For some time now, Instagram engagement has been declining overall, but it isn’t for all the bad reasons. One of the major reasons behind this is due to Instagram’s commitment to removing bots, spam, and comment pods in order to ensure that your followers and engagement are real.

It took Instagram roughly four years to reach its first 300 million users. The number of monthly active users reached 500 million in June 2016. Almost a year later, the same number of people joined. At the end of September 2017, there were 800 million active monthly users on the platform. In 2021, there are 1.074 billion Instagram users which is a 22.9% increase from 2020. While Instagram was meant to be only a photo-sharing platform popular with teens, it has grown to become one of the most popular social media sites in the world.

However, this kind of rapid growth leads to saturation. The saturation of feeds leads to greater competition for users’ attention, which means decrease in engagement. 

Let’s explore the reasons for this downward spiral:

1. Poor quality audience

Lack of quality followers is one of the biggest factors affecting engagement, and it is generally a good thing to have many followers, unless they are inactive or fake followers. Having fake followers will decrease the overall engagement rate, regardless of whether it was intentional or not.

Instagram’s algorithm evaluates engagement in the following way:

• Initially, only a small percentage of your followers will see your new post.
• This feature measures likes and comments on your latest post and compares them to engagement on older posts.
• The new post will be shown to your remaining audience if it is getting a higher engagement rate.
• In contrast, less engagement indicates you may have fake followers, and this might contribute to a lesser chance of having your post seen by the rest of your audience.

If your audience is fake and inactive accounts, they almost never interact with your posts which in the end will lead to a decline in your engagement rates.

2. Shadow bans and hashtag restrictions

As a result of a recent change in Instagram’s algorithm, users have started using comment pods as a way to bypass the algorithm. Engagement can be improved by using comment pods, but they are inauthentic. Furthermore, Instagram bans users they believe are part of an abusive comment pod.

Another reason users are seeing a decrease in engagement is restricted hashtags. Platforms classify them as either NSFW or spammy (like #beautyblogger or #follow4follow) and reduce post visibility. As soon as an account is flagged, it is checked for suspicious activity and you could be shadowbanned. 

Unfortunately, Instagram doesn’t ever release a list of banned hashtags, so it’s difficult to know or check on a regular basis. However, if you think your hashtag is banned, we recommend you search the hashtag and see what comes up. If there are “posts hidden” messages, you should know that the hashtag is banned, and it’s best to stop using it. 

3. Robots and automation

Several automation websites, such as MassPlanner and Instagress, have been shut down by Instagram. These apps help users gain followers and engagement by creating bots. These are like mini robot clones with the same interests and preferences as the original user. These are not necessarily fake accounts, but they artificially boost engagement as they just like and comment on other people’s posts. It does not matter if you use automated tools yourself, you will be affected if your followers used them. Since they don’t like everyone’s post in their feed, engagement can decline.

4. Suppression of hashtags for business accounts

The new algorithm acts differently depending on the account type, and posts related to a hashtag can only be seen by people who follow the pages associated with that hashtag unless it is a top post.

Business accounts are subject to this rule,  and this means that accounts that follow specific algorithmic rules will have a harder time getting featured for some hashtags.

5. Saturation

Overall, Instagram post interactions have decreased by a whole 33% in the past year. A 27% drop was seen in likes and comments, and 39% drop in comments and likes on videos. The primary cause of all of this is Instagram saturation.

There is an increase in both the user base and posting frequency. More content is showing up in users’ feeds since they follow more accounts than before. There’s a ton of content to keep up with, and it’s a bit overwhelming. In the end, this increased competition for engagement has resulted in a decline in engagement.

In light of all of this, what is the solution to the decreasing Instagram engagement?

1. Using #hashtags strategically

When used correctly, hashtags can be used to gain popularity among target audiences. They enable other users to find, follow, and interact with your Instagram account. However, you won’t achieve anything by using and abusing random hashtags.

You can get featured in feeds by using relevant hashtags that are popular with your target audience. It is also recommended to use creative hashtags with your posts, as the narrower their scope, the more engaging they are to users.

2. Calls-to-Action

Get your posts seen by your followers by adding a captivating caption. Adding a call-to-action to the caption of your posts is the easiest way to get them to interact. According to the Instagram algorithm, posts with higher engagement are more likely to appear in user feeds.

For Example, engage your audience by providing a question, for instance, how they feel about a product or asking them to leave a reply in the comment section. 

3. The best time to post

Another way to improve your engagement is by posting during peak hours, when your target audience is most likely to be online. This way you can reach the greatest number of people with your posts.

Obviously, peak times will vary depending on the kind of target audience and time zone. You can use Instagram Insights to discover when your followers are using the app if you have a business account. Posting at different times can also be an experiment to determine the best time to post.

4. High-quality content

Here is a recommendation that comes right from the source: Last year Instagram for Business responded to users experiencing issues with its new hashtag search policy.

Instagram wants people to put more emphasis on quality content to increase engagement. Rather than focusing on hashtags, they suggest focusing on a proper growth strategy for their target audiences. This shows their commitment to encouraging and promoting authentic engagements.

This also means, businesses are encouraged to allocate appropriate budgets for their Instagram growth, as organic growth is going to be a slow option. Allocating budgets for the business account growth also means building your target audience which will result in higher and quality engagement which is beneficial in the long run.

5. Instagram Stories

More than 80% of consumers prefer brands to post live content on social media. This is exactly why you should take advantage of Instagram Stories. Use relevant hashtags in your Stories to reach more people and catch their attention, along with other options such as location tag.

Engage your followers by posting behind-the-scenes photographs and bloopers, make it fun and engaging. Another trick is to share stories from live events. The Instagram Stories feature is a great way to gain more likes and comments in real-time, which improves your engagement rate.

Conclusion

Instagram is constantly changing and improving its algorithm to provide a better experience for users. There is no doubt that engagement has declined over the past few months, but shortcuts like bots and comment pods won’t last. All they can do is create a false sense of security.

We recommend to focus on the tips shared here because they are timeless and will not change with time or algorithm changes. You will be on the right track.

Whether to have Ecommerce websites and mobile commerce, or m-commerce, options aren’t an either/or circumstance. Both play various roles in the client journey and cater to various audiences. What is fundamental is that you don’t overlook mobile experiences while designing the ecommerce strategy for your business.

As per the Pew research, 8 out of 10 Americans are online shoppers, and 51% of them use mobile phones while shopping. If you aren’t utilizing mobile traffic, your business is more likely to miss out the important conversions even at the present time.

Whereas a responsive site is an excellent beginning point in your m-commerce journey, having a mobile app has different benefits than having a mobile website. Here is why your ecommerce business requires also a mobile-app as an add-on to your a mobile-responsive website:

1. Easy to use and provides better user experience

Even though you have a responsive website for your business, when the user logs onto it, the browser would always ask the user to sign into the account in order to move further for shopping. Whereas in mobile apps, the user information is already stored in the app and the users are required only to sign in once, while they download the app.

And since the users don’t require to sign in every time while shopping online, the ease of use is higher and the user satisfaction is also high. Mobile applications also help the users to switch between different tabs, making navigation and overall user experience simpler in comparison to that of the website.

