Originally published on LinkedIn
As the year draws to a close, we at SocioSquares take a moment to reflect on the lessons learned from our 250+ days of collaboration and growth. This article highlights 4 key insights that stand out, each a testament to our shared experiences, from late-night brainstorming sessions to breakthrough moments.
4 DIGITAL MARKETING LESSONS THAT STOOD OUT IN 2023
#1. KEYWORD VOLUME SECRETS
What do you do when your agency tells you that your website is ranking on the Number 1 position on Google for 40 Keywords, but you are getting no leads?
This happened with 2 prospects this year and when we checked the combined search volume of ALL those keywords in the trailing 12 months was less than “100”…
Yes, you read that right. If only 100 people are searching for the keywords you rank for, you are not going to get ANY calls.
Learning: Focus on Relevant Keywords and get the search volumes from Google Keyword Planner.
#2. BEYOND GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK LEADS
For our client set i.e. B2C Small businesses, Google, Facebook, and Instagram are leaders in lead generation, but this year we cultivated a diversified approach by incorporating other popular search engines like YouTube, Yelp, Bing, and Nextdoor. The results didn’t scale as they do for the industry leaders, but these platforms did help us keep the overall cost per lead manageable as they can provide up to 10-15% of leads at a much lower cost than Google Search.
#3. KEYWORD DISCOVERY: UNCOVER THE UNCONVENTIONAL
Wikipedia has been a reliable platform for info for 10+ years, but this year we started using it for keyword research for SEO, and for industries new to us it turned out to be a hidden gem. Way better than Google Keyword Planner, as it provides a well-rounded source of industry-specific terminology with all relevant keywords and related topics.
And when it comes to staying updated with the latest trends Reddit is our go-to coffee shop chat. Picture it as a buzzing marketplace where you get a real-time pulse of community discussions that offer insights into current trends by potential customers in their language. So, if you’re looking for a more insightful kick-off, Wikipedia and Reddit are the way to go!
#4. GEN AI ELEVATES THE GAME, BUT HUMAN TOUCH WINS THE GAME
Gen AI is really shaking things up in digital marketing. There are loads of tools now for SEO, social media, ads, analytics, and more. But we’re not at the point where you can just ask GenAI to handle your Facebook page and expect it to do everything perfectly. It still takes a skilled person, a strategist, who knows how to use these tools effectively and devote the time needed to really market a business online.
2024 PROJECTIONS: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL MARKETING
#1. MULTIMODEL GEN AI CHATBOTS
We have seen Intelligent text chatbots for several years now. Looking ahead to 2024, we’re anticipating a major evolution in chatbot technology as they go way beyond what Siri or Alexa offer. These Multimodal chatbots will be able to interact through voice, images, and video. They’re expected to handle lengthy, detailed conversations – much like chatting with a real person. This advancement is predicted to revolutionize customer service, providing in-depth support, thorough responses to queries, sales, and improved lead qualification.
#2. LESS EMAIL SPAM AND THE RISE OF ZERO-PARTY DATA
Remember how in 2022, nearly half the emails we got were spam? Like many of you, we’re still sifting through them daily. But, there’s a hopeful change expected in 2024. Google and Yahoo are setting new email policies from February 2024, and we are optimistic that these changes could cut down on spam by more than 50%.
Meanwhile, in the world of online advertising, a different set of rules is kicking in, these will make those persistent, follow-you-around ads less common. Advertisers will likely shift towards relying more on information that customers share directly – zero-party data – for more personalized and less intrusive marketing.
#3. PERSONAL GEN AI ASSISTANTS
We’re excited about what’s on the horizon: the rise of personal AI Assistant software(s). These tools are set to build on current Gen AI capabilities improving it significantly for specific industry verticals and jobs, helping professionals with both routine and complex tasks. These assistants won’t be Free and won’t just boost productivity. At Socio, we have already created budgets to equip every team member with the best AI assistants. This way, we can do our jobs better and faster for our clients.
In addition, we’re actively working on developing our own Gen AI Assistants, specifically tailored for the Retail and Mortgage industries.
In our commitment to be an AI-First Agency, we are offering a free AI tools learning session. Seize the opportunity to be 2024 ready with this Exclusive Offer. Connect the dots between AI and your day-to-day work and learn at least 5 AI tools you can use today to boost productivity. Book your complimentary 30-minute AI Learning Session today.
