tends to illustrate the product or service in a better format than every other commercial; leaving a higher recall rating.

Voice search

With rapid technical advancements such as Google Home and Alexa disrupting innovation space; they have created a boom in voice search. Voice search requests need to be optimised. When selecting content and keywords; make sure you select keywords based on what people will ask Google, Alexa, or Siri to do.

Voice search optimization offers a special chance for organisations to set up a technology game. Optimizing features such as using natural-sounding vocabulary, forming questions into query phrases, targeting long-tail keywords and creating a mobile-friendly website would make it easier for consumers to use voice search.

Google ads — automated and smart bidding strategies

Automated bidding strategies allow Google to evaluate vast volumes of data and adjust bids in real-time. This approach aims to optimise outcomes on the basis of campaign priorities. The first step in an automatic bidding approach is to select the correct strategy according to the market model. Automated bidding is available for scanning and showing advertising depending on the bidding strategy selected.

Smart bidding is also related to automatic bidding. It mostly involves conversion-based techniques. Some techniques include: maximising clicks, maximising conversions, improved PPCs, etc. It offers auction-time bidding that helps to maximise conversions.

Summing it up

So, there you have it — a couple of the trends in digital marketing that you can’t overlook in 2021.

Like they say, change is a constant. You need to keep looking ahead and aspire to adopt emerging trends, tools and approaches to remain ahead of your rivals.