2. Access to phone-native features

The phone’s native capabilities can be utilized using mobile apps, which is not possible in the mobile websites case. The integration of built-in smartphone features like GPS and cameras helps the user with enhanced user experience. Interactive shopping with the help of augmented and virtual reality is an app-only feature.

The other advantage is the fact native apps are available for offline use. The apps do acquire the space on the user’s device, they can be used even when the phone is not connected with the internet, resulting in an on-the-go shopping experience for the users.

3. Using mobile apps as a marketing channel

Mobile apps provide an opportunity to convey a unified omnichannel experience to the clients. Apps can permit social media integration that joins the different channels of client engagement. The client choices are saved within the app, promoting customized content being displayed to the potential clients.

Using geofencing and push notifications sent out to the user’s device when they are in proximity of the physical stores or in case of any special offer can also result in a more engaged customer base.

Using geofencing and push notifications sent out to the client’s device when they are in proximity of the physical stores or in case of any special offer can also bring about a more engaged client base.

4. Easy checkout with several payment options

Shopping-cart desertion is the biggest problem that retail businesses face. Whether in-store or on an ecommerce platform, clients are more likely to to leave the app if the checkout possesses complexity or problem.

Mobile apps eradicated friction from the checkout process by making it interactive. The global popularity of mobile wallets exists only because they help in fast processing of transactions. Features like fingerprint scanning and facial recognition help eradicate the problem from the checkout and payment process by allowing faster authentication.

5. Incorporation of advanced tech for interactive customer experience

Mobile apps and technology go along altogether. Incorporation of augmented reality in mobile apps is already taking place, with brands like IKEA and Sephora leading the transformation. The inclusion of AR/VR in apps makes them more interactive and results in potential client experiences.

Apps also take into account the integration of artificial intelligence in the form of chatbots to work with the client in searching for their favored things and getting them through the checkout. Customized shopping assistants that are controlled by AI algorithms would soon turn into the standard, making shopping simple and fun — as it ought to be.

There’s no doubt: the digital revolution has changed the manner in which individuals react to marketing. On account of improvements like cloud solutions, data analytics, artificial intelligence(AI), and machine learning, marketing strategies and approaches have developed drastically in only a few years.

In this rapidly evolving market, advertisers need to work fast to keep up – however on the positive side, they have a totally different universe of chances opened up for them to be innovative. In addition to other things, they currently depend on things like marketing personalization to improve results. Here’s the reason customizing your marketing approach is so crucial– and why you should do it.

What is marketing personalization?

People are continually bombarded by a wide range of information targeted at them, be it billboard ads, TV advertisements, emails, social media, and many brands clamoring for their attention. So it’s just normal that we’d block out the majority of that, particularly what we don’t find personally relevant to us.

This implies that in case you’re attempting to contact your audience with generic, impersonal content, you’re losing perhaps a chance to engage them and encourage them to remain with you in the long run. Talking to them directly, with laser focus around what they like and are normally interested in, is your smartest move to win them over.

That is the place where personalization comes in. More or less, marketing personalization implies interacting with your audience and clients in a way that feels individual and human, taking into consideration their likes, preferences, and interests.

A personalization strategy can incorporate customized email marketing campaigns, customized ads, targeted product recommendations, custom-made content, and lots more.

Why does it matter?

Personalization is turning out to be an upper hand, yet something that your clients expect through each interaction with you. 31% of customers say that they wish their shopping experience was more customized than it currently is, and just 22% are happy with the level of personalization they are getting. A Deloitte study also found that 36% of clients are keen on purchasing customized products, and 48% said they would be willing to wait longer to receive them.

A study by Evergage has discovered that advertisers also see the value of personalization: 96% of respondents felt that it assisted them to advance customer relationships, and 88% said that they saw a measurable lift in business results. 61% also said that personalization assisted them to deliver a better customer experience.

The figures are clear: what clients truly need is a personalized experience, tailored to their interests and requirements. Indeed, many currently consider client experience to be the key brand differentiator for clients, more so than cost and product.

How can you use marketing personalization?

With so many personalization choices and potential outcomes, things begin to get complex  – how are you expected to understand what all of your clients like? How can you tailor your campaigns around them individually without investing too much energy in it?

That is the place where automation and data analytics come in. Your client information is the most important thing you can use to construct the best personalized campaigns. For instance, in order to build newsletters that suggest significant substance for your clients, you can automatically gather information from their previous reading history and suggest other blog posts and articles on comparative or related subjects.

Similarly, knowing your clients’ job title, area of expertise, topics of interest, and surprisingly their geographic area can work in your favor to help you segment email marketing campaigns.

Benefits of personalization

Exceptional customer experience

Having friendly customer agents to assist your clients is extraordinary, yet it isn’t sufficient these days. Companies must provide exceptional client experiences all through their journey with the company or its products – and that incorporates social media interactions, automatic emails, recommendations, and much more.

In fact, more and more customers are anticipating a customized and extraordinary journey with organizations. Research conducted by Salesforce has discovered that clients will give more information in return to customized advertising, with 58% of respondents saying that a customized experience is vital when dealing with a company.

Also, 52% of purchasers are somewhat likely to switch brands if an organization doesn’t give enough personalization, and 57% will share individual information in return for customized offers and discounts.

Increase revenue, sales, and conversions

Offering customized services just makes business sense. In the event that clients are getting reading and item suggestions that speak to their interests, they’re more likely to consume them. If they’re happy with the service they get and the communications they get from a company, they’re bound to stay loyal and choose the company over its competitors.

It makes sense that customizing your services and offering a customized experience will help your sales and conversions, and the figures support it: 75% of buyers lean towards purchasing from a brand that knows their name and purchase history, and analysis by Forbes shows that advertisers that deliver customized web experiences are getting double-digit returns in marketing performance and response.

Source- Hubspot

Boost customer retention

Customer retention is essential. Expanding client maintenance by 5% can increase benefits by 25% up to 95%, and it’s notable that it’s less expensive to hold existing clients than to gain new ones. Adobe’s Digital Index shows that 40% of eCommerce business income is generated by 8% of repeat clients, and advertisers in the US and Europe should get somewhere in the range of 5 and 7 new customers to equal the revenue of just one repeat customer.

Your chances of hitting these numbers increase if you provide a personalized experience: as indicated by research by Segment, 44% of clients are probably going to become repeat purchasers after a customized experience with an organization, while 49% have bought an item they didn’t at first expect to purchase in the wake of having a customized insight.

Source- Hubspot

3 ways to personalize your marketing approach

Segmented email marketing

Research shows that customized emails have 29% higher opening rates and 41% higher click-through rates, so on the off chance that you need to customize your promoting approach, fragmenting email advertising correspondences ought to be at the first spot on your list. Almost certainly, you have a lot of significant client information put away in your applications, similar to your CRM or email promoting apparatuses, looking like tags, categories, labels or custom fields.

This data would enable you to separate your clients into groups based on their interests, preferences, or necessities. You can utilize this sort of information to make segmented email records and send customized messages that your clients really want to read.

