The future of digital marketing has been influenced by recent events. Businesses have altered their digital marketing strategies. The pandemic and ensuing lockdowns have altered our lives by normalizing online communities as marketing tools. Nowadays, online experiences are just as real as the ones we have when we go outside. Therefore, marketing should have the same effect in both places.
Now more than ever, technological advancements like 5G, AI, and edge cloud computing make it possible for businesses to combine the digital and physical worlds.
Many early efforts to exploit this type of ecology seemed like gimmicks. From 2000–2001, the CueCat, a portable barcode reader that could be used to access a website by scanning a barcode, received much attention. Technology like this was cutting edge back in the day, but these business went down under for a reason. It will take time before we can seamlessly blend the digital and physical worlds together.
And yes, we have come a long way since then. Our eyes are now fixed on a future horizon that searches for “what comes next” for human creativity as we use augmented and virtual reality and don various wearable devices.
What does the future hold for digital marketing?
Many of us in the marketing industry have come to accept that the seemingly impossible is likely just a few decades away. The idea behind the metaverse is that people should be able to move quickly between different digital environments to provide entertaining and cost-effective augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences. This is opening up many new opportunities that are slowly changing the internet as we know it.
Now that we’re habituated to the concept of looking at the world via AR glasses, we can begin to define the future of digital marketing by using immersive technology.
Ten years from now, online and offline social interactions are expected to merge into one fluid experience. Although the concept of a metaverse may still sound far-fetched to some, I anticipate that it will be widely accepted by that time. Most of its vital components will already exist, but they will have been improved, and new technologies will be weaved in to meet our future demands.
We now have access to sleepless virtual worlds, constant download speeds for media, and lightweight virtual reality gear. It’s conceivable that augmented and virtual reality will integrate into the norm, resulting in universally accessible and widely used virtual worlds. In my opinion, the future of digital marketing, medicine, the arts, and learning will all intertwine in a digital ecosystem created to better our lives. The content we know and love will grow in depth and complexity as we get more proficient at navigating these new ecosystems. Improved augmented reality (AR) experiences that draw on information-rich material are expected to replace the previous emphasis on making websites search engine optimization (SEO)-friendly.
I believe that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will have matured by 2032. As the metaverse grows, NFTs and their kind will begin to be used for more than just monetizing digital artworks, memes, and video game avatars; they will also begin to serve as the basis for smart contracts that may be used in place of traditional legal papers. Because of the proliferation of online shopping, we may soon be required to enter an NFT whenever we purchase. However, NFTs’ promise extends well beyond identification; they can revolutionize the world of live entertainment in ways that go far beyond the souvenirs we now collect, such as making autographed shirts and posters obsolete. I see concertgoers enjoying live entertainment while also taking home a unique digital souvenir of the event.
It may seem like social has taken a back seat in this vision of the future, but I believe that as social media becomes more integrated into our daily lives, the word “social” will eventually lose its meaning.
Make an effort to get ready right away
Even though this may differ from how some businesses currently go about promoting themselves, one of the most significant ways to take advantage of these developments is to allow your creativity to run free. The first step in every successful marketing strategy is to identify and understand the obstacles you’re currently up against. Consider how you may enhance the brand experience for your consumers.
Outline the ideal online experience you might provide clients with, identify the problems your solution may answer, and then examine this path virtually to identify any potential roadblocks. It’s crucial to plan ahead if you want your consumers to be able to virtually try on your products, carry their shopping basket with them as they switch between platforms, poll their friends, or smell your newest scent.
Immersive training, for example, has the potential to be more attractive, persuasive, and accessible. Since anything from golf courses to meditation sessions to cycling tours can be supplied anywhere to anyone, people will have access to a consumer base that never has to leave their homes. I believe that tastes, noises, and other experiences will soon be within reach from your couch or bedroom.
As so, the only remaining obstacle is the conventional wisdom of those who question whether or not this is really possible. The inherent power of narrative in the human mind makes it a strong contender in the battle against the natural human tendency to resist change. Having knowledge at our fingertips and a desire to explore our full potential, I see a future where social media determines our job and leisure activities.
Featured Image – Megapixl © Penguiin
Author Shariq Khan 