Marketing has changed a lot in the past few years and the signs are not slowing down. From content marketing to PPC, social media, SEO, and more are going to witness a dramatic shift. As 2020 is just around the corner, keeping yourself updated with the digital marketing trends is a must for every marketer.

Here is a list of top digital marketing trends that are going to rule in 2020.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is taking over the world and we cannot agree more! Many leading companies are using technology to analyze consumer behavior and search patterns. With the help of AI, the companies can understand how the customers find their products and services. They can then use the data to enhance the user experience of the customers.

In 2020, Artificial Intelligence will be the driving force behind many services such as:

• Product recommendations
• Customer service chatbots
• Email personalization
• Content creation
• E-commerce transactions

By incorporating AI, businesses can not only accelerate growth but cut staffing costs.

Chatbots

Chatbots will continue to rule the market in 2020 as well. AI-based technology is used to chat in real-time with customers. And, this is what customers like. It has been observed that more than 50% of the customers prefer to use online chatbots to communicate with the brand. The figure is likely to increase in 2020.

Chatbots are responsive and can easily interact 24/7 with the customers. Unlike humans, they can easily recall the customers buying history without even losing any patience. Thereby meeting the customer's expectations and automating the repeating tasks. This means that while the chatbots are handling the customer services, you can focus on other important tasks.

Brands like - Uber are already using chatbots to communicate with the customers and allowing them to easily book the rides using the app.

Personalization

Want to make your business stand out in 2020? If yes, then you need to personalize your marketing strategy. This means you need to present more personalized products, content, emails, and more.

The top examples of personalization are Amazon and Netflix. Both channels offer tailored content to the customers and enhance their user experience. Considering what content user is searching, the platforms offer relevant searches accordingly, isn’t it smart?

Other brands like - Cadbury, Starbucks and more are also focussing on user generic content. So, if you are looking forward to increasing your brand reach, then focussing on personalized content should be one of the top priorities.

Influencer Marketing

This type of marketing focuses on the key leaders that drive your brand’s message to the wider audiences. These influencers can be any celebrity, YouTube or Instagram personality having a huge following on their social channels. Such people can easily spread the word and create brand awareness.

For example - L’Oreal is an internationally recognized brand. The brand knows its market very well, and they have influencers across the globe. Celebrities like - Aishwariya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor are representing brand image not only in India but on the international level as well.

Surprisingly, artificial intelligence is transforming the influencer marketing as well. Wondering, how? Let’s see how:

• AI helps to determine the influencer’s influence.
• Predicting incentives with ANN.
• Elimination of engagement.
• Image recognition with ANN.
• Flagging the posts that don’t follow the guidelines.

Voice Search

How can we forget the increasing influence of voice searches? A quick and easy way to get information and relevant content. Thanks to AI, voice assistants like - Siri, Alexa, and Google. More and more brands are now customizing their content for the voice search engines.

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Adopting the voice search is not just about providing relevant content to the users, but also creating something unique and optimized customer experience. Brands like - Domino’s allow the users to order the pizza without even picking the phone. Nestle is another brand that provides voice cooking instruction as you cook thereby enhancing the user experience.

The ease of getting work done over the voice commands have helped the users in simplifying day-to-day actions. What the companies need to focus on is to write the audio content in a conversational tone and focus on getting the featured snippets, this will really influence the users and leave a lasting impression.

Augmented Reality and Immersive Technologies

While Virtual Reality has already created a lot of buzz in the market. Augmented Reality is grabbing the eyeballs by enhancing the customer experience and increasing sales. Popular example of Augmented Reality is Snapchat and Instagram. The apps allow users to switch between funny filters that give them a different look and a great visual experience. Not just that there are many home furnishing apps that give the users a real view of how their house will look with a different piece of furniture.

It has been predicted that AR technology will continue to outpace VR in terms of market share and help businesses in providing outstanding experiences.

Blockchain Technology

The blockchain technology needs no introduction. Today, the use of blockchain is not just limited to the financial sector but its more wide-reaching. The technology helps to build the trust of the users, helps in brands, and drive public accountability.

The year 2019 has seen many highs in the blockchain technology, and 2020 is likely to see much more including:

• Handling social impressions
• Tracking social impressions
• Elevate transparency
• Pinpoint targeting
• Protech personal data
• Verifying the online identities

We have to agree that the future of digital marketing is being influenced by technology. AI automation, Big data, smart tech, and immersive technologies are changing the way brands works. The technology today is acting as a driving force for interacting with the audiences and helping them get a more personalized experience.

Remember, if you want to get an edge over your competitors, you better target your audience. Investing in the right technology will surely give you an edge over your competitors.

Do you think any other trend makes up for this list of trends? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.