You can also section your campaigns dependent on demographic data, geographic location, or purchase history, and you can gather this data through sign-up forms, surveys, quizzes, and client profiles that accumulate information about their topics of interest and preferences.

B2B companies can segment their client base as per industry, size, revenue, and area, for example. When this data is automatically collected, you can make intelligent work processes to automatically take care of this into your email marketing tools.

You can also make customer-specific news feeds, topic pages, and content collections by optimizing your content topics and clusters as indicated by what your shoppers look for and like.

Targeted discounts and offers

Clients are extremely receptive to customized discount codes and offers, and most of them actually expect it. Salesforce’s research found that 62% of buyers anticipate that companies should send them custom-made offers and discounts based on their past buys, and 57% of them are willing to exchange personal data in order to receive it.

For example, you can offer customized discounts on comparable products to the ones they’ve bought previously, or you can reconnect clients who haven’t connected with you in a while by sending them coupons and offers dependent on their last buy with you.

Campaign Monitor shares this example from Sephora, which joins a divided email campaign and targeted discount offer. They sent one sort of email to VIP clients offering them a special discount on their new product line, and another sort of email to non-VIP clients.

Source- Hubspot

Personalized reading and product recommendations

This is a relatively basic approach to draw in existing clients and reconnect older ones. By showing them similar products to those they’ve bought previously, or by sending them customized reading suggestions dependent on the topics of their interest, they’re more likely to engage with your campaign.

For instance, the online publishing platform Medium requests its clients to pick their topics from interest when signing up, and afterward utilizes this data to send newsletters with reading suggestions on the topics that interest them or that they’ve read about previously.

Source- Hubspot

Amazon is another incredible example of this, showing clients customized product suggestions dependent on items they have seen, bought or added to their wish lists.

Source -Hubspot

How to use your customer data for personalization

Remember that you’re not ensured to engage every single customer, regardless of the amount of personalization you use, however, utilizing client information the correct way can teach you what your shoppers need and the best approaches to contact them. A/B testing is an extraordinary method to figure out what turns out best for your brand and what your clients react most to.

Moreover, recall not to try too hard – the line between personalization and invasion of privacy is remarkably thin. Spamming your clients, asking for too much information, or utilizing data they didn’t give you can end up scaring them off – one survey has found that 28% of individuals don’t care for it when organizations utilize their information when they haven’t explicitly given it first. You additionally need to ensure your information protection strategies are clear and agreeable with guidelines like GDPR.

At last, it’s difficult to come up with a killer personalization technique if your client information is everywhere. For instance, imagine a scenario in which your support agents gather a great deal of valuable data about clients, but your marketing team doesn’t have access to it because that data is stored in a different tool. That data could have a significant effect while making division or a customized marketing campaign – but if it’s not being put to good use, it loses its value.

To make the most out of the client information you have, matching up your contact information is the way to integrate everything.

Digital marketing has proven itself to be the most effective type of marketing. For instance, email marketing\, social media, content marketing, search engine optimization, to name a few, are types of digital marketing strategies that are fundamental for business success in today’s world.

It’s obvious why as many as 95% of organizations have expanded their digital marketing budgets in recent years and also why nine out of ten marketers expect that their budgets will increase in the forthcoming years.

All things considered, digital marketing is very complex and includes various strategies, all extremely important. As the consumers progressively expect omnichannel experiences and need to have the option to reach brands on all their preferred channels, marketers have the big challenge of loosening up that spending plan for countless channels and strategies.

So how would you make a budget that ensures your marketing strategies will flourish?

Know your marketing objectives

First thing first – What are your main goals this year?

The most ideal approach to begin planning your budget is to be extremely clear and realistic about your objectives for the upcoming year (or quarter). Having objectives set up will allow you to focus on the strategies that you should focus on the most.

For example, if you wanted to grow the business website and bring more business out of it, then you should invest more in delivering high-quality content, leveraging conversion optimization to boost conversions on your website, and invest in better search engine optimization to support the targeted traffic and any other strategies that drive targeted traffic.

Audit your past results

When you understand what you need to accomplish this year, you should take a look at your past results to help inform your 2020 strategy and budget.

Using the same example as before – creating more business from your site – in order to identify the best tactics to achieve that goal, you should review your past results to see which channels and strategies performed best before, just as what hasn’t filled in as you’d needed it to. Which channels drove the most (targeted) traffic? Which ads created the most leads? Etc.

For example, some of the things you should look into:

• Which channels drive the best outcomes, reliably, based on your marketing objectives? These are the channels you’ll need to keep on putting resources into and even increase your spending.
• Which channels aren’t performing well enough? If you evaluated certain channels and they’re basically not creating results,  it might be worth removing them totally from your methodology or cutting down the spending plan.
• Which marketing tactics have you used in the past? What was your ROI (return on investment) for every one of these strategies?

When performing the audit, remember your objectives so you will know which strategies will really help you achieve these goals.

All things considered, if a strategy didn’t turn out for you as you would hope it would, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should altogether eliminate it.

For example, your SEO efforts in 2020 probably won’t have worked out as you needed. Search engine optimization is an unquestionable requirement with regards to digital marketing so rather than totally eliminating it from your budget, you should rather attempt to understand why it didn’t work and what you need to improve for the next year/months.

For example:

• Your financial plan probably won’t have been sufficiently high for all you needed to accomplish and you should, in fact, allocate a bigger budget in the future.
• You haven’t utilized the correct methodology: evaluate your whole way to understand why it’s not proceeding as it should.

Evaluating your options

As mentioned before,  digital marketing is a complex practice, with various strategies and systems – and large numbers of them are must-dos.

Allocating your budget

So, what should your marketing budget be?

Preferably, it’s suggested that your marketing budget is somewhere close to 7% to 15% of your complete business income – the sweet spot is around 9-10%.

When you realize exactly how much your spending plan is and have a list ready of all of the digital marketing strategies to use in 2021, it’s an ideal opportunity to begin allotting that budget to the different strategies.

It is ideal to allocate the majority of your budget to any strategies that have demonstrated success before, while additionally guaranteeing that they’re in line with your objectives. Be open minded to explore new strategies, because the digital is constantly changing and you have to keep up to be at the forefront.

There is no solution that works for everybody – every business is different and recommendations will change significantly relying upon your industry and niche, your products and services, your business objectives, and obviously, your actual budget. That is the reason you need to remember these things when you plan your budget and designate assets.

Don’t forget marketing software’s

Marketing is practically impossible without devices and software, and you need the tools for a variety of marketing strategies and it’s something that you should investigate in great detail, each time you plan a new budget or strategy.

Here is a list of the most important marketing tools and software’s to consider: 

• Social media marketing/management software
• Project management and collaboration tools
• Email marketing tool
• Marketing automation software
• Personalized marketing software
• Outreach tools
• Content creation tools: video creators, graphic design software, and so on

Budget for trying out new strategies

To wrap things up, it’s critical to understand that testing is fundamental with regard to marketing.

