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Good marketing is rarely a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on your product, brand, and goals, one marketing strategy may work better for your business than another. The good news is that there are so many ways to market your company to the world. But that’s also the bad news: marketing strategies are constantly changing, and what works today may be behind the times tomorrow. If you’re not a full-time marketer, it can be hard to keep up.
Another piece of good news is that you’re in the right place. We’ve combed the industry to find the top marketing strategies for this year that can help any business grow their audience, sales and profits. If you want to be on top of your marketing game, check out these 3 marketing trends that are popping off in 2020.
If content is king, videos are the jeweled crown - you can’t rule without it. If you have just one marketing strategy in 2020, it needs to be video marketing.
Statistics show that consumers are clamoring for video content. According to Hubspot, 54% of consumers want to see more videos from the brands they support. If you want to give your audience what they want (hint: you do), you’ve got to give them videos, and lots of them.
Making videos for the internet isn’t a new concept but the way that businesses are using them is changing and expanding. Websites, social media and even email campaigns are being used to reach the masses through video marketing. Here are a few of the most popular ways:
Product demonstrations. A more obvious choice, product demonstrations are still one of the most effective ways to use video content. That’s because 52% of users say that watching videos about a product makes them more likely to purchase it. But it’s not just announcing your product - you’ve got to show users how to use it and how it can benefit them directly.
Behind-The-Scenes. These days, it’s not enough to provide a good product. Consumers want to relate, engage and become invested in a business. One good way to do this is to make candid behind-the-scenes videos of what goes on in your daily activities, such as meet the staff or office tour videos.
1:1 Videos. This is a relatively new use of video marketing that’s rising quickly through the ranks. Instead of sending cold emails or making phone calls, businesses are creating personalized video messages to reach new clients. In an age where personalization is everything, it’s a great way to get ahead of the video marketing game in 2020.
The reason that video marketing is so important is simple - it works. Videos are by far the most popular online content, watched by 85% of internet users every month. That’s because videos are easily digestible, keep user’s attention for longer than text, and work well on mobile devices.
Video marketing is also great for your marketing budget because videos are easy to reuse and cross-post. Creating smaller text versions of your videos or editing them into email thumbnails are easy ways to use them again and again and save money on your content strategy.
As social media becomes the most popular way to use the internet, platforms are developing new features for users to keep it fresh. Social media stories are a great example of a feature that businesses can - and should - use to their benefit. Facebook, Instagram, and even Youtube now have story features that businesses are using to connect with their followers.
Stories are similar to posts, but they work a little differently. Stories are pinned to the top of your user’s newsfeeds rather than being posted in the feed. But they’re temporary, lasting for 24 hours at most. These features work in your favor since your stories are easier for users to find and can create a sense of urgency in your audience. But to be effective, they need to be used correctly.
By nature, stories need to be used authentically. That means you should skip the scammy advertising and post content that gives your followers a feel for your business brand and personality. Candid photographs or informal staff interviews connect with your followers on a more personal level.
In contrast, stories’ short lifespan makes them perfect for promotional posts because they convince your followers to take action fast. Use attention-grabbing graphics, filters, and copy to promote your sales and events, and be sure to let your audience know that time is limited.
For even more tips on how to use social media stories, check out our in-depth blog article.
If you need to draw customers into a brick-and-mortar business, geofencing needs to be on your radar. To put it simply, geo-fencing uses location to market directly to customers near your business. You do this by creating a “geo-fence” around your location and automatically sending pre-made alerts to devices that enter that radius. These alerts can be anything from current sales to coupons to simple text greetings and more.
Imagine this: you’re walking through a shopping center and get a notification that the restaurant you’ve been wanting to try is a few steps away and having a discount on tacos. You’re likely to give it a try, right? That’s geo-fencing. It’s a great way to put your business on the map for customers that are nearby and in a position to stop in.
Geofencing is not as well-known other marketing strategies, but marketing professionals agree that it soon will be. According to one report, geo-fencing is expected to grow 27% by 2020. Though there have been recent security concerns and the technology is still evolving, geo-fencing should definitely be on your marketing map for 2020.
Though your marketing choices are somewhat personal to your business, using these 3 strategies are sure to help you reach your goals and connect with your audience in 2020. If you’re struggling with your marketing strategy, we can help! From social media marketing to email campaigns and more, we offer a range of marketing services to take your business, and your profits, to the next level. Contact us today!