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The Future of Digital Marketing is REAL!

Digital marketing changes so fast you can barely keep tabs on what is happening. Compared to about ten years ago, you can agree that a lot has happened. This has left many wondering what the future holds for internet marketing and whether there will be any future to talk about. Will digital marketing still be relevant, say 15 or 20 years from now? The short answer is, yes. Digital marketing is very real and will only be more interesting in the future. In this guide, we explore some of the reasons why we think digital marketing has a bright future and what you should do to keep up.

5 Reasons Why the Future of Digital Marketing is Real

We can think of multiple reasons why digital marketing would still be highly relevant a century from now. Some of these reasons include:
  • The ever-growing number of internet users
  • Cost-effectiveness of digital marketing
  • The use of AI and augmented reality
  • The ability to measure results
  • The ability to get instant feedback from customers
Let’s look at these factors in more detail below.

More People Are Going Online

The number one reason why we think the future of digital marketing is very real is that more and more people are using the internet. According to reports from DataReportal, there are currently around 5.03 billion people on the internet globally. That is about 63.1% of the total world population! This presents a huge opportunity for the digital marketing landscape to grow. Brands can take advantage of this online audience to grow their businesses and reach even more people than they would have with traditional marketing. This means that even as we go into the future, more businesses will be going online to tap into ready markets. As a result, digital marketing will become even more robust.

Digital Marketing is Cheaper

Traditional marketing is very expensive. There is no doubt about that. Many marketers now agree that it is much more cost-effective to develop and run digital campaigns. For one, there are many free tools online you can use to create a digital campaign. This means you won’t be spending a lot on hiring graphic designers and paying for prints. The fact that digital marketing is more targeted also means that it has a higher ROI than traditional marketing. For this reason, more companies will be switching to digital marketing as they seek to strike a good balance between ad spending and profitability.

Digital Marketing Provides Higher Engagement

It is nearly impossible for users to engage with traditional marketing campaigns. This is where digital marketing wins big. Because of ad targeting, online users are more likely to see marketing material that they relate to. This means that they will likely engage with that material and potentially turn into a prospect. In fact, according to Lyf Marketing, more than 50% of marketers prefer digital marketing because of the higher levels of customer interactions. Social media marketing also allows consumers to directly interact with a brand through clicks likes, shares, and comments. Because of this high level of engagement, more brands and marketers will choose digital marketing, making it even more popular in the future.

Digital Marketing is More Measurable

Digital marketing provides a wealth of analytics that you can use to create more effective campaigns. There are many marketing tools that you can use to collect and analyze data in order to create more targeted marketing content. In other words, digital marketing lets you track your campaigns and measure results. This is hardly the case with traditional marketing where you create something, put it out there, and hope it meets the right people. By analyzing results and adjusting your marketing efforts, you play a more clear-sighted marketing game and get your money’s worth. This is one of the biggest reasons why we think more people will prefer digital marketing in the future as opposed to print, radio, or television marketing.

Digital Marketing Can Use AI

The future of digital marketing will potentially revolve around artificial intelligence (AI). This means that marketers will be able to create more targeted advertisements, increase engagement and create AI-generated content. AI can also be used to identify potential micro-influencers, collect critical customer relationship management (CRM) data, and bolster content marketing. By the fall of the decade, we will have even more powerful AI tools for digital marketers.

Future Digital Marketing Trends to Look Out For

As you can see, digital marketing will only be bigger and better in the future. This means that you need to start creating a future-proof digital marketing strategy, so you don’t get left behind. Below are some of the ways you can keep up with future digital marketing trends and practices.
  • Focus on voice search – Forbes estimates that 76% of American consumers are already using voice search to find information online. This will be even bigger in the future.
  • Use micro-influencers – Recent reports show that micro-influencers are becoming more effective than big celebrities and they could be the future of digital marketing.
  • Don’t forget video – Video marketing is going to be huge in the future. Focus on shorter videos for TikTok and Instagram reels because a lot of people seem to prefer them.
  • Tap into Augmented Reality – A huge percentage of companies will be using AR devices in the future to create more engaging marketing content and CRM technology.