All in all, you should consistently put a portion of your marketing budget just for testing new marketing strategies, platforms and tools. Some will work, some may not – yet testing and experimenting are a major piece of the work and how you introduce new and quality techniques with your overall digital marketing strategy.

For example, some of the strategies you might want to try:

• Customized advertising: make more customized content, introduce personalization programming on your site to show customized content automatically, set up automation to deliver customized emails at the correct time, etc.
• Video marketing: on the off chance that you’ve not utilized video yet, presently is definitely an opportunity to begin – or be abandoned. Use video on your points of arrival, via web-based media, on your blog, or even form a YouTube channel.

At last,  crafting a comprehensive digital marketing budget can be complex, but if you get it right, it can have a major impact on your businesses’ success in 2021.

At the point when you plan your budget, follow the tips illustrated in this article and focus on your goals and your previous outcomes – without overlooking the significance of attempting new strategies and techniques also.

Hiring a professional and experienced digital marketing agency can be a major benefit to your business, as it may bring to light the latest within the digital marketing and truly help your business grow.

For assistance connect with us at [email protected]

Instagram went through big changes in 2020 making it today a valuable platform for your business.

What started as a platform for just sharing photos, Instagram has also launched a variety of features to help businesses market their products and services directly from the app.

As you plan your Instagram marketing strategy, the following are some crucial facts to learn:

1. Instagram celebrated 10 years in 2020

Instagram had officially launched on October 6, 2010, and till December of that year about a million people had created accounts on Instagram.

2. Instagram is on the sixth most visited website

Though Instagram is primarily used on the mobile phone, still it cracks the top 10 for website visits. People might be viewing your posts on a larger screen than you think!

3. Instagram is top 9h most popular Google query

The top 10 queries contain generic terms like weather and news. Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Amazon also feature in the top 10, and all ahead of Instagram. But, again this is showing a great response to Instagram as this platform is primarily accessed through an app on mobile.

4. Instagram counts for 4th-most used mobile app

Primarily, Instagram is a mobile platform, and globally it is only outranked by Facebook, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.

5. Instagram user statistics

More than 1 billion people from all around the world use Instagram every month, and it is the second-ranked traditional social network in terms of active users, after Facebook.

When considering all social platforms, Instagram ranks sixth – behind Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat.

6. 88% of users are outside the U.S.

Americans are the largest Instagram audience, but they’re still not among the top list of the majority of audiences counties. On accounting the top five countries for Instagram users are:

India: 120 million users

Brazil: 95 million users

Indonesia: 78 million users

Russia: 54 million users

This is the crucial part of information while accounting about how to select your target audience on Instagram, and what type of content to make. 

7. Instagram touches the mark of 140 million U.S. users

That’s an 8% rise over Q3 2020. Though we just quoted that the U.S audience represents only 12% of all Instagram users. But also it is the important audience that’s growing consistently.

8. 14% of U.S. adults don’t know what is Instagram

Always know that while Instagram has a huge reach in the U.S, it does not reach everyone. That’s why knowing your audience is so important.

9. Instagram witnessed 17.0% user growth in Western Europe in 2020

The region will end 2020 with 132.8 million users, eMarketer predicts. That’s a rise of 19.3 million users since 2018. Before the pandemic, eMarketer had forecasted only 5.3% growth for the region. They changed their estimate upwards twice this year.

10. The country with the biggest Instagram percentage reach is Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan might not have the most Instagram users, but this is the county where Instagram reaches the highest percent of the population which is about 72%.

Rounding out the top five countries with the highest % age reach are:

• Brunei 71%
• Iceland: 67%
• Kuwait: 66%
• Turkey: 66%

If you’re marketing to the audiences in these countries, Instagram could be the most effective platform both for organic and paid Instagram posts.

11. The gender ratio on Instagram is 51% female and 49% male

Though, in the U.S, a significantly bigger percentage of women (43%) use Instagram than do men (31%), it’s worth considering that Instagram does not show advertising data for genders other than “female” or “male.”

These errors show that you can’t make assumptions about demographics on Instagram—or some other social network. Furthermore, you certainly can’t make suppositions about the demographics of your own followers.

Instead, use social media analytics tools to get brief information about your own audience, for better content planning and ad targeting.

12. 5% of U.S children under 12 use Instagram

That is regardless of Instagram user rules that expect clients to be 13 years of age before they can make an account. Among kids matured 9 to 11, 11% use Instagram.

13. Instagram users spent at least 30 minutes per day on the platform in 2020

That is an increment of just about 4 minutes more than 2019. On the off chance that doesn’t seem as though a ton, think about that it’s a 13.8% jump. Prior to the pandemic, eMarketer anticipated time spent on Instagram would increment by just 1.5% in 2020.

In comparison, Facebook users only spent 1.4 more minutes per day on their platform in 2020, which is an increase of 4.3%

14. 200 million Instagram users check at least one business profile daily

During those 30 minutes of a visit to the platform, a bigger portion of Instagram users will check out business profiles. So do you want the people to get into your business site?

15. 81% of people use Instagram to help research products and services

2 in 3 people say the platform helps foster interactions with brands.

16. 130 million Instagram users click on shopping posts every month

On Instagram individuals are making direct purchases, with all the current shopping and e-commerce features coming out this year, it’s easier than ever for brands to sell products straightaway within the app.

17. More than 50% of Instagram accounts use Explore every month

The Explore tab is a spot for Instagram clients to find new content and new profiles/businesses to follow. Getting your content included on Explore is a critical method to open your brand to new followers.

18. California’s most-referenced holiday cookie is gingerbread. In New York, it’s sugar cookies

For what reason should advertisers care? Its a genuine illustration of how regional variations can affect perception.

Could this cookie inclination stretch out to Instagram posts and promotions? No one but testing can advise you without a doubt. Testing is the best way to know without a doubt what tones, words, and content (or cookie) types associate best with your audience. Don’t be afraid to test it for your business – practice makes perfect!

19. 11% of individuals use Instagram as a news source

That is not even close to the level of individuals who get news from Facebook (36%), however, it’s as yet worth thinking about when pondering how to turn out new item launches and other brand declarations. In the U.S., 26% of individuals matured 18 to 24 have as of late utilized Instagram explicitly to get to Covid news. 

20. Only 1% of Instagram users use no other social platforms

Instagram users are social butterflies: 92% of them likewise use YouTube, and 86% use Facebook. Strangely, not exactly 50% of Instagram clients (43%) additionally use TikTok.

21. Over 1 million Instagram posts each day mention the word “meme”

Memes are a genuine pattern on Instagram. Does that mean your brand should make a post for each new meme? No. In any case, if the meme fits, it might be worth a try. It’s fun and engaging and might get you some of that viral attention you are looking for!

22. 500 million people use Instagram Stories daily

With a large portion of a billion groups using Stories each daily, plainly Stories are a significant channel for brands. 

23. 58% of individuals say they have gotten more interested in a brand or item after seeing it in Stories

In case you’re not utilizing Stories yet, tune in to the Instagram details: 2021 is the year to begin! Get creative, get authentic and explore all that stories have to offer.

