In an industry as fast-paced as Digital Marketing, missing out on a trend can mean missing out on a game-changing opportunity!

 

So, in this blog post, we will be discussing 3 industry trends that will not only set the stage for the future of Digital marketing, but they will also act as opportunities for you to grow your business, or improve your operational efficiency – Podcasting, micro-influencer marketing, and AI content creation. 

 

Interested? Continue reading, and you can learn how to take advantage of these digital marketing trends to make 2024 your best year in business. 

 

Podcasting

“I heard it on a podcast.”

 

This is a phrase that you’ve probably heard countless times in 2023, and in 2024 you should prepare to hear it even more! That’s why, the first digital marketing trend that we’ll be covering in this blog post is podcasting.

 

Over the past 5 or so years, podcasting has exploded in growth, and we expect that this growth will continue well into 2024, and beyond. While Joe Rogan super fans have been avid podcast listeners for over 10 years, podcasts have been rather niche, until recently. Today, there’s a podcast out there that relates to every subculture and profession. So, for business owners like you, that means there has to be an audience for content that relates to the products you sell, the services you offer, your industry as a whole, or anything else related to your business.

 

In fact, in terms of global podcast listeners, podcasts had a global audience of 275 million people per year in 2019, and today, that number has grown to a grand total of 505 million people. 

 

Here are the stats:

 

• 2019 – 274.8 million listeners
• 2020 – 332.2 million listeners (20.9% growth)
• 2021 – 383.7 million listeners (15.5% growth)
• 2022 – 424.2 million listeners (10.6% growth)
• 2023 – 464.7 million listeners (9.6% growth)
• 2024* – 504.9 million listeners (9.6% growth)

 

Thanks to lockdowns keeping us indoors, and as a result of boredom and creative business owners, the entire platform of podcasting exploded with more listeners AND more hosts in 2020. 

 

And, while growth has calmed down, it remains consistent. So, for business owners like you, this means that podcasts are not only an incredible opportunity for you to build your brand and earn new leads, but also, a content marketing platform that is here to stay. 

 

So, how can a business grow through podcasting?

 

Let’s say that you’re a local realtor. By podcasting, you can attract new leads by sharing your unique perspective on the real estate market, the challenges of entrepreneurship, as well as local news and events. More specifically, by discussing a wide range of topics, your podcast can build relationships and credibility with others in real estate, business owners from different industries, and finally, your target audience of local buyers and sellers.

 

With that being said, if you’re looking for a modern approach to build your business, podcasting is a tactic you need to consider in 2024! By simply recording a conversation and sharing your insight, you can provide and demonstrate value, which will in turn result in growth.

 

 

 

Micro-Influencer Marketing 

“I saw it on TikTok”

 

You’ve probably heard this phrase every other week too! The next trend that we’ll be covering in this blog post is the rise of micro-influence.

 

While the concept of a micro-influencer has been a part of the digital marketing industry since social media first became a tool for business, the micro-influencing landscape completely changed when TikTok became an absolute powerhouse. If you’re unfamiliar, micro-influencing refers to when an influencer with a small audience, or a niche one, is used to promote a business’s products or services. 

 

In the past, pre-social media, an influencer may be someone like Michael Jordan, a star with a household name. On the other hand, a micro-influencer would be someone like a locally sponsored snowboarder, someone with influence, but only within their specific community. Today, the general concept of influencing on a macro or micro level still applies… However, micro-influencers have become significantly more effective in recent years thanks to the re-emergence of short-form content on TikTok and Instagram Reels. For example:

 

• In the past, social media was primarily used by a younger audience. Today, a significant portion of every age group consumes and creates social media content daily.
• In the past, most users preferred viewing content from creators that they have specifically followed. Today, most consumers regularly use TikTok’s FYP and the Instagram Reels Page, which is a feed of content from NEW creators that they don’t follow.
• In the past, consumers needed to seek out high-quality content creators manually. Today, TikTok and Instagram’s algorithm does this for you, making users more likely to stumble upon micro-influencers that they enjoy.

 

In other words, in addition to the growth of the entire platform, the social media habits of the average user have also undergone a major shift. As a result, Instagram and TikTok users now actively search for and enjoy new content creators every single day, unlike the typical social media user just 5 years ago.

 

So, for business owners and entrepreneurs, this means that influencer marketing, specifically through micro-influencers, will continue to be a tactic that is not only trending, but also effective in 2024. 

 

 

 

AI Content Creation

“Was that made with AI?”

 

The final digital marketing trend that we will be covering is AI content creation.

 

This year, there were numerous advancements in AI technology, but in this blog post, we will be focusing on how AI can help business owners like you write and optimize text content FAST.

 

For example, let’s say that you own an Italian restaurant. In the past, consistently crafting the perfect captions to promote your specials could have easily taken a few hours every single week. But today, thanks to advanced AI writing tools like ChatGPT, you can simply ask AI to do the work for you. For example, let’s say that you need an Instagram caption to promote your “Arrabbiata Rigatoni with Meatballs”. 

 

Here’s a prompt you can enter into ChatGPT:

 

• Write me a brief and inviting Instagram caption to promote my restaurant’s weekly special – Arrabiata Rigatoni with Meatballs. Here are the dish’s features:
  • A spicy house-made sauce made with fresh garlic, chili flakes, and premium olive oil
  • Imported pasta
  • Locally sourced meat

 

Here is what ChatGPT produced with that prompt!

 

• “🔥 Spice up your week with our sizzling Weekly Special: Arrabiata Rigatoni with Meatballs! 🍝✨ Indulge in the perfect blend of heat and flavor with our house-made spicy sauce crafted from fresh garlic, chili flakes, and premium olive oil. Paired with imported pasta and locally sourced meat, this dish is a true taste sensation! 🌶️🍴 Don’t miss out – available all week long!

 

So, if you need to post on Instagram 5 times per week, AI writing tools like ChatGPT can save you from writing 20 captions per month! Plus, if you aren’t happy with the results, you can always ask ChatGPT to optimize the content it produces to suit your specific needs, or your brand. For example, if your Italian restaurant features a casual atmosphere, as opposed to a luxury one, you could ask ChatGPT to make your captions more conversational to match your brand.

 

But, that’s not all! With writing tools like ChatGPT, you can save an incredible amount of time by using AI to respond to and write emails, brainstorm ideas, and generate blog outlines. 

 

With that said, each breakthrough in artificial intelligence comes with opportunities to edge out your competition! And, after everything we’ve seen in 2023, we predict that AI will only continue to get more sophisticated, and useful for business owners in 2024. 

 

 

 

In conclusion, In today’s blog post we discussed the benefits of long-form content marketing, the rise and effectiveness of niche content creators, as well as the progression of AI technology… In other words, how business owners like you, can utilize podcasting, micro-influencers, and AI writing tools to not only expand and earn more customers, but to also improve your content creation efficiency.

 

So, now that you have an understanding of 2024’s digital marketing trends, and an overarching view of where this industry is heading, all that’s left is starting your own journey and making 2024 your best year yet!

 

But, if you’re looking for help from an expert, you can always contact us for a FREE Digital Marketing Consultation – [email protected].