Final Thoughts

It is no doubt that many companies are ditching traditional marketing for digital marketing. The digital marketing landscape is growing fast and will be even robust in the future. To keep up, make sure that you focus on voice and video marketing, work with micro-influencers, and incorporate augmented reality to tremendously boost your marketing efforts. Simply put, digital marketing has evolved from being just an add-on to now an “essential”. It’s the bread and butter of every business in 2022 that takes maximizing reach and conversions any seriously.
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Hassan Bawab, CEO of Magic Logix digital marketing agency, is a leader in cutting edge technology, digital marketing consultant and an innovative speaker/writer. He is the author of “How to Work with a Digital Marketing Agency” and has written numerous articles on automation technologies that have become industry dogmas.  Mr. Bawab holds degrees in Computer Science, Mathematics, Technical Writing and Marketing, in addition to several marketing and programming certifications.
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How AI Can Help You Elevate Your Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence & Digital Marketing

artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already reshaping most industries, such as finance, retail, and tech, and changing the way companies do business. But, can this transformation be applied to digital marketing too?

The numbers seem to point to that.

Reports show that 47% of organizations already have a clear digital marketing strategy that also includes AI while 84% of companies agree that an AI-oriented marketing strategy will give them a competitive advantage.

But, how can you use artificial intelligence to improve your digital marketing transformation?

Here are some tips.

Use AI to Make Better Decisions About Your Digital Marketing Campaigns

Most companies use AI for data collection. Rather than compiling data about their target audience manually, they use artificial intelligence to identify, collect, and aggregate every customer interaction into useful data that they can then use to create better marketing campaigns.

With this data thoroughly compiled, organizations can use AI to create more meaningful, personalized interactions with their target audience.

Think about the last time you’ve visited the page of an online retailer like Amazon. You’ve probably received suggestions of products that you may enjoy. These suggestions are made based on your past purchases and browsing and their goal is to improve and personalize your online experience.

Engage Your Audience With Chatbots

You Would Probably Need An Army Of Customer Support Representatives Working 24/7 If You Want To Provide Excellent Customer Support To Your Customers. With Chatbots, You Can Answer And Address Your Audience’s Most Common Questions And Concerns And Help Them Move Down The Sales Funnel.

While Chatbots Are Nothing New, Especially For Retail Businesses, Machine Learning Has Made It Possible For These Bots To Better Understand And Compile Human Speech. It’s Called Natural Language Processing (NPL) And Is Used In Chatbot Technology To Make Them Understand Basic Requests From Customers And Mimic Human Language Better.

AI Can Help You Create Better Content

Content plays a significant role in the customer’s purchase process. One report found that 60% of consumers think that blog posts can impact their purchasing decision.

But, as we all know, creating high-quality content on a regular basis can be quite difficult and time-consuming.

With AI, you can brainstorm more content ideas and do it faster. Moreover, you can analyze the behavior of your readers as well as the performance of your existing content and identify any gaps. For instance, if you notice that your audience leaves the page without taking any action, your AI tool can make suggestions for improving your CTA or adding content that can address their potential concerns.

Are You Ready to Include AI in Your Digital Marketing?

Digital Marketing

When it comes to machine learning, there seem to be two sides. There are those who are excited about the future and those who fear that machines will take their jobs. For digital marketers, artificial intelligence can only help improve their marketing campaigns and reach their audience better and more effectively. Savvy businesses are already aware of this benefit and are beginning to introduce machine learning in their digital marketing strategy. How about you?

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Artificial Intelligence: Powerful Examples Show How it Can Drive Your Marketing Strategy

Unless you’ve been marooned on a deserted island as devoid of modern technology as Robinson Crusoe’s, you can’t have failed to notice the arrival of Artificial Intelligence in virtually every aspect of our lives. No longer the stuff of futuristic movies, AI is everywhere today.