24. Half of users have visited a site to make a purchase after seeing an item via Stories

Buy plan is perhaps the best outcome you can get from your online media efforts.

25. Brand Stories have an 86% completion rate

That is only a little increment from 85% in 2019. Entertainment account Stories saw the biggest expansion in completion rate, from 81% to 88%. Sports account Stories have the most noteworthy fulfillment rate, at 90%.

26. 61% of Instagram clients utilized the Support Small Business Sticker in Stories during its first month

That is a casual figure dependent on a survey on the @InstagramforBusiness Story.

Launched in May 2020, Instagrammers can specify a business directly inside the sticker to give their followers a review of the business’ account.

27. 90% of Instagram users follow a business

Individuals are not simply interfacing with their loved ones on Instagram. Nearly each and every individual who uses Instagram follows at least one brand.

28. 36.2% of B2B leaders use Instagram to explore new businesses

That positions it in front of LinkedIn yet behind YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

It’s an obvious sign that Instagram is a significant business instrument, regardless of whether you’re advertising to customers or different associations.

29. The average Instagram business account posts once per day

To take advantage of that content, try to post at the opportune time. We broke down more than  250,000 Instagram accounts to reveal the best occasions to post for 11 distinct enterprises.

30. Instagram business accounts see an average 1.46% monthly followers growth

Growing your Instagram following can feel like a sluggish game. Yet, there are techniques you can use to outperform the Instagram follower details and acquire more followers quicker.

31. The average engagement rate for an Instagram post by a business account is 0.96%

That implies you ought to anticipate roughly one commitment for every 100 followers. Commitment is evidently most elevated for photographs posts (1.03%), followed via carousel posts  (0.86%) and video posts (0.75%). In any case, that will fluctuate by industry and audience preferences.

Remember that bigger accounts get lower engagement rates, while accounts with a little yet committed followers see higher ones. An Instagram business account with less than 10,000 followers sees a normal 1.55% commitment rate, which drops to 0.62% for a business account with an excess of 100,000 followers.

32. 55% of fashion shoppers have made a purchase based on an Instagram creator’s post

Instagram is a highly visual medium, making it an ideal spot for fashion brands to showcase—and even sell—their products.

33. 50% of Instagram users are more interested in a brand after seeing an ad for it on Instagram

At the point when Instagram advertisements are accurately targeted and visually appealing, they’re profoundly compelling methods for associating with new customers.

34. Instagram’s potential advertising reach is 1.16 billion users

That is 19% of grown-ups matured 13 and over. This addresses a 7.1% quarter-on-quarter increment in promoting reach in Q3 2020.

35. Instagram advertisers can reach a youth audience of 83 million

To be explicit, this Instagram detail refers to clients age 13 to 17. That makes Instagram third regarding youth advertising reach, behind Facebook (123 million) and Snapchat (91.9 million).

36. Instagram will earn $18.16 billion in ad revenue in 2020

That estimated figure addresses a major jump from $13.86 billion out of 2020 and just $9.45 billion out of 2019.

37. 4 million businesses use Instagram Stories ads monthly

Stories advertisements offer brands the chance to make connecting full-screen encounters that interface with Instagram clients.

38. Mobile-shot Stories ads outperform studio-shot ads 63% of the time

Instagram users agree that Stories are more real and relevant. Stories promotions shot on versatile feel more like natural substance and less like a hard sell.

39. Stories advertisements with focal text outperform ads without text 75% of the time

This detail is explicitly centered around add-to-cart targets, yet it’s worth testing to perceive what utilization of text means for your Stories promotions for other advertising objectives.

40. Stories ads that emphasize the call to action perform better 89% of the time

Stories ads have a built-in call to action (like Swipe Up) at the bottom of the screen, but this can be easy to miss. Adding an enhanced call to action helps increase the chances viewers will interact with the ad.

41. How-to tutorials are the most popular form of Instagram video content

Followed by in the background posts, meetings, and news inclusion.

Consider what sort of fun, speedy, simple to-execute guidelines identified with your business or specialty you could change over into a short Instagram video content that motivates commitment.

42. IGTV videos are 4x bigger than photos on the Explore page

That makes IGTV recordings a decent method to attract likely new eyeballs to your account. Obviously, the initial step is to get on the Explore page.

43. IGTV automatic captions are provided in 16 languages

The Patriots have the highest engagement with their Reels. They see a normal 121,800 engagements for every Reel, contrasted with 21,600 engagements for each video.

44. NFL teams’ Reels generate 67% more engagement than their normal video posts

The Patriots have the highest engagement with their Reels. They see a normal 121,800 engagements for every Reel, contrasted with 21,600 engagements for each video.

AI is helping the future of digital marketing and it’s not just about what new technologies are available, but also what new trends are likely to come up in the near future.

The power of AI provides new opportunities to take place in the digital marketing place, but there are so many other techniques, tactics, and productivity improvements that also fall under the Al wing. Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing industry and businesses need to keep up and find out which are working best for them.

The Future of Digital Marketing

AI is an engineered science referred to as artificial intelligence, and the actual name addresses the developing business sector and the digital revolution that it has just brought to the world. There is already proof that it has impacted the worldwide economy.

The ultimate destination is to build remarkable experiences for clients, as it provides great and relevant experiences for the users, while businesses will require the right knowledge and tools so it can do the job for them.

On the AI bandwagon yet? It’s difficult to take no notice of these facts! When it points out digital marketing, if you aren’t on the AI plane yet, it may fly over you.

We are going to explore how AI is changing the future of digital marketing, how you can be at the forefront, and the tools you require to be there.

AI is Shaping Digital Marketing

By using Artificial Intelligence it will bring you to a more advanced business planning and here are some AI facts that will for sure impress:

• 61% of marketers say artificial intelligence is the most precious aspect of their data plan
• 80% of organizations and tech leaders say AI already improves productivity
• Recent AI technology can improve business productivity by up to 40%
• 97% of mobile consumers are using AI-powered voice assistants
• 83% of early AI adopters have already gained substantial (30%) or moderate (53%) economic gains

As AI is getting more attainable, agencies are now able to use it to analyze data, forecast trends, and improve the quality of their brand. As an outcome, the way a brand carries digital marketing is changing dramatically.

A couple of years prior, the marketing world moved away from its customary model to a digital one, prompting a further developed advertising procedure. The center of the past promoting model was to target buyers dependent on conduct, which prompted the production of computerization… which prompted advanced deals and virtual client assistance. Furthermore, it might lead to another need soon!

What’s the significance here for 2021? Promoting needs to accept a more client-driven approach and change the marketing model!

Now it is more about automating manual and repetitive works, which could soon augment human resolutions while it will increase the global GDP by 2030. That rise is expected to be positive providing opportunities for new jobs, while it will also change how recent jobs are being carried out.

As consumers are being more demanding, for digital marketing consultants the efforts will have to rise in order to keep up with the demands!

This implies mainly for traditional businesses, especially those that were dependent on the conventional marketing model to utilize the AI-powered marketing campaigns which we already see a rise. Let’s get into AI tools that can help us meet those demands…

AI Tools That Will Change the Future of Marketing 

AI is a great marketing tool, that is for sure. What does it involve? AI causes organizations to address perhaps the most basic difficulties of business today – capturing the right target audience which are the online shoppers and influencing them to purchase your products.

