As technology expands the boundaries of advertising and digital media possibilities, advertising trends continue to change. Unfortunately, keeping up with digital marketing trends can be complicated and time-consuming. Staying abreast of every aspect of successful digital marketing requires analyzing buying trends and creating personalized content. An online Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication with PR and Advertising Certificate from Arkansas State University can help students understand how organizations, groups and people connect. Students will learn how businesses and organizations use public outreach to influence opinions and adapt advertising messaging. Graduates from this online program will be prepared to achieve positive results by applying strategies and principles of communication through digital media and other developing methods.
Cutting-Edge Trends for Advertisers Using Digital Media
The past few years have altered the advertising landscape significantly, making advertising via digital media more difficult. Cutting through the noise and recognizing current trends can help businesses understand the changes and developments to incorporate them into their digital marketing and advertising campaigns. One of the biggest trends relates to customer experience. Consumers are interested in transparency. Empowered to interact with brands via social media, consumers expect responses about the brand before making purchases. Conversational marketing through social media can be a potential obstacle to businesses. However, by prioritizing this type of marketing, brands can enjoy the benefits of transparent communication with potential customers. Conversely, if a company responds slowly or ambiguously, consumers will not get the answers they want and will go elsewhere for their needs. Here are a few other significant digital media trends for advertisers:
- Privacy. Maintaining and updating email lists will soon be a priority for many brands. Current trends include email marketing strategies and using a first-party data approach instead of relying on third-party cookies. Many consumers dislike not knowing how advertisers track their online activities and use their information. Therefore, advertisers must find alternative ways to find customers.
- Storytelling. Another advertising trend is telling a story to attract potential customers instead of messaging that presents the product as better than the competition. Focusing on how a brand has delivered its promises can inspire consumers. When a company tells a story about how a service or product can solve a problem, consumers will remember that brand when searching for a solution.
- Artificial intelligence. Using artificial intelligence (AI) in digital marketing to improve search engine optimization (SEO) and track website traffic leads to more intuitive reporting. Businesses can use artificial intelligence to predict consumer habits and spending to suggest new products or items based on past purchases. Using AI for specific targeting can increase sales by offering specific personalized services or products.
- Video advertising. With the rise of video content on Facebook and YouTube, advertisers are increasing their marketing budget to advertise via videos. Online videos are an important advertising avenue, whether it is how-to videos, product demos, tutorials or video blogs.
How Can a B.S. in Strategic Communication Prepare Me for Digital Advertising?
The flexible coursework of the online B.S. in Strategic Communication with PR and Advertising Certificate program at A-State focuses on developing a sales presentation and examining the structure of the advertising industry. The emphasis on creating, identifying and implementing cohesive and consistent messaging teaches students to use digital and social media for advertising sales.
Learn more about Arkansas State University’s online B.S. in Strategic Communication with PR and Advertising Certificate program.