{"id":31189,"date":"2022-02-23T09:37:02","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T16:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/?p=31189"},"modified":"2023-12-15T21:15:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T04:15:53","slug":"dont-underestimate-these-2022-marketing-automation-trends-sf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/blog\/dont-underestimate-these-2022-marketing-automation-trends-sf\/","title":{"rendered":"Don&#8217;t Underestimate These Marketing Automation Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Marketing automation\u2014in the name of getting to the point quickly, we\u2019ll assume you already know and worship its might.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Because marketing is\u2026well, tricky, its technology must constantly adapt. Automation looks far more sophisticated today than it did a few years back. Thus, we\u2019ve compiled a list of the trendiest new ways top companies are using marketing automation today.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Hyper Personalization (Yes, you can take it further)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Unfortunately, slipping a customer\u2019s first name into messages no longer makes the cut. Today\u2019s top brands are going beyond names, company names and location, using behavioral data\u2014customers\u2019 real-time interactions with your business\u2014to provide a hyper-personalized experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This marketing voodoo might look something like this:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">A prospect spends about five minutes on your pricing page but leaves without making a purchase. This behavior triggers your automation software, and it sends an email or other communication that initiates a conversation about pricing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">When your technology can segment users and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/blog\/trigger-happy\/\">send trigger-based messages<\/a>, you\u2019ll see the true power of personalization. Plus, your business will:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Send only relevant messages<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Create a more streamlined, positive customer experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Outpace your competition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Voice Search<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As smart speakers grow in popularity (We dare you to not know at least one person with an Echo, Nest, or HomePod), consumers get more comfortable <a href=\"https:\/\/siteefy.com\/voice-search-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">relying on voice search<\/a> over other methods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">This trend means companies wanting to keep up will need to look into technology and potential use cases. Hint: No, you can\u2019t just say, \u201cHey, Siri, grow my business.\u201d Instead, consider the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Voice search can be an SEO gold mine, but make sure to keep things simple and conversational.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Try a quick Google search for primary key words, and remember to check out the <em>People also ask <\/em>section.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Keep it local with location-based keywords.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>AI for Content Marketing, Email, and SEO<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It\u2019s happening. Machine learning has paved the way for large-scale content overhaul.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">At this point in our evolution, AI-powered tools can help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbestechcouncil\/2020\/12\/07\/marketing-is-in-a-content-crisis-machines-can-help-us-get-out\/?sh=5c27f7723c1c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">write (yup, WRITE) and deliver content faster<\/a>. Marketing strategists, you\u2019ll love generating emails, blogs, even ad copy with a click.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Copywriters, don\u2019t panic. This tech also throws ideas, hooks, and messaging angles your way, helping you create unique subject lines, blog topics, and more! Plus, SEO tools can help you find top-ranking articles, provide keywords, and even give you handy metrics (monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, SERPs).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">So, the next time you sit down with a deadline, let automation software pick the best sources, create a blog outline, and score your article from an SEO perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Sounds amazing, doesn\u2019t it?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Inter-Departmental Cohesion<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Though both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbestechcouncil\/2021\/06\/30\/sales-and-marketing-synergy-its-time-to-unleash-the-power-of-now\/?sh=56d9ed405b75\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marketing and sales departments<\/a> play a vital role in scoring leads, the two teams sometimes struggle to operate cohesively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Marketing Automation can change that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Imagine this scenario: Your automation platform integrates with your CRM, which your team <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/blog\/maximize-your-crm\/\">meticulously maintains<\/a>, allowing sales and marketing to set criteria for a sales-qualified lead. This setup then helps them determine when and on what platform to nurture the budding lead. Business grows because everyone has access to the same rich information. Everyone gets a raise. Everyone high fives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Chatbots<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Here\u2019s a marketing trend worth writing down: one-way customer communication is outdated. Have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emarketer.com\/content\/conversational-ai-use-expands\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a conversation<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Today\u2019s technology makes it possible to engage meaningfully with customers in real time. Chatbots have become more human than ever, and they can run 24\/7\u2026while you sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">As to the argument that businesses still need a human touch? We agree. So, don\u2019t use automated chatbots in place of real people, operate them alongside their breathing counterparts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Example: commonly asked questions can merit automated replies, but once an inquiry gets complex, let a human take over.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">With this plan in mind, here are a few Chatbot Best Practices to consider:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Customers don\u2019t want to interact with an obvious bot, so personify yours. Give them images, names, and personalities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Make their speech as human-like as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Don\u2019t try to fool people into thinking they\u2019re dealing with humans. Always be honest about chatbots.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Mobile-Optimization<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Big brands have relied heavily on a mobile-first strategy for years, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.emarketer.com\/content\/nearly-third-of-all-us-media-time-will-on-mobile-this-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">today is no exception<\/a>. That means martech tools like push notifications, in-app ads, and accelerated mobile pages (AMP) will become more popular than ever.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>Content Management Across Multiple Platforms<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Some of the coolest automation tech on the market lets you reach out, depending on the customer\u2019s journey, across various marketing channels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Send a follow-up email when a prospect visits your website or social media page. Email a link to your blog post that\u2019s similar to one they recently read on your page. Mail a postcard offering 25% off on a customer\u2019s service anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">For maximum benefits, you should:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Map customer touchpoints and understand their preferred methods of communication<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Create a communication strategy that mixes online and offline tools (website, social media, direct mail)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">Use consistent tone and messaging across channels<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">To make everything come together, the software must integrate data so the communication across platforms is seamless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">You might also know this strategy as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/blog\/customer-engagement-the-only-marketing-tool-you-need\/\">omnichannel marketing<\/a>. Whatever you call it, it works, and marketing automation makes it possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 14pt; color: #002e56;\"><strong>\u2026Speaking of Your Marketing Automation Mix<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">It looks like 2022 will be a hot year for marketing automation. From converting leads and engaging customers to promoting your services in local neighborhoods, today\u2019s automated technology can do it all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">If you\u2019re curious about what solutions might work best for your business and want some expert guidance, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/brand-management-platform\/automated-programs\/\">Xpressdocs\u2019 automated options<\/a> or request a demo. We\u2019ve provided direct marketing solutions to top brands for over two decades\u2026and we\u2019re still not tired of helping businesses grow.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Marketing automation\u2014in the name of getting to the point quickly, we\u2019ll assume you already know and worship its might. Because (&#8230;)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":29801,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[344,99,373],"tags":[324,327,338],"class_list":["post-31189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing-automation","category-direct-mail","category-customer","tag-marketing-automation","tag-marketing-tips","tag-marketing-trends"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31189"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31305,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31189\/revisions\/31305"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xpressdocs.com\/s\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}