5 Trends to Incorporate into Your Marketing Strategy in 2018

Society is ever-changing. What was important to people and the things that influenced their opinions and kept their attention in 2017 have become “so last year.” This constant shift in satisfaction applies to the business world as well. The new year always brings new techniques and ideas that companies think will be the “Next Big Thing” in their industry. The key to success is anticipating these trends and capitalizing on them. Here are our predictions for 2018’s trends that you need to incorporate into your marketing strategy.

1. Voice-Activated Devices

Voice-activated technology has become increasingly present in the average home. In a time where people can simply say, “Hey Alexa,” and get the first answer the technology can find, it’s more important than ever to be on top (especially in search engines). Devices like Alexa and the Amazon Echo put more emphasis on SEO and targeting the right keywords – which means it’s time to up your content marketing game and keyword optimization.

2. Grandfathered Apps

Apps are nothing new, but nowadays there are a few apps that have become standard. For example, when someone is looking for a nearby restaurant or source of entertainment, they will pull up Google or Yelp and see what comes up first and what has the best reviews. Consider how your business ranks on these ingrained apps, how you can improve customer feedback, and how to better utilize ads and paid exposure in this year’s strategy.

3. Impulse Searches

In 2018, almost everything anyone could want is virtually at their fingertips. Capitalizing on the ‘micro-moment’ is going to be a golden ticket this year. Micro-moment marketing focuses on the idea that you only have a few seconds to grab your audience’s attention. Think about how you can add value to brief customer exchanges that will help your brand stand out among the rest.

4. Personalized Experiences

The current generations are developing a fond taste for feeling unique and individual. Brands are being encouraged to waver towards what is different and new. People want to feel like their experiences are intricately created just for them, whether that be a marketing campaign or the product itself being personalized. Abandon any one-size-fits-all notions that you might have and think about how you can customize your brand.

5. Keywords to Key Phrases

As search engines become increasingly advanced, the way keywords are used is becoming more detailed and intuitive. Search engines can find what people mean from typing, “What is the best entertainment near me?” instead of having to type in each individual venue or idea. That puts the responsibility on businesses to monitor not just what their target audience is looking for, but how they’re looking for it.

Marketing and technology are changing daily, every minute, and there is no telling what could be right around the corner. That’s why it’s so essential to continuously update strategies throughout the year and assess what is performing well and make the changes needed to keep up with the evolving trends. These five things are only a head start on what could be headed our way this year.