Technology allows advertisers to push the boundaries of digital advertising. Each day, brands are finding new and innovative ways to engage their customers and form relevant relationships. As your brand looks to create new campaigns, especially before the holiday season starts, consider how advertising trends may shape the way you interact with customers.
Below are three of the most impactful advertising trends that we have seen over the past year. Perhaps one will speak to you.
1. Experiential Marketing
Experiential marketing is extremely powerful because it focuses on the customer and how they experience a brand. As we know, consumers are most loyal to a brand when they feel an emotional connection. This connection can be successfully formed through distinctive experiences.
Experiences make a difference in advertising because they provide consumers with something tangible and relatable. Brands big and small have experimented with experiential marketing and seen favorable results. Whether it’s a branded pop-up shop or a large promotional event, there are dozens of ways to immerse your audience in ways that won’t be forgotten.
2. Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has seen slow but steady growth over the last few years, reaching $1.1 billion in 2016. Though critics argue that VR is not widely accessible, consumers say they are excited to try out this new medium. Advertisers, of course, are taking note.
Some of the most well-known brands to use virtual reality as an advertising medium are North Face, Samsung and NBC. These brands have found that VR is a remarkable way to share information. Viewers are completely immersed in the experience, allowing them to form emotional connections with the brand. No other type of technology, at least at this point, can create as captivating experiences as virtual reality.
3. Live Video
In 2016, we saw a new trend in live video on social platforms. In April, Facebook launched Live. Twitter announced its mobile integration with the live streaming app Periscope, while Instagram introduced a live video streaming service in December.
The possibilities are endless with live video, and brands know this. Over the past year, we’ve seen brands successfully use live video as an extension of video marketing. Because the video is filmed in real time, viewers have the opportunity to interact with products and services in an entirely new way. Also, viewers feel that real time content is more genuine because it’s happening in the moment.
Conclusion
Each year, we watch advertising trends evolve. We are confident that 2017 will not disappoint. As you plan for future campaigns, consider some of the ways that you can bring your marketing to life. With so many opportunities – experiential marketing, virtual reality and live video – it’s possible to engage your audience in ways that wouldn’t have been possible just a few short years ago.
