The pandemic has changed our lives, and there is no denying that fact. This change has got witnessed in many aspects of life, including the business world. Stabilized economy is far from reality these days, but there are ways to create a robust business plan and run effective digital marketing campaigns.
In 2018, India witnessed about 120 million regular online shopping, with 28% CAGR. And these figures are expected to reach 200 million by 2025.
The pandemic situation was earlier speculated to be over sooner, but soon we realized we might live like this for the next couple of years. Therefore, several businesses have taken some steps against this hit. No doubt, companies were establishing their digital presence even before the pandemic. But now they have started taking it seriously because they know this is all they’ve got.
With almost 100% increase in online sales in India, companies and business owners have realized that this shift might become more alarming and long-term than imagined.
The Boom Of Digital Era
The present and future is digital. Innumerable people are comparing prices to in-store products with online ones. Moreover, eCommerce also offers returns and exchange facilities that have encouraged more people to shop online. They have reduced going to the stores and are meeting all their shopping demands online, starting from groceries to sanitizers, clothes to washing machines, and much more.
The changing consumer behaviors also changes the prevailing marketing trends. Below are the upcoming trends that one can expect in the digital marketing post-pandemic era.
1. A more synchronized approach
Digital marketing alone is not sufficient. Professionals recommend an integrated marketing approach, where brands are aware of the evolving demands and behaviors of the consumers.
Marketers must know their customers at each step while using the custom tools, tech, and data to stay ahead in the game.
Conventional brand models provide consumers a broad experience. However, this generation demands a personalized approach, and that is what makes a difference in your business.
Amid the pandemic, marketers must reconsider what technologies they really require, help them save funds, and help them evolve their businesses that have been shattered by this crisis.
Diaz Nesamoney, Founder of Jivox, said that the marketing tech that goes beyond fulfilling just the needs are considered essential, while the rest may end up worthless. Think of the conventional brand funnel structure that got used to discover the client’s behavior. This framework starts tracing from when the customer realizes the need for a product and commences his search for it to the moment he actually purchases it.
These trends become obsolete when it comes to a digital market. The audience might not even know of this product while browsing the web.
Ads placed on social media platforms and related searches on eCommerce websites are used to arouse their curiosity. Online descriptions and reviews are other critical aspects that propel consumer interest and ultimate purchase.
Therefore, the latest trends in digital marketing are continuously rising.
2. Focus on ROI
This dramatic shift in the market engendered by a bunch of online shoppers means that the brands would have to raise their investments to create their online presence and promote their products.
All the high ROI producing tools and digital platforms, including Pragmatic Advertising, SEO, and Conversational Marketing, will witness an unbelievable rise in investments during and after Covid-19.
3. Digital Marketing Profession
A 2017 study claims that the need for digital marketers was at 56%. In comparison, those that met the needs and demands of the market were at 24%.
By next year-end, the need for professional digital marketers will get tripled. This will undoubtedly lead to a handful of digital marketing experts. Many businesses will see this as an opportunity to move up a scale in their profession due to the changing market needs.
4. Increased Outsourcing In India
A significant part of this quickly evolving market is likely to shift to India in the coming times. The young Indian business owners showcasing their proficiency in digital marketing, and with discovering the ever-increasing talent, the display of cost-effective digital abilities cannot get overlooked.
5. Other Streams Witnessing Improvements
Authors like Nitin Chaturvedi, Brain Nuwadi, Mirko Martich, and Nursen Ulker, write in “The Future of Retail Supply Chains” that several supply chains today are not set up to tackle this sort of demand for speed and ease cost-effectively and are already parting away due to the new multi-channel world.
Marketers and brands will have to make modifications to their existing models, with the digital world continually evolving. Data analytics would also observe massive changes when tracking the changing consumer behavior and unpredictable behavior of new consumers in the transition from conventional brand funnels to trends.
The expert web developers would require to get enlisted to develop a streamlined yet delightful experience for users while setting the brands apart from their nemesis.
6. Grouping the Small and Medium Brands
As brands evolve digitally for a virtual future, many brands should consider collaborating with other brands.
This would create various benefits, especially for small and medium businesses facing higher demands for needs; they are not yet ready to meet. When working jointly and sharing expenses, a lot of portions can get invested in marketing.
Developing a larger entity means being able to reach a broader consumer base with particular demands that a small or medium business might not meet alone.
The Endnote
People fear going to stores physically to shop, and this is why less tech-savvy people who never preferred online shopping have also switched to online purchases. Businesses now realize the benefits of having an online platform for shopping everything from a book to furniture online.
Such kind of marketing needs were not predicted in the past. Little did we know we will get hit with the pandemic, and the online demand will change drastically. This shift was not speculated. However, it is something that the brands are now ready for.
Digital marketing has revolutionized in the past few months, and such changes at this pace were never witnessed before. If you are a digital marketer, that time is soon when every business will inevitably need a digital marketing team.
