1. Growth of Voice Activated Technologies
Voice activated technology now plays a pivotal part in our lives, with the huge adoption of devices such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home and Apple’s Homepod as well as voice activation in devices we use on a day to day basis such as TV’s and Mobile phones.
It looks like there will be a continued rise in the use of voice activated devices in our homes, work places and daily lives in 2018, which will make everything a little bit more ‘transparent’.
What this technology has done is to reduce the steps taken for us to transact as well, this is called ‘funnel crushing’. The removal of steps such as having to log-on to a physical device to search and order has been replaced with just saying what you are after and then verbally confirming the choice.
Keep your eyes open for further advancements in both the technology and the functionality it can deliver throughout 2018.
2. Multi-channel Experiences
It just isn’t good enough anymore to rely on one online marketing channel as a business, this fundamentally limits the ability to promote your brand and is guaranteed to restrict your potential reach.
In 2017 we saw many more businesses working on aligning their brand vision across multiple channels, giving them a powerful converged media approach.
This multi-channel approach is about more than just being on multiple platforms at once, it’s about using complementary, appropriate messaging that falls in line with your brand standards and gives consumers a coherent narrative experience as they browse through those different channels.
3. The Continued Expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) has seen huge growth in 2017 into many industries and parts of our daily lives. The ability for you to tap into a physical network of devices such as electronics, software, sensors, vehicles, home appliances quickly and easily has created a transparent network of ‘things’ that talk to each other and are able to make decisions for us.
2018 will see the continuation and launch of many new ‘Smart’ devices that will allow us to roam around in our own Internet bubble and to carry out day to day tasks with the IoT able to make decisions seamlessly in the background.
4. Big Push on Influencer Marketing
Influencer Marketing has been building for a while now, but 2018 will see brands continue to invest heavily in influencer marketing.
Influencer Marketing is a form of marketing in which focuses on influential people rather than the target market as a whole. It identifies the individuals that have influence over potential buyers, and orients marketing activities around these influencers.
Influencer marketing tends to see good return as well as it builds confidence with the consumer by initiating conversations and activities that strengthen their beliefs that purchasing that product or taking that action is the right thing to do.
Retail and fashion has seen huge results from influence marketing and other industries are now seeing the benefit of getting involved.
Stay in touch with us for more great blogs and articles as we move into 2018.