Is your business preparing to gear up for 2016?
It can be hard to keep track of online marketing trends as new technologies, gadgets and software seem to constantly be emerging onto the scene.
As 2015 draws to a close however, analysts and experts have been weighing in on what the new trends for 2016 will be.
Understanding these trends can definitely help your business to know where to direct its attention to and can help you to hit the ground running over the next few months.
Here are the 7 Online Marketing Trends Predicted to Dominate in 2016:
1. Video Ads Will Increase in Popularity
Video ads are nothing new, however one of the biggest changes in 2016 is that Google is finally getting on board with in-SERP video advertising. This means that users are going to become more comfortable accepting online video ads which will increase the likelihood of their distribution. Sites like Facebook and Instagram have already made huge shifts to accepting video ads and this trend is only expected to increase.
2. App Indexing Will Cause An App Industry Boom
App Indexing has been around for some time now however, in 2016 Google is expected to get more sophisticated with app ranking, giving business owners the opportunity to get their app more visibility.
As more and more users become mobile savvy, apps are going to continue to dominate and 2016 is expected to be a pivotal year for the industry. In fact, some experts suggest that apps will dominate over website content altogether.
Thinking about creating an app? Now would definitely be the time to do it.
3. Mobile Marketing Will Continue to Be King
Speaking of mobile domination, 2016 is said to repeat the trends from previous years and produce some big numbers when it comes to mobile web browsing and purchasing.
In 2015, mobile traffic overtook desktop traffic for the first time in 10 different countries, proving how more and more people are relying on mobile devices to complete activities that they would normally do on a desktop.
Google also released an algorithm update earlier this year that included mobile sites in their ranking, forcing businesses to make the switch to mobile as well.
Since these changes have taken place, mobile marketing has taken off and insiders at Google are apparently already preparing for huge monetisation opportunities on mobile devices in preference of desktops.
4. Digital Assistants Will Change SEO
The rise of digital assistants like Siri and Cortana are definitely changing the landscape of SEO. While both of these systems use search engines to find information, often times they don’t have to. Tapping into this market is definitely going to open up many doors in 2016 and will help change the way marketing for your business is done.
Currently, the key to optimising in this format is to make sure your business is easily searchable by the virtual assistants but eventually, these platforms may offer more exclusive options. This field is something definitely worth keeping a watch on.
5. Virtual Reality Will Emerge
Oculus Rift, one of the most popular virtual reality devices is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016 helping to give the industry the kickstart it has been waiting for.
While this technology has existed for some time, the market never felt quite ready for it and many virtual reality products failed to succeed. Hopefully in 2016 however, Oculus can pave the way to really enhance the industry.
By introducing the new Virtual Reality headset, it is going to open up huge opportunities for marketers especially in terms of video advertising. It also gives marketers the opportunity to become super creative with advertising and perhaps showcase products and services in a way that has never been done before.
6. Wearables will Rise in Popularity
Smart devices have been gaining traction in recent years and with Apple releasing their iWatch earlier this year, things are only expected to heat up.
As more wearables hit the market, it is definitely going to change the landscape of local marketing and online marketing and force advertisers to come up with new and creative ways to deliver messages.
While sportsbands are currently some of the more popular wearables, it is only a matter of time before Apple and other brands like Samsung really tap into the wearable market in a way that speaks to consumers.
7. Advertising Prices to Inflate
Competition in the online marketing world has increased drastically over the last few years and unfortunately this seems to be a trend that will stay. As more and more businesses also choose to go online and on mobile devices, prices and competition is set to increase.
While online advertising has always been significantly cheaper than TV ads or billboards, these upcoming price increases may cause smaller businesses to struggle in 2016.
Like all relatively new industries, the future of online marketing is definitely set to change in the coming years. While these predictions for 2016 are not the only expected changes, they are believed to be the most significant.
While there is no guarantee on how these changes will manifest, it is important that your business is prepared for whatever new opportunities may emerge.
What trends do you predict for the future of online marketing?
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