What marketing trends await in 2017? We’ll tell you.
Social Media – Maggie Ising
Social media marketing trends are changing every day. It’s a constant roller coaster of what’s hot and what’s not. For 2017, I see a continuation of paying to play — the competition is going to increase, and the more money you spend, the better results you will see.
On a different spectrum, I see a future in incorporating virtual reality into the social media experience. Virtual Reality headsets were a popular gift for Christmas 2016, and I suspect there will be a big incorporation of these devices with social platforms; perhaps a combination of Facebook Live with VR. These headsets are far more affordable than Google Glass and are closer in price to Snapchat’s Spectacles, making the VR headsets more likely to be incorporated into social this year. I think brands could definitely have some fun with this and really show off their creativity, as well.
Developer/Programmer – Paige Ford
2016 brought us Pokémon Go, a game that received 650 million installs within the first 80 days of launch and became the highest grossing game on both iOS and Android. 2017 is expected to see a trend in the emergence of other Augmented Reality games with promises of AR headsets and speculation as to what could be “the next Pokémon Go.” What’s the difference between Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality? Augmented Reality maintains your connection with your existing environment while layering virtual objects over those surroundings, where virtual reality is completely immersive. With AR becoming such a leading force in the digital world, it is expected that brands will experiment and implement this in their future marketing strategies.
Media – Lauren Jones
Mobile content consumption is projected to surpass that of desktop by the end of 2017. This marketing trends means that advertisers will need to employ new and more creative tactics for mobile marketing to reach consumers where they are. Click-and-mortar stores will need to develop more geo-targeted ads that speak to consumers in the moment, as well as put brainpower into devising mobile advertising tactics that aren’t intrusive and that provide an immersive and engaging experience. In the coming year, expect to see marketers utilize more augmented reality, virtual reality and natural interfacing. For marketers, this trend is a boon. As more consumers consume content on mobile devices, more data on purchasing habits and the consumer journey can be collected.
Client Service – Harry Mulkey
In 2017 consumers will embrace Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence, and they’ll become an accepted part of our daily routine. Asking for advice or doing a Google search is fine, but increasingly we’ll rely on chatbots that know our likes, dislikes and needs — and can guide us on where to eat, travel, shop and more. Chatbots can use AI, predictive modeling, tracking codes and big data to guide consumer behavior. Smart marketers will recognize that anticipating needs before they arise and providing a positive customer experience means leveraging this technology.
Creative – Dennis Bonifer
In 2017, thanks to devices like Amazon’s Alexa powered by Echo, smart homes are expected to become more common; some estimates suggest as many as 30 million households across the US will be able to control the home with a swipe of a finger. But, how will the data smart home apps collect be used? There’s no doubt such granular data could be extremely valuable to marketers, but this could be perceived as an invasion of privacy for consumers.
Smart homes could have an impact outside of the house, too. As consumers get used to the internet of things, 2017 could be the year we start to see similar technologies trickle into the retail world. Growing used to a connected home could be the catalyst that brings the long-awaited promise of beacons to store shelves — where consumer purchasing habits can be further examined.
This all begs the question: How much sharing is too much? Privacy concerns will come to the forefront as we get more connected. But I suspect that, eventually, we’ll be comfortable trading privacy for convenience.
Final Word
As we move into the new year, marketers will thrive or strive based on their ability to respond to marketing trends. Competition to innovate and incorporate bleeding-edge technology and tactics will be . The consumer is savvier than ever, and they demand personal attention that entertains or offers convenience. It’s time to start solving problems before they even arise.
