So, it looks like we've come to the tail-end of another year. It's time to say Goodbye to 2019 and Hello 2020. As usual, many sites and publications will have reviews of the past year and lists of the top trends of 2019. At OMA, we prefer to look forward instead. While the past is a good indicator and teacher, it is the future where things of significance will happen.
As we look into our 'crystal ball', one thing that is very clear is that digital marketing will continue to grow. In fact, according to eMarketer, the worldwide ad spend is predicted to surpass US$375 billion by 2021. This growth comes at a price though. Traditional ad media like print and TV will see a steady decline as advertisers plough their budgets in digital marketing.
The paradigm shift has already happened and if your business is still not on digital media, it's time for you to take immediate action before it's too late. If you still have reservations or not sure what you should do, have a chat with us and we can assist you to adopt a strategy that will give you a clear edge over your competitors.
If you have been avoiding digital marketing, is it because you think you are simply not ready? Do you think you just need some time to get established and then you will figure out the digital marketing angle?
The problem with this approach is that your customers and potential customers are already online. Right now. Today. There’s a good chance they might already be looking for a business like yours, but if they can’t find you easily, they are probably going to choose someone else.
This is how people do business today. When someone has an interest in your business, whether it is in your niche in general or if they are curious about your brand, the first thing they are going to do is research online and see what they can find out about you.
On the other hand, if you are looking at digital marketing as a career switch, we are offering you a chance to fast track your career through our
Extended Diploma in Digital Marketing, awarded by London Examinations Board, UK.
With the Internet of Things and a connected globe, technology has 'shrunk' the world, effortlessly connecting people from all different countries and cultures.
Sharing information is more accessible than it ever has before, making it much easier to generate product awareness or promote your service. Digital marketing is no longer an option in 2020, it's mandatory for any business!
Digital marketing is the future of any business. It's vital for any business to have some sort of digital marketing strategy in place, regardless if it's an online business or a brick and mortar store. You will be hard pressed to compete or survive in the market without a proper digital marketing strategy. People's habits have changed especially with smart phones. These days everything is just a search away.
Businesses that understand this are getting ahead of their competitors in the market. Do you really want to be left behind? More importantly, can you AFFORD to be left behind?
Some businesses subscribe to the following myths:
Digital Marketing is expensive
The truth is, it is the most affordable, effective and budget friendly marketing platform. Traditional marketing medias on the other hand are expensive, inflexible and much slower to deploy. For example, you could set up a Facebook advert to run within 10 minutes with a budget of US$100 for a week. And you wouldn't even need a designer nor programmer to make it work!
We're not computer savvy or we lack the manpower
With proper training and practice, most business owners can easily embark on their own digital marketing strategy. Or, if they prefer, they can always hire a digital marketer or engage a third party for a start. There is no excuse not to get started on your own digital marketing efforts.
We're just a small company, we don't need it
Every business NEEDS to be found online. If you have a small business, you would still need an online presence. At the very least when customers search for your business, you can be found. Nothing frustrates users more than not being able to search for a particular business on their mobile phones.
We do understand that for businesses that have never embarked on digital marketing previously will find it all very challenging, but you can always speak with our friendly consultants to clear any doubts you have. The best way to think of digital marketing is to think of it as a 'fixed expense' for your business, much like your electricity bill. You can't run your business without electricity can you?
In 2020, these trends will take off and you should really look at integrating it with your online marketing strategy as soon as you can.
The Chatbots have arrived
Chatbots are effective at interaction with online users, communicate naturally and answer instantly without losing their temper. And chatbots can serve multiple users at once without complaint nor asking you for more pay. Chatbots can respond faster than any human and that means keeping your customers happy. Chatbots also don't need to take time off and can work 24/7, so your customers can contact your at any time of the day and still get their queries answered.
Artificial Intelligence is here
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already taking over many simple jobs and that trend will continue. For instance, Alexa and Siri are voice assistants that provide excellent customer care. Just like a human, they can take orders from the users and work behind the scenes on their behalf. AI can analyze consumer behavior and search patterns, and use data from social media platforms and blog posts to help businesses understand how customers find their products and services.
Personalisation
Personalisation will be a big thing for 2020 as AI analyses customer's behaviours and serve up content tailored to their interests and behaviours. Personalisation is truly the future of digital marketing. And these days, it’s what consumers expect… one study even shows that 79% of consumers feel frustrated if the content their viewing isn’t tailored to them.
Next-GEN SEO
Right now, a lot of different changes are taking place in the search engines industry and updates are happening constantly. These changes in the search algorithms have profoundly affected the user’s search results. Every new algorithm comes with different benefits or problems, depending on how you look at it. Ultimately, the goal of search engines is to help users get specific results that answers their questions. Therefore, you will see in 2020 and beyond that the quality of search results will improve dramatically.
So are you excited about what 2020 will bring yet?