Snap was one of the first companies to plunge headlong into use of Augmented Reality (AR). But ever since then, several other leading companies such as Facebook, Alibaba, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Google have hit the stride. These large media outlets have all developed their own AR toolkits. Advertising space is a key metric these IT giants are looking at with Apple, Facebook and Google already having developed its ilk. But the most cutting-edge offering to alter digital marketing as we know it, comes from Amazon through its AR View. This will enable customers to take a look at any product’s view within their household even before it arrives. Smart glasses too are making a comeback, with Snap’s Spectacles, Microsoft’s Holo Lens and Apple’s latest acquisition- Akonia Holo-graphics.

Source:https://adexchanger.com/platforms/the-big-platforms-are-giving-augmented-reality-a-real-push/

Uploaded Date:27 September 2018

The cosmetics industry is one of the oldest and often associated with the very concept of human civilization. It is also a bit slow in reacting and adapting to changes. But now the industry is effecting digital makeovers to tap into the present trends. Four ways have been identified that cosmetics companies can adopt to master digital marketing. First of all, website operations will need to be carefully tackled, especially the speed which is of paramount importance. To this end, the right form of market segmentation is necessary. Social media marketing too needs to be looked at especially through platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, by making use of vloggers. The mobile website or app must have a friendly interface, that is easy to browse.

Source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/09/20/beauty-and-brains-four-ways-cosmetics-companies-are-mastering-digital-marketing/#2376dc840cee

Uploaded Date:27 September 2018

Digital marketing is here to stay, and only increase in importance. In North America alone, 89% of population has access to the internet. Social media has become the most influential tool within the armory. Some key changes have been effected which have altered the marketing styles to customers. One such method is influencer marketing which uses real persons who are social media stars to advertise for a product. At the other end, there are chatbots which are now more interactive. Marketing research conducted over six countries by Live Person revealed that about two-thirds of those surveyed are using chatbots in their business operations. Even messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Facebook’s Messenger have dived deep into using this aspect. Voice Search is another such tool expected to grow by nearly thirteen percent this year. Challenges abound as many search algorithms based on voice still remain rudimentary. Blockchain is yet another upcoming tool. It needs full-integration with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reap the full benefits.

Source:https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2018/08/29/digital-marketing-trends-that-are-changing-the-way-we-market-to-consumers/#77f5f9d68910

Uploaded Date:01 September 2018

Improved pricing tools are now available that use their analytics capabilities to produce improved market business intelligence. According to a report by Bain, companies that are using such tools possess the right data to begin with and are known to be making the right decisions. A third of respondents in the study carried out by Bain confirm that these tools are essential in their decision-making process. However, having the right tools alone isn’t enough if the team leader isn’t up to the task. Executives using such business analytics tools need to themselves have good pricing skills and have a sales team that is savvy. The newer tools will be even more sophisticated and will enhance the overall customer journey. For B2B players, not setting the right price level was a cause of business losses, according to 61 % of the respondents. Some trends can now be deciphered in B2B sales. The front line in sales is being utilized to gauge insights as they get direct feedback from customers. B2B clients are now demanding a customer-like experience in their purchase decisions. Any internal friction needs to be eliminated immediately. New pricing models are emerging that are disrupting the existing industries. As pricing cannot exist within any vacuum, through analysis of the bigger picture needs to be undertaken. Cross-functional accountability must be introduced and proper segmentation done.

Source:http://www.bain.com/publications/articles/the-secret-to-b2b-pricing-in-a-digital-world.aspx

Uploaded Date:16 August 2018

Some new fintech companies have already put in place mechanisms to transform the financial-services industry. Now they want customers to change their lifestyle habits so these transformational mechanisms can be put to use. An example is N26 which is a customer bank that can only be accessed through its mobile app. Millennials regularly cite visiting bank centres as frustrating, which is what led to its founder, himself a millennial to develop this business innovation. Online cashless payments work well, but real cash may also be withdrawn from seven-thousand plus affiliate ATMs. Trust and quality are very important factors for these new players. The N26 app also has a feature to track insights on what customers really require. Banking in the future will make use of the enormous data warehousing on hand to create individualized user personas according to which personalized services will be provided. It will use predictive analytics to execute this.

Source:https://www.strategy-business.com/article/How-Can-a-Fintech-Company-Win-20-Million-Customers?gko=03727

Uploaded Date:26 July 2018

There is a lot of conflict among sales teams at present on the approach. Many think it must be analog as it has guaranteed success over the years, while others feel it could be digital as that is the way forward. The truth lies somewhere in between. Digital marketing is like rocket fuel for sales, as it has accelerated everything butt one cannot do so by ignoring the fundamentals. Increasingly it is being found that a dash of human emotional touch within the digital sales process can help enormously in sealing a deal. The digital approach works best with renewal, cross-selling and up-selling. But when it comes to discovering new customer needs or demands, it is the personal touch that matters. Especially when it comes to B2B sales, companies need to be armed with 24-hour requirements of domain experts.One such B2B marketer employs crowdsourced professionals as an engaging mechanism. Either way, human or digital, customers care about transparency in dealings, so this needs to be paid top priority.

Source:https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-secret-to-making-it-in-the-digital-sales-world

Uploaded Date:26 July 2018

Leveraging on digital influencers is now a key tactic within digital marketing. Stars from social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest act as influencers to help brands reach out to a larger audience and help them convert to buyers. However, influencer marketing too has evolved. Now its effect has been enhanced by the use of data-driven metrics. Influencers are now termed as Effective Opinion Leaders (EOL). Being an influencer alone is no longer enough as the market is slowly saturating. So, one needs to understand whether the person aligns with the message the brand is trying to convey. This must help reach new customers and create engaging content.

Source:https://www.smartcompany.com.au/marketing/social-media/small-business-need-more-than-an-influencer/

Uploaded Date:18 July 2018