By Chris Loretto
Source: Marketing Land
From the rise of voice advertising to the connected TV revolution, there were major strides in the digital marketing space this past year. The momentum sparked in 2018 is on track to accelerate in 2019 as technology advances and our digital-driven world continues to evolve. Here are the top trends I expect to dominate the landscape in the new year.
Connected TV
As anticipated, we saw advertising via connected TV (CTV) become more prevalent in 2018, doubling its growth over the past year. Reaching 38 percent of video ad impressions in the second quarter of 2018, CTV overtook mobile, which accounted for 30 percent of video ad impressions according to Extreme Reach. With traditional cable subscriptions on the decline and CTV viewership consistently on the rise—projected to reach 190 million users in 2019 — CTV presents a modern-day vehicle for media consumption, offering unparalleled reach and targeting capabilities. In 2019, the upward trend will likely continue as increasingly more advertisers recognize the opportunity to precisely and efficiently reach their desired consumer demographic in ways that were previously not possible through traditional television commercials.
Instagram TV
This year, Instagram launched its own YouTube competitor: Instagram TV (IGTV). Unlike fleeting Instagram Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, and traditional Instagram videos, which only allow users to record up to one minute, long-form IGTV content occupies a permanent home on the platform, with the capability of recording videos up to an hour in duration. Still, in its nascence, IGTV will cement its role in the social media landscape in 2019, demonstrating the potential to disrupt the video market with its unique branded content opportunities. Whether utilized as a platform for sharing instructional videos (a la Buzzfeed’s Tasty), or for showcasing interviews with key industry influencers, IGTV is a way for brands to meaningfully engage with followers and stay relevant in today’s rapidly changing social media environment — all while harnessing the power of video to reach audiences with impactful messages in an increasingly fragmented market.
Artificial Intelligence and chatbots
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another pivotal trend to watch in 2019. According to Salesforce, 51 percent of marketing leaders are already using AI in some form, and more than a quarter will begin using AI technology in 2019. It’s no wonder: AI provides enhanced analytics that helps marketers more efficiently plan and execute campaigns. Specifically, Business Insider notes that artificial intelligence can be used to better perform keyword tagging, segmenting and tracking in current campaigns. As marketer adoption increases, we will see the technological capabilities of AI continue to improve. One major way this will take place is through chatbots. Powered by AI automation, bots are reshaping the way customers interact with brands. Available to answer queries and provide helpful direction, chatbots move website visitors through the customer journey and offer a personalized experience — all while leveraging machine learning to improve their interactions over time. Odds are, by the end of 2019, chatbots will become the norm on business websites across a broad range of industries.
Augmented reality advertising
It’s no secret that shopping online offers comfort and convenience, but until recently, it faced one chief obstacle: the fear of a purchase not being the right fit — whether a pair of sunglasses, lipstick shade or living room couch. Augmented reality (AR) technology has emerged to help brands solve this problem for customers — and many have capitalized on its capabilities. For instance, Wayfair and IKEA allow customers to visualize what furniture items would look like in their home and Sephora enables customers to upload a selfie and “try on” makeup. Thanks to the “Amazonification” of our world, consumers are opting to buy online now more than ever before and AR is propelling the e-commerce industry into the future with a model that makes advertising not only personalized but fun for the user. With Facebook recently introducing AR ads — following the lead of Snapchat — we have only scratched the surface of what this technology can accomplish, and we will no doubt see advertisers continue to push the boundaries of AR innovation in the coming months.