1. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
Augmented reality overlays digital content onto real world and gives marketers the chance to create interactive consumer experiences. Virtual reality takes users to a simulated environment and offers immersive brand experience opportunities. Combining these environments with holographic ads especially on social media can bring focus on your brand in this ultra competitive arena. Known brands have already used holography in their marketing, showing interactive images and objects that intrigue consumers.
2. Chatbots
Chatbots simulate human conversation and can handle simple queries so focus can be placed on more complex tasks. The benefits are many for example by automating tasks like booking a hotel room or a restaurant, they save the business money. They can operate 24/7/365 regardless of location, do not tire, make errors, take breaks and can handle scale. They are fast and give high customer satisfaction as a result of this turn-around. The flipside is that they have a limited repertoire which leads to customer dissatisfaction and frustration. Sophisticated chatbots are expensive. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot which hopes to iron out many of the issues of the simpler chatbots.
3. Agile marketing
Using the Agile methodology when applied to marketing, places the focus on real-time collaboration that involves rapid iterations rather than silos and hierarchy. It will allow marketers to respond to change more easily and with flexibility. It enables small cross-functional teams to finish projects and deliver value early, drives transparency using visualized workflows, places focus on customer value amongst other benefits.
4. Live streaming and video-focussed content
Using video-content creates more engagement and brand awareness, with live streaming growing in stature as consumers spend billions of hours on their mobile devices. Lead generation, sales growth, traffic generation can come from this type of engagement. Additionally, allowing consumers to interact with influencers (influencer marketing) as they talk about a product while watching a stream can lead to a sale there and then. Savvy marketers are using educational videos, behind the scenes footage in addition to livestreams and using it across different platform all while ensuring it is SEO optimized.
5. User-generated content (UGC)
This is a tactic that can make a brand appear more authentic especially as consumers are more likely to trust content from someone they can relate to. Places like TikTok are basically vouching for user generated content through reviews, tutorials and videos. Choosing social networks that will have the most impact for the campaign, is key. As is finding a place that the target consumer actually goes to. That way you can build a community around your consumers and brand that they will feel invested in.
6. Zero-party data gathering
The need for data gathered directly from the consumer is growing, especially as privacy regulations strengthen globally. The online environment currently dominated by third-party data gathering is particularly vulnerable. Data collection efforts by organizations need an overhaul and one way to do it is by tailoring content to appeal to the consumer. Surveys, quizzes, conversational pop-ups, polls, etc enable consumers to volunteer data in return for something they want. This type of zero-party engagement builds strong engagement and connections.
7. Better user experience (UX)
Ensuring that the user experience, or UX, provides a positive experience will keep them loyal to the brand. That means the website needs to be able to convert casual browsers into customers. Sites should be simple, easy to navigate and not too overwhelming to use. To be ahead of the curve marketers can use voice activation, animation, video, bold use of color and a storytelling design. Optimization for all mobile devices is also a must.