In fact, even when we’re not conscious of it, Artificial Intelligence has become such a pervading presence in our everyday lives, it’s hard to turn on a computer, TV, phone or even a clothing iron without the strong possibility that “smart” technology is involved.

Giant corporations, such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix, and a plethora of others employ AI in their products and services to simplify the lives of their clients.

One area where AI has particularly made significant inroads in recent years is in the field of marketing.

Enterprises that desperately need improvement and innovation in their marketing strategies and are struggling with key performance indicators are looking to Artificial Intelligence as the way forward.

In the article, we will explain what AI is, and its applications in marketing throughout the whole customer cycle. You will discover some ways to improve your enterprise business by implementing AI innovations.

What Is Artificial Intelligence?

artificial intelligence

 

According to the most quoted definition by Russel and Norvig, the term Artificial Intelligence can be applied when technology is able to mimics “cognitive” functions that humans associate with the human mind, such as learning and problem-solving.

The term was coined at The Dartmouth Conference more than 60 years ago by computer scientist John McCarthy. Its meaning has widened since then, and now it is an umbrella term that covers lots of disciplines, from automatization processes to robotics.

In fact, the term is so broadly applied, people don’t always realize they are using AI technology. A Hubspot survey in Q4 2016 showed that, of 1,400 respondents from around the world, 67% were unaware that they were routinely using AI technologies.

The respondents were more than happy to admit they had used Siri, Cortana, or Alexa (voice recognition programs), but they realized these programs are AI-powered.

Growth in the AI sector eventually becomes a priority for most enterprises. A National Business Research Institute (NBRI) survey in 2016 showed that 38% of 235 organizations responding to the survey, were using AI technologies. And 26% more were planning to start using them by 2018.

When it comes to enterprises, growth in AI sector becomes a priority for most of them. National Business Research Institute (NBRI) survey held in 2016 showed that 38% of 235 organizations that have participated in it, were using AI technologies.

That means 62% to that survey were ready to embracing the new world of AI-driven technologies, recognizing their importance and helpfulness in many areas of business, including the marketing sector.

What Is The Importance Of Artificial Intelligence In Marketing?

Importance Of Artificial Intelligence In Marketing

The importance of Artificial Intelligence in marketing has become so clear as it has been integrated into marketing today, we can see applications of it in every stage of customer’s journey. To explain, we will use the so-called “RACE” funnel developed by SmartInsights in 2010.

RACE covers the full customer lifecycle, which each letter standing for one part of the cycle:  Reach – Act – Convert – Engage. Below, we’ll describe the role of each of these steps in building a marketing strategy and discuss how AI can help.

Reach

When we speak of how to reach potential customers, we mean content marketing, search engine optimization, and other techniques that help your company attract buyers, so they’ll  begin their journey with you.

AI can help in this marketing reach process. Enterprises mostly use AI to help with creating and curating content, some also do SEO-optimization for their website that considers the importance of voice search.

1) Content Creation

Robots can’t exactly create Pulitzer Prize-worthy pieces of journalism, but they’re not bad at combining information and structuring it into nice report articles. They work just fine for putting together something like a Fantasy NFL game report, or presenting financial data.

The newspaper USA Today uses Wibbitz, AI-driven software, to create some of its video content; the Reuters service employs a prediction tool called News Tracer that works with Twitter and helps to determine whether a story is credible based on users’ reactions.

Buzzfeed has a tool called Buzzbot that is able to collect information from on-the-ground sources at news events.

There is also a writing program, WordSmith, that produced 1.5 billion pieces of content in 2016 alone. You can join 400,000 users that are already utilizing WordSmith to, for instance, see if content creation done by this program is going to be useful to your brand.

2) Content Curation

When it comes to content curation, the most obvious example of AI’s usefulness is Netflix. After you’ve finished watching a movie or TV series, Netflix’s algorithms help it “learn” your preferences, and it will offer you something similar to the content you’ve just watched.

