The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving with new trends emerging regularly. From technological advancements to changes in consumer behavior, digital marketers need to adapt their strategies to stay ahead of the curve. This post explores some of the most notable digital marketing trends that brands should prepare for in 2024. Let’s being
Digital Marketing Trends You Just Cannot Ignore
Here is the list of the most notable digital marketing trends that you just cannot ignore:
1. AI Will Help Marketers Optimize Performance
Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have greatly disrupted digital marketing in recent years. According to research covered in thorough digital marketing training programs, over 61% of marketers have used AI in their operations. AI’s analytical and generative capabilities make it a game-changer for optimizing performance.
As emphasized in both digital marketing courses and certification programs, AI helps marketers boost productivity and efficiency. Marketers can generate social media posts, develop SEO-optimized content outlines, and produce video captions and other materials faster than before. Research from digital marketing courses also shows 81% of marketers see positive impacts of AI such as freeing time for creativity (78%) and improving efficiency (73%).
Not only does this benefit help complete tasks highlighted in digital marketing training more smoothly, but businesses also see better results. According to studies referenced in digital marketing courses, 68% improved their content marketing ROI and 65% enhanced their SEO performance with AI. AI analyzes social data, targets campaigns, and supports areas like content creation, sentiment analysis, image recognition and chatbot building. Its uses in digital marketing are only becoming more advanced.
2. Marketers Need to Adapt to AI Disruption
While AI streamlines processes as emphasized across digital marketing courses, it also significantly disrupts the industry. One example is its effect on SEO as highlighted in advanced digital marketing certification programs. Google’s AI Overview feature aims to answer users’ search queries but delivered absurd results initially.
Thankfully, as covered in digital marketing courses, Google updated guidelines in 2023 showing no explicit preference for AI or human-generated content. Quality remains the priority. Still, relying solely on AI is risky as the initial AI Overview debacle showed. As emphasized under comprehensive digital marketing training programs, AI should augment – not replace – human marketers. Its role is to make jobs more effective and data-driven, not to circumvent expertise.
3. Recovery from Helpful Content Update Will Take Time
The Helpful Content update, covered extensively in both introductory and advanced digital marketing courses, aimed to prioritize useful information for users. However, it also unexpectedly impacted many legitimate websites like New York Magazine (-32% traffic) and GQ.com (-26% traffic), as highlighted in popular digital marketing certification programs.
Interestingly, discussion forums saw benefits as emphasized in digital marketing workshops. Reddit saw 128% more traffic. But the shake-up showed long-term impacts, necessitating changed content strategies highlighted across digital marketing training programs. Marketers must thoughtfully create helpful, intention-based content and carefully track underperforming pages as recommended under various digital courses. The industry is still recovering from this major disruption based on insights from digital marketing course and training.
4. Increased Focus on Visual Search
Visual search popularity is accelerating due to AI, as emphasized across digital marketing certifications. Tools like Google Lens see 12 billion monthly visual searches – and people using these highlighted in digital marketing courses are often ready to purchase. It’s crucial for brands highlighted under digital marketing continuing education to optimize for visual search by enhancing product images and alt text with keywords called out across certification programs.
As covered under advanced digital marketing certifications, leveraging image metadata through structured data improves product understanding for visual queries. Regularly analyzing image searchability using tools referenced in related digital marketing workshops can also provide valuable insights. Neglecting visual search risks missing purchases from consumers who may discover your products this way instead of traditional text queries as emphasized within courses.
5. Catering to Evolving Consumer Values
Value mindsets that care about brand principles over simple quality and price are becoming the norm, as illustrated across many digital marketing courses. Around 82% of customers expect alignment with brand values and 75% have stopped purchases due to conflicts, underlining this shift referred to widely in digital marketing programs. Younger generations are leading the emphasis on purpose referenced across various digital marketing training institutes.
As emphasized in several certification programs, openly supporting political/social issues tailored to target audiences is essential for value-oriented consumers. Top causes may involve the environment, education, disasters and human rights depending on a brand’s unique values highlighted across digital marketing continuing education courses. With this philosophy dominating, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, addressing societal impact will be increasingly crucial for brands.
6. Ongoing Augmented and Virtual Reality Growth
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality’s (VR) use in marketing continues increasing dramatically as covered across certification programs and workshops. The AR advertising market alone is estimated to generate $5.2 billion in revenue by 2024 according to research examined in depth within digital marketing courses. From virtual try-ons to interactive displays, AR/VR delivers immersive experiences for shoppers.
As explored across various digital marketing courses, consumers are highly receptive too – 62% would use 3D scans for footwear/apparel sizing. Beyond e-commerce practices highlighted across many programs, innovative examples noted in certifications involve gamified brand stories and virtual locations that help decision-making. As the technology improves rapidly as discussed throughout digital marketing learning, its application potential remains vast and largely untapped by many major brands.
7. Video Domination and Short Form Growth
Online video content remains unchallenged for reach at 92% according to studies examined across certifications. Shorter clips like Instagram Reels and TikTok have become extremely popular due to their engaging nature and ability to maintain attention spans. Highlighted across diverse programs, 96% of consumers prefer short videos for product and service research versus lengthy alternatives.
As observed across many courses, they also deliver high ROI for lead generation because viewers are likely to watch fully as covered across certification training. Live videos emphasizing experiential qualities will continue growing, and social platforms are enhancing features like TikTok’s live shopping that facilitates real-time buying highlighted across various digital marketing courses. Interactive, digestible video reigns supreme across all types as emphasized extensively.
8. Increased Social Shopping Adoption
Leveraging built-in purchasing on social media to shorten paths to purchase will rise prominently according to research explored across programs. Enabling direct in-app orders helps capture influenced buyers as covered thoroughly. tagging, dedicated profiles and communities allow swift transactions without switching apps as described thoroughly.
Highlighted under many certifications, seven in ten online buyers aged 27-42 have socially shopped on networks like Facebook and Instagram. TikTok shopping saw 26% of 18-29 year-olds planning holiday purchases for 2023 as emphasized across numerous programs, showing uptake even by younger groups typically more fickle. As highlighted under diverse professional certifications , path-to-purchase shortening through social commerce will keep ramping up across major platforms.
Final Thoughts
These trends exemplify rapid digital evolution driven by AI, technological innovations, and shifting user priorities illuminated across many forms of digital marketing education. To remain competitive, brands must embrace changes, monitor consumer and industry developments highlighted across certifications, and strategically adapt tactics referenced extensively in courses and workshops. Following a data-driven, iterative approach taught under thorough digital marketing programs will prepare marketers for uncertainty ahead.
