We are living in a digital age where every move of the customer can earn businesses thousands of dollars. Companies have entered the digital age and trying to gain a competitive advantage over another by using these platforms like Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

Now companies are relying more on digital platforms rather than the old ways. There are so many new trends that are hit in the digital world and going to change the overall market situation.

Many marketing agencies can help you plan your business like the salted stone agency.

Here we are discussing some key trends for 2020:

1. Using influencers

2. Chatbots

3. Social media messaging applications

4. Live streaming and video content

5. Visual search

6. Voice search

1. Using influencers

Many companies realize that customers trust influencers more than the ad campaign they are running. Nowadays companies are sending free PR samples to influencers so they can give a review regarding the particular product. This is another kind of advertising.

Famous YouTube gurus, Tiktokers and Facebook celebrities are followed by the masses and can reach the target market effectively.

Youngsters mostly use mobile phones instead of reading a newspaper so if you are having a particular product which is mainly targeting youngsters, so send a PR sample to their favorite Youtuber or Tiktoker. Your prospect customer will see them using it and reviewing it. Ultimately he or she will buy the product if not buy, he or she will get the awareness of your brand.

So don't spend millions in giving advertisements in the newspaper instead contact their favorite influencer. You can check their subscribers and followers, it's not that difficult task.

You can even see if your competitor is on the list of sending PR packages or not. You will get a fair idea of what advantage you will gain by this.

2. Chatbots

What are chatbots? Chatbots are software that is designed to chat with the customers visiting the website. Chatbots will answer all relevant questions asked by the customer without getting annoyed and even provide the customer history of his purchasing. Chatbots will be available 24/7 and even on holidays to facilitate the customer.

Chatbots are a one-time investment and the company can reap all the benefits later. Chatbots will communicate like humans.

Chatbots will communicate with the help of text or audio.

3. Social media messaging applications

How many times do we communicate with our friends via Whatsapp or Facebook messenger?

The answer is most of the time, we send messages through these social media messaging applications installed in our cellphones.

These platforms are a very feasible and cost-friendly option for all of us. Companies are now opting towards using these messaging applications to reach their target audience.

Some businesses are running only on Facebook or Instagram pages. They have their regular customer approaching them using a Facebook messaging option.

It’s a great tool for other businesses as well to reach out to customers effectively.

If the business uses these applications, it can reach a particular customer and can add a personalized touch to it. It can help the business to generate sales, gathering data, provide customer assistance about the product or service, and provide relevant information.

4. Live streaming and video content

1. Live streaming

The customer feels more connected to live content as they can participate in it and influence the content as well. Live streaming is getting popular in users as compared to other content where they can only hear, see and get bored. People feel more engaged while watching live videos and spend more time as compared to recorded ones.

It's easier for customers to feel associated with the live stream session instead of reading an online advertisement. They can share their perspective in a live stream. Some businesses are selling items by coming live on the Facebook page.

2. Video content

Another thing that gets popular is the video content of the company. Customers do see videos shared by businesses and it influences them to buy a particular product and share the message given by the company. They feel more engaged in brands’ videos. It is another popular medium for new products.

Many businesses now show product videos on their websites; research shows that customers who have seen those video messages or advertisements make the purchase or at least leave a message on the live chat.

5. Visual Search

Another thing that is getting prevalent and becoming a trend is a visual search and its applications. Nowadays you don't have to type a long sentence about the particular item you are searching instead just upload the picture of it you will get the result from where you can purchase it. Google is the platform used by everyone, it also has an image search option available for the facilitation of users.

There are many applications available from which you can search the required item such as google lens; you can also add the barcode of a particular item and search it.

6. Voice search

Many people don't want to type a long sentence, for those people voice search is the way. You won’t believe voice search is getting very famous these days. Study shows 20 percent of users are using the voice search option to search their query. Customers can get detailed content regarding their queries if they use voice search.

     7. Customer loyalty and retention

With each passing day, the value of customer retention has increased as retaining the customer is easier as compared to making new ones. Try to gauge your loyal customers more by giving them different offers so they will not look anywhere else. You have to give your existing customer that wonderful experience that your competitor failed to do so.

Engage with your loyal customers more. Ask for their feedback. Value your existing customers by giving them discounts on loyalty cards and ask them if they can try your new products and give a suggestion when they visit your store.

Existing customers are your assets, they can help you grow. Try to retain your customers first then make another ones.

Conclusion:

Businesses are using new technologies to reach their target customers and satisfy their needs. Companies are more focused on providing a good experience to the customer.

Artificial intelligence has been used in new technology to build brand awareness and target potential customers in the future. Software like chatbots is used to facilitate customers 24/7 in a personalized way.

In the future, marketing is all about targeting a customer with personalized messages. The business has to build a strong bond with the customer rather than just selling the item.