From the strategizing stage all the way to the conversion and customer loyalty phases, AI takes a central part in the accomplishment of any effort. Thus, associations that completely influence AI will acquire a favorable position over their rivals.

The way that the businesses are going through big changes is probably going to turn into an inexorably relevant purpose of conversation this year. What has been seen so far are simply introductory uses of the new AI innovation, a couple of remarkable AI models incorporate Amazon’s “Buy with Amazon” feature and, obviously, Alexa, the voice associate who has been coordinated into homes everywhere in the world.

What is it for 2021? Marketing needs to adopt a more customer-centric way and change the marketing model.

It’s already automating manual and ongoing tasks. In the early stages, it will get into the human decisions also. In the ongoing process, it will add more to global GDP as predicted by 2030. This rise will be more than enough to have many good jobs, and also it will also bring the difference in how the current jobs are conducted.

As consumer’s beliefs become more demanding, being a digital marketing consultant and AI will have to rise so that we can keep up with the consumers.

This is mainly true for traditional businesses, mainly those that were dependent on the conventional marketing model for the long run, and the AI-powered marketing campaigns may be the indications of changes en route, yet they are being coordinated gradually now in SaaS tools all over.

Benefits of AI to Make a Change for Good

The lowest line is, AI can help small businesses raising their overall profitability.

With AI technology, marketers can understand and test the trends and forecasts for the future. They can then make choices depending on these facts, how to divide their budgets and identify their target audience. Brands can reduce costs (and time) on digital advertising waste and spend their time on high-value work. 

With the help of AI, businesses can create more brilliant, more accurate advertisements as well. By making AI an important part of your agency’s digital marketing plan, you can raise your sales AND save money through the process because only the tools that will help you are going to focus on your key target audience and not waste your marketing budgets on irrelevant eyeballs. 

On a bigger scale, AI is placed to have a positive effect on sustainability, scalability, and global trends. It will affect urban communities, government issues, and legislative issues. At the point when utilized the correct way, it can help the world be better. 

Here are five reasons why AI is changing the future of digital marketing:

1. Brings Clarity

Have you ever thought about why some brands don’t advertise? As per the recent study, 71% of marketing respondents say brands don’t know about their consumer base. And hence, 66% of marketers say they want brands to make more financing in creating customer awareness and relationships. Big credit goes to AI-based voice assistant, technology, and IoT, you can set reminders and alerts, and get open and accurate answers when it matters.

2. Leverages IoT

Another reason why AI is helping the future of digital marketing is that it is taking advantage of the power of IoT and related devices. Where all you require is your phone and it works from anywhere, that’s a blogger upgrade from the past. In fact, you no longer have to log in to your business email account and learn about who is asking for your opinion.

If someone on Twitter or Facebook requires your choice, all you have to do is message them, and the data will come straight to your phone. As long as you have a high-speed internet connection, you can get the results instantly.

3. Automated Marketing

AI is still learning and will continue to upgrade. In fact, not only will it become smarter, but it may also take the place of the human being. You no longer require to market yourself or your business, as your AI assistant, like Amazon Echo or Apple’s Siri, can do it on your behalf.

You can do more than just speak to your device and read its voice-activated messages. As time passes, your AI will be able to work more autonomously. From making purchases to booking flights, your device will make the required recommendations and even help you with your financials.

4. Recognizes Your Tone and Voice

Here’s another reason why AI is helping in the future of digital marketing. It’s now easier to search for people online and contact them. Companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple make it possible to know your voice even if you don’t find time to learn about these and how to use them. 

So now all you have to do is say “Google,” or say “Hey, Siri,” and the search giant will know it, read the text, and get your information. AI technology uses these technology platforms to give you a better experience.

5. Natural Conversation

In the previous years, when voice assistants were still the new thing in the market, your device may have been able to recall your voice and respond, but it couldn’t have customized a reaction to your request.

This is why brands can foresee your acts on the behalf of your previous searches, your time spent on the website, your location, and much more. When you interact with your favorite brands, the device will do a great job of searching all the relevant information about the brand in the marketplace.

At Blupord, we believe AI is changing the future of digital marketing for the better and it will enable us more and more to provide our clients with the much required ROI for their businesses while making their own interaction with their clients easier. In 2021, more than ever, it’s time for companies to use AI in order to provide an elevated customer experience, not just to respond to consumers’ immediate needs but to build a long lasting relationships and brand trust.

Having a strong brand is all about consistency and recognizable company expressions across all the customer touch points; to provide not only the products and services but also the trust to the customers. A strong brand can be the focal point of a company’s overall success, and this is why successful global companies invest ongoing into building their brand online and offline.

It requires time and ongoing efforts to build up a strong and efficient brand, but also a strong brand increases the value of the overall company. It serves employees with orientation, motivation, and belonging. It gives the opportunities to have a competitive pricing strategy, and attract new customers – without much effort, simply because a strong brand creates a strong accord among the customers.

Here are 7 major advantages of developing a strong brand:

#1 Better customer recognition

“Oh, I know that brand”. A strong brand regularly uses every customer touchpoint; you will recognize it that very time just by looking at its color, font, or expressions. That delivers trust – and we like things that are more trustworthy and are safe. Simple sales rule: People buy from people they trust and like!

#2 Higher customer loyalty

“I like everything they do”. Customer loyalty is the regular impact of a continuously ensuring pleasing and user friendly experience and actual quality-based fulfillment. If a person has an excellent experience with the brand they will become your repeat customer, even in cases where a problem occurs and given it is resolved in a easy and professional manner, a business will still ensure to keep the client happy and loyal.

#3 More word of mouth

“Did you hear about this? It’s amazing!” When your brand provides a story that makes people learn about it more or what they are interested in, they will share it with their friends, family, and strangers at the bus stop. For that instance, they are your brand ambassadors talking about your brand and recommending it to others.

#4 Higher advertising effectiveness

“They’re showing something new“.  Your brand is your promises. Your client realizes that and a ‘solid brand’ will be met with interest and dependence. As long as the message is communicated clearly, it’s engaging and relevant, your target audience will embrace it!

#5 Higher applicant quality

“Working for this brand must be pretty awesome“. At the point when you see an organization that seems to have its head in the game, you’re probably going to be interested. Everybody needs to have solid, interesting brands with regards to their educational plan vitae. A strong brand attracts strong candidates – and company’s people are the overall company’s success!

#6 Higher employee motivation

“We have a cool thing going“. You’re working for something big and with no question proud of what you and your colleagues have achieved. That brings you joy and happiness in life and also in the workplace. Motivated employees are more effective and productive and this is crucial for the common goals and success.

#7 Lower price sensitivity

“I need this, no matter what“. The power of a strong brand provides the ability to increase prices. It’s simple: GREAT sells in a way that is better than GOOD, which fills development.