The same principle can be applied to any subscription-based business. By analyzing a user’s preferences, the algorithm can give recommendations tailored to each user.

Once you link one piece of content to others on any subject, your presence online grows.

3) Voice Search

You are no doubt familiar with Siri (Apple), Alexa (Amazon), Cortana (Microsoft) and probably some others. Some people communicate with voice search systems more often than they do with distant relatives.

Soon more than half of searches online will be made with the help of voice.

Businesses today need to build an SEO strategy that considers the fact voice will prevail over typing in the near future. This is an absolute necessity. Your brand will be able to gain traffic with the carefully designed help of Amazon, Apple and Google AI-driven tools.

Act 

You have attracted visitors, now make them aware of your product.

1) Predictive Analytics

Once you have reliable data, you’ll be more able to predict what will happen in the future — for example, what is the optimal pricing for your product that will bring in customers and encourage future purchases?

Some 58% of enterprises that use AI in the marketing strategies employ it in their predictive analytics, according to the above-mentioned NBRI survey.

AI-driven tools are invaluable in dealing with big data. IBM Predictive Analytics as well as Google Cloud Prediction API are the best known software systems, but a growing number of companies are offering AI tools for this purpose.

Keep in mind that the more precise the data is, the better the predictions are going to be.

2) Ad Targeting

According to Technopedia, ad targeting is meant to deliver ads automatically by using specialized software and algorithms that choose where and when to place ads depending on the user’s data.

Facebook is doing pretty well in quarterly revenue, making $9 billion in Q2 2017. The figure grew from $1.5 billion back in 2013, when the company began utilizing Lookalike Audiences, an AI-driven social network editor.

Lookalike Audiences allows advertisers to reach customers who are similar in important ways to current customers in their base. It also provides a way to present those customers with the right ad at the right time. These optimizations can make a huge difference to a company’s cash flow.

Convert

Now it’s time to turn visitors into customers.

1) Dynamic Pricing

Online retailers use collected data to determine whether the buying audience is responsive to special offers. AI algorithms can help you with the analysis.

Uber, a business that has struggled at times recently, has been heavily criticized for using dynamic pricing, making it more expensive to get a ride at times of high demand, or in areas where fewer drivers are available.

This may be a profitable practice, but it comes at the price of being accused of gouging customers and increased ill-will.

2) Chatbots

Chatbots don’t directly increase conversion rates, but they do make for a better overall customer experience and help build relationships between enterprises and their customers.

The bot never sleeps, and it does not make customers wait. It is never rude or impatient. It also saves data collected in communications with customers that could be used in future. Communication with a “smart” chatbot can sometimes be more pleasant than the one with a real human being.

The Messenger Platform from Facebook is perhaps the most famous tool for creating a chatbot there is.

Engage

Machine learning is extremely helpful with marketing automation. Data analysis provided by AI will help you reach your customers at the right moment with the help of most effective channel.

Predictive analytics will help you send a dynamic email with the exact category, size, and color of an item your customer will be interested in.

This part of customer’s journey is closely connected with the “Act” part of the customer journey. At least, from the point of view of implementing Artificial Intelligence.

CONCLUSION

artificial intelligence 2

AI can be extremely helpful in achieving your key performance indicators when it comes to marketing. Not innovating in this area can quickly become an issue for marketers, as outdated methods just don’t work the way they once did.

AI is closely connected with marketing and can be very helpful to marketers at its current stage of development. The job of marketing manager is among the least likely to be replaced by Artificial Intelligence, according to Hubspot.

The responsibilities of marketing managers include data interpretation, trend monitoring, and campaign analytics. Al is a long way from being ready to replicate human knowhow in performing these duties.

But AI can be extremely helpful in organizing the work processes of human beings who handle these activities on a daily basis.

Don’t hesitate to share your opinions on these examples of AI in practical use, and please let us know how your company applies Artificial Intelligence in your marketing strategy.