Top digital marketing trends you should not ignore in 2021

Earlier, artificial intelligence, data-driven marketing, and voice search engine optimization (VSEO) were the most popular digital marketing trends. But now, the times have changed. And if you want your business to remain competitive in today’s online landscape, then you must adapt to the ever-changing and evolving domain of digital marketing.

As Brian Solis, a digital analyst, speaker and author, puts it- “Each business is a victim of Digital Darwinism, the evolution of consumer behavior when society and technology evolve faster than the ability to exploit it. Digital Darwinism does not discriminate. Every business is threatened.”

Nowadays, technology marketing moves fast and it is very difficult to predict consumer interests and behaviors. You cannot always stick your head in the sand and hope that the same old methods and educated guesses will work forever.

In this article, we present the top digital marketing trends on which you should focus in 2021. These will help your business not just survive, but prosper in this innovative age.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2020 was the year when we woke up to the dominance of artificial intelligence. It is at the heart of global business and industry. It is already taking over a number of simple jobs. For example, K5 robots are used by Uber and Microsoft for patrolling parking lots and large outdoor areas to predict and prevent crime. The robots are capable of reading license plates, reporting suspicious activity, and collecting data to report to their owners. These R2-D2-like robots can be rented for $7 an hour, which is less expensive than the wage of a human security guard.

AI will soon be the driving force behind many services. At present, we already see it implemented in different areas such as:

-Content creation

-Email personalization

-Basic communication

-E-commerce transactions

-Product recommendations

• Programmatic Advertising

This kind of advertising means using Artificial Intelligence for the automation of ad buying so that you are able to target more relevant audiences. For instance, real-time bidding is a type of programmatic ad buying. This automation is more fast and efficient, which results in lower customer acquisition costs and higher conversions.

• Chatbots

These will continue to be a crucial part of digital marketing in 2021. This AI-based technology uses instant messaging to chat with your customers or site visitors in real-time, day or night. Chatbots will power a majority of the customer service. Their top benefits include 24-hour service, instant responses to inquiries, and answers to simple questions.

As chatbots are responsive 24/7, respond to queries promptly, accurately recall your entire buying history, and never lose patience, most of the customers prefer interacting with them. These are virtual assistants that provide excellent customer service by meeting their expectations and automating repetitive tasks. Therefore, you can focus on more important tasks.

• Conversational Marketing

The reality of modern marketing becomes clear with all that talk about chatbots. It has to be more conversational. Customers want it and so, brands are reacting in that way. Most of the users want an immediate response to their problems. Conversational marketing is a one-to-one, real-time connection between marketers and customers.

This form of marketing is now available across multiple channels, unlike traditional strategies. It allows brands to meet customers on their conditions- the device, platform, and timing that suit them best. Conversational marketing enhances the experience of users with the help of a feedback-driven model fostering higher engagement and greater loyalty.

• Personalization

You need to personalize your marketing if you want to stand out in 2021. It means personalised content, products, emails, etc. as most of the consumers get extremely annoyed with generic advertising blasts