Creating a strong brand is not an easy task and it does not happen overnight. With branding becoming ever more crucial for organizations to not only survive – but to stick out of the deafening noise that is seven billion people wanting to be heard – the arguments for strengthening your brand are overwhelming. Taking the first step in the right direction is becoming crucial for businesses.

With branding getting always urgent for companies to endure – as well as to stand out of the stunning commotion that is seven billion individuals needing to be heard – the contentions for reinforcing your image are overpowering. So would you like to venture out the correct bearing?

Contact us at [email protected].

With the chaos of 2020 which we have left behind us, it’s time to look forward to what we can expect from the next 12 months with all the hopes and positive aspects.

2020 was the whole unexpected year for everyone due to the pandemic, which also affected some market trends that were expected to be the best – however, they ended up the scoring average, whereas many other trends which were supposed to be under the average line are trending for being the best!

Here are some of the observations from the top marketers around the globe on which trends are on the rise in the next 12 months:

Digital business pivots may become permanent  – by Teddy Heidt, Founder of The Gauge Collective.

According to him, to gain customers’ trust you need to Diversify your social media activity in order to connect with more engaged users and this way enrich the user experience on your social profiles by leveraging shop, address, and other customers’ experiences and many more features that break down barriers towards purchasing from your company. With this in mind, the company has responded with the launch of its Instagram shop to complement its new eCommerce program.

Tirocchi, CMO and co-founder, Shapermint enlightened us with  – Social media will become a top channel for purchase, instead of just discovery.

As the social media platform is becoming more and more reliable since the platforms are being made so easy to operate and to connect with users. Social media is even providing the opportunity for e-commerce customers to buy the products without even making them hop from one platform to another creating a simple and seamless path to purchase. With the advancement in 2021, the retail brands will have to adapt to these platforms with new rules, as it has been adopted by Amazon in many ways.

Sherene Hilal, SVP, product marketing, and business operations, Bluecore, predicts that — Informed buyers want to buy from informed brands.

This as a whole says that one goes beyond the age of personalization and also entering into an age of personal e-commerce,  which means that the customers share their experience with the brand to reflect their preferences at any given moment. They expect brands to understand what they’ve bought in the past and help them to determine what they should buy next, based on all the data that they’ve consciously shared with them by engaging with their sites and channels. This in return helps the brands understand the information about their customers such as: what they need, and also when they want the product. This information is beneficial for both the customers and also the businesses.

Whereas we have Jim Kruger, Chief Marketing Officer, Veeam, and also he remarks the following: Virtual events started out of necessity, but are here to stay because of ROI and accessibility.

Due to the pandemic in 2020, many brands and companies went for virtual events which in return is the best practice to get in touch with the audiences. As with this virtual event scenario, they get to interact with entirely new audiences as virtual events are more accessible than in-person events. As these virtual events save the time of traveling, getting visas, booking tickets, finding the location of the events, and many other problems and many companies have found that this allows for higher attendance and more participation. That means lower costs for more people and a higher ROI. This seems like a good option for the companies that are restricted by the ongoing changes in the rules impacted by the pandemic and the strains it has put on their marketing budgets. In 2021 and beyond, virtual events will continue to be a popular route to engage with a broad set of customers as companies see the many benefits of online events.

And also in the opinion of Lisa Apolinski, president of 3 Dog Write Inc, Live interactions with virtual events. 

Due to the pandemic, many of the companies went for the live sessions with their audiences which in return gave them a positive approach towards their business gathering and further information about the audiences. Yes, there are complications with live events such as technical errors, but this could bring positive changes also such as the feeling of safety of attendees, ease of connection from anywhere in the world, and convenience from attending from one’s living room.

These are some of the top trends predicted for 2021.

It no longer matters what type of industry your business is in or the type of products and services you offer – the latest digital marketing trends should not be ignored. With the fast paced and changing digital landscape, it is no longer enough for businesses to only have a well developed website and a Facebook page.

By now, it will be difficult to find many successful businesses that don’t have an online presence. So far this year, although the difficulties with Covid-19 that caused turbulence on a global scale, new technologies and tools have come to the fore, forcing marketers and businesses to adapt in order to keep their businesses at the forefront. Basically – if your business doesn’t adapt, you will surely be left behind.

What is new with Facebook?
As per Forbes, 41% of Facebook users are over the age of 65. It is evident that Facebook is losing ground with the younger demographics, who tend to prefer the more visual, interactive experiences offered by Instagram, Snapchat, and the rising star, TikTok.

With this information, it is essential for digital marketers and business owners to profile their their target audience, and then better understand where they are found online. Facebook may be very unsuitable for some campaigns, where the target audience is identified as the “older” population.. Facebook is still one of the most powerful platforms and it is advisable not to oversee it without trying it our for lead generation purposes . If not, you could be wasting your marketing budget, targeting the wrong social media platform – which happens to most businesses regarding all the different online and social platforms, when your businesses buyer personas are not properly identified.

2. Is Instagram a hit with younger audience?
The meteoric rise of Instagram has resulted in one billion+ users, which is an impressive achievement in basically no time. It is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, with much of its user base belonging to younger demographic, especially under 30.

Currently, Instagram is facing one potential problem as the platform has recently decided to remove the likes feature which has caused many influencers to voice their concerns, which also means that companies should keep a close eye on the impact this may have in 2020 – if any. While it could lead to an uptick in content quality, many users may drift away from the platform in search of vanity metrics elsewhere.

3. Chatbots are starting to dominate Customer Service
Chatbots are artificial intelligence (AI) software that acts as a virtual “concierge,” communicating with users and assisting them in completing their goals. While interacting with buyers in a natural way through the use of text chat windows, chatbots have also enabled verbal interactions as well. Over time, as the system collects more data insights, the AI learns more about the customers, making it possible to offer a continuously-improving service.

Bots allow users to receive personalized and focused interactions without weighing in on limited human resources.

In the world today where most businesses have turned online and most meetings also happen online, it is the perfect time to explore all the advantages of implementing chatbots for your business. 80% of businesses claim they want to start using chatbots so far this year. Following are some of the benefits:

• 24-hour service
• Instant responses to customer queries
• No need for breaks, vacations, or overtime pay

In January 2020, Tidio research confirmed that 43% of consumers prefer to message an online chatbot rather than to talk via phote with a business if additional information is required in their sales cycle. Chatbots are set to be one of the fastest-growing digital marketing trends in 2020.

4. Video marketing is becoming the norm in digital 
If your business is not using video marketing this year in your online campaigns this is the perfect time to start! Text-based and static content is simply not enough and it is becoming harder to compete with the power of engaging video content, in particular in lead generation and high performance campaigns.

In a mobile-mad world, people are watching more video than ever, using their smartphones to watch and share videos about various topics and learning more about brands. Here are some stats from ImpactBND:

• 70% of consumers have shared a brand’s video
• 52% of consumers claim that watching product videos makes them more confident and guides their online purchasing decisions
• 72% of businesses believe video content has improved their conversion rates

Video marketing is highly-engaging, and the online audience responds positively to ads where video’s are featured as main content. Live streaming is a powerful method and when combined with influencer marketing it provides great benefits to the brands. Whether it’s the new generation of social media influencers or traditional sources, such as celebrities, athletes, and musicians, interacting directly with the audience has become huge draw businesses.

