With 2019 already started, it’s high time to set the alarm on your phone and start the new year right. New marketing techniques and platforms are emerging that can dramatically change the way you market your products online. We’re not just talking about the obvious platforms like social media or search engines; there are also new developments that can significantly alter how you approach market research, advertising, and content strategy.

1. Email Marketing

Despite the fact that people are accessing the internet via mobile devices, emails remain the most popular way for businesses to engage with their customers. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 77% of consumers have received an email marketing pitch, and 66% want to receive more email notifications. It would be a missed opportunity if you don’t take advantage of this valuable customer base. Even if you run a bespoke e-commerce store or provide digital marketing services, you can still implement email marketing into your campaign plan.

What’s more is that consumers increasingly expect brands to provide value in the form of valuable content or offers, rather than just spamming them with generic messages. This means marketers have to rethink how they communicate with their target audience. Email marketing can still be effective when used in combination with other platforms, especially social media.

2. Content Marketing

With the increasing role of the content marketing specialist within marketing departments, the amount of content being created by businesses is skyrocketing. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 76% of consumers have read an article about a brand or product and 34% have used the information provided in an article. As well as being an effective form of marketing, content is also being used to train consumers to become brand advocates (fans) of a business or product. The concept is similar to paid-for product reviews, but instead of paying for the review, you’re encouraging commenters to post valuable content.

The rise of the content marketer means businesses are starting to view content as an asset, rather than just a cost of doing business. Even if you don’t specialize in content marketing, it’s still imperative to have a strategic approach to content creation and curation. You can always outsource content to some extent, but even the greatest writers can only write so much before running out of ideas. It’s also worth considering the voice, style, and personality of your target audience when creating content. Does your target audience prefer quick-hitting memes or long-form articles on SEO best practices? You can’t satisfy everyone, but you can satisfy the majority of your audience by creating content that they find valuable. This will naturally expand your reach and establish you as an expert in your industry.

3. Video Marketing

The last few years have seen an explosion in the number of people using video platforms like YouTube to connect with customers and potential customers. According to HubSpot Blogs research, 72% of consumers have watched a video describing a brand or product and 42% have used the video to learn about a brand or product.

Businesses are starting to understand the importance of video content in marketing, building trust and credibility with consumers, and delivering on the promise of a good or service. Even if you don’t consider yourself a video person, there are plenty of tools available to make short video pitches, explain complicated concepts, or show off products. Having a video marketing strategy in place will help you gain more traction and visibility on social media and across the internet in general.

4. Podcasting

Podcasts are audio-only versions of regular web content. Like blogs, they can be used to publish regularly-released content that will exist in some form for the lifetime of the show. The most popular podcasts typically appear on major news sites and are often endorsed by well-known brands and figures in their industry. This can help establish credibility and trust with potential customers, as well as providing you with an easy-to-digest source of information on your target topic.

Podcasts can also be an effective way to provide value to consumers. Instead of using text-based content to explain the details of a product or service, you can use audio to bring those details to life. This can help build trust and credibility with your audience, as well as provide valuable information to those who want to learn more.

5. QR Codes and Augmented Reality (AR)

The way we access information has changed with the rise of smartphones and the internet. While we still tend to look at a website or phone book to find a business, we also have the ability to scan a QR code with a smartphone camera, or use augmented reality (AR) to examine a product in greater detail.

QR codes were first introduced to the world in 2009 and have been massively popularized in the last few years, with 73% of consumers using them to learn about products or places they’re likely to visit. Businesses should take advantage of this trend and put QR codes on their website, social media accounts, and anywhere else they can think of. Just make sure that you don’t overload your codes with information, as this will make them less useful and more frustrating for your audience.

Augmented reality marketing takes this idea one step further by fusing virtual content with the physical world. An AR business card, for example, might allow the user to see a 3D model of the business depicted in the card and also see additional information about the business, like its website or social media accounts. This could encourage the user to click through to the business’s website or social media accounts, or to make a purchase after discovering more about the company.

These new platforms and rising technologies are blurring the lines between marketing and sales. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you’ll want to make sure you’re equipped with the right marketing skills and strategy. The above platforms and tools are just a few of the many tools available to digital marketers, content creators, and business strategists, providing a wealth of opportunity for people looking to enter the field.