5. Content is still important
An essential component of digital marketing is content, although there’s an increasing emphasis on nuance in content. The quality is important, and in addition, these days there’s more emphasis on the context and targeting. As Google is providing a deeper, more sophisticated understanding of online content, marketers must think carefully about their target audience and how they can revamp and tailor content strategy more precisely.

Much of this comes down to the BERT update released on Google in November 2019. The new algorithm helps the search engine obtain a much better and more clear understanding of the natural language in user search. Google advises to instead of “chasing the latest SEO trends, rather to focus on fast speed, useful links, and compelling content.”

As Google is getting smarter, those that produce ongoing in-depth, accurate current content will receive preference. Businesses should keep this fact in mind and part of their digital strategy in 2020.

6. Email is becoming more personalized
Email continues to be a major channel of communication, with billions still using it for personal, commercial, industrial, legal, scientific, and academic purposes. As with all the other evolving aspects of digital marketing,  generic marketing emails aren’t as effective as they used to be, because in today’s market place what works the best is a combination of automation and personalization.

For instance, when sending out email blasts that are product or service centric, such as a user browsing a particular product, and then follow up with a promotional price or demo video in a personalized email, this type of email marketing can be very effective. Email is often the final trigger to motivate an action, especially when combined with your remarketing campaign.

7. Interactive content is becoming mainstream
Interactive content is all type of content that people can click on, swipe, or interact with online. According to Outgrow, 93% marketers rate interactive content as highly effective when it comes to buyer education. In 2020, more companies are experimenting with this type of content:

• Quizzes and polls
• Augmented reality ads
• 360-degree videos

These formats leverage cutting-edge marketing technology, such as augmented reality and video content, to offer people a more immersive, engaging experience. These days, buyers are looking for this type of engaging content from brands because it is fun and entertaining leaving memorable and positive impressions about a brand.

8. Voice interaction is become more used 
Thanks to Siri, Google, Alexa, and a host of other ‘smart’ devices, verbal interaction with devices is continuing to rise. The real lesson for us is that people like to talk and that is a preferred way of interacting. And now, machines are finally catching up to the way people want to search, shop and discover new things.

However, this presents some interesting challenges. Conducting a search by voice is very different from typing a query in the results, and when a user performs a text-based search, the screen displays the results one page at a time. However, when asking a device to conduct a search and the device replies verbally, it may only give a few choices at most, and frequently supplies just one choice. In summary, implementing a voice search within your strategy means you will be creating a unique and optimized customer experience that will foster relationships and build brand loyalty with your customers.

9. Marketing in messaging apps is on the rise

Messaging applications are no longer used to just stay in touch with friends and family. Businesses in all industries have taken a significant interest in apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp in recent times, and following are the opportunities:

• There are 1.3 billion monthly users are active on Facebook Messenger
• Those are sending more than 10 billion messages every month
• WhatsApp has 1.6 billion active users
• Those are sending over 55 billion messages every day

With the above facts it is no secret that people are more active on instant messaging apps and it is predicted that in the next 5-7 years, messenger marketing is expected to be the number one marketing channel in the world.  With this in mind it is a logical step for businesses to start connecting with your target audience via these platforms. Marketing through Facebook Messenger generates 10 to 80 times more engagement than organic posts on the Facebook News Feed.

63% of online consumers are more likely to return to a company website if it has a live chat option, which means that businesses should seriously consider this type of marketing where many companies will include video and interactive content to engage the customers.

10. Omnichannel marketing is the way forward
Omnichannel marketing is the practice of marketing across multiple platforms, including email, apps, social media, and website blog. This approach enables businesses to connect with customers via various digital touchpoints, effectively offering a improved user experience while creating synergies between the ad sets for optimum performance.

By delivering a seamless, consistent voice and cohesive brand message across all channels, the campaigns get fully optimized providing successful results. Omnichannel marketing drives over three times as much engagement than a single-channel approach, whereas customer retention, average order value, and purchase frequency are all higher when you adapt the multiple channels strategy.

With AI technologies, businesses can today leverage from useful data insights and machine learning understanding better the behaviour of their customers and their online habits, and focusing on omnichannel marketing is the road to an enhanced customer journey that keeps your customers return back to your platforms.

One important component of digital marketing is mobile marketing.

Over 70% of B2B buyers for instance increased mobile usage over the past years and 50% of B2B search queries today are made on smartphones, a number that has grown to 70% this year alone. Mobile marketing can accelerate time to B2B purchase by 20 percent. Furthermore, smartphone usage accounts for 69% of time spent consuming digital media, while desktop-based digital media consumption makes up less than half – in some countries this number is even higher!

Top 10 Mobile Statistics
– 80% of online users utilized a mobile device to search the internet in 2019
– 40% of online transactions are conducted by a mobile device
– US mobile search ad spending was estimated at USD 28.12 Billion in 2019
– More than 50% of websites are responsive that work for all devices
– More than 3/4 shoppers use mobile devices in addition to physical shopping
– Mobile advertising accounted for 72% of all U.S. digital ad spending by end of 2019
– Nearly half of online shoppers tend to read the reviews on their mobile phones
– Website speed is crucial for more than 50% of the mobile users
– You are likely to loose 50% of your online customers if they face a bad experience with your eCommerce site
– 3 out of 4 teens regularly shop online today

With this in mind, it is essential to optimize your digital ads, web pages, social media images, and other digital assets for mobile devices. If you have a mobile app that enables users to engage with your products, your app falls under the digital marketing umbrella, too.

Customers that are engaging with your business online via mobile devices must have the same positive and easy experience as they would if they were on desktop. It is becoming crucial for your business to adapt to this and implement a mobile-friendly or responsive website to make the browsing user-friendly, in particular for those on mobile devices. As the mobile version of your digital assets are minimized in terms of the actual view, it is recommended to reduce the length of your content, ways of displaying important information, smaller lead generation forms and visuals to create a pleasant search experience for customers. When it comes to design of images for social media, it’s important to remember that the image dimensions should be smaller on mobile devices, meaning text can be cut-off.

There are plenty of ways you can optimize your digital marketing assets for mobile users, and it is hugely important to consider the buyer journey on mobile devices. By always considering this, you are destined to create pleasant digital experiences which will work for your customers, while you are achieving the results that you are aiming for.

Ready to try digital marketing for your business? This is how to proceed…
For those that are already leveraging off digital marketing, it’s highly likely that you are reaching some segments of your audience online. However, given the vast scope and various growth hacking strategies that only experts in digital can implement, there is no doubt that there might be some areas of your strategy that could use some improvement which will result in high ROI.

At Blupord, we carefully breakdown each segment of your strategy and provide you with an effective digital strategy that is suited for your business, setting you apart from your competition in no time. Our step-by-step approach rooted in local and international experience will assist your business to flourish in no time in a truly effective way. Each client is treated in a unique way and only strategies that we believe are suited for your business will be implemented, tested and optimized. Talk to our team today – It is time for your business to prosper.