Prognosticators often compile myriad facts and evidence when making predictions for the New Year. The communications industry changes so frequently that predictions for the New Year can often come and go within just a few months, but that won’t stop us from trying to predict! Before we go into our 2019 predicted trends, let’s look at some of trends that ruled the year in 2018.
- Activist CEOs
- Data-Informed Decisions
- Augmented Reality (which reminds me, check out MP&F’s nogmented reality video here)
- Enhanced Robotic Automation
Looking to 2019, here are some of the communications trends to be on the lookout for.
- Don’t Leave!: Social Media Companies Engaging Users
- As social media use continues to grow among consumers, platforms like Snapchat and Instagram will find even more ways to engage users and keep them on the site. This started in 2018 with initiatives like IGTV or Snapchat’s year in review; but looking forward, these companies will continue to produce these initiatives as they could produce another revenue stream and increase loyalty to respective platforms. A side effect of these companies’ producing more original content? Increased competition (and prices) among advertisers.
- Mind Your Business: More Data Protection
- While this trend is not exclusive to 2019, the emphasis on consumer data protection will be at the forefront in the New Year. After the Cambridge Analytica scandal and all the controversy that came with data manipulation, more consumers became aware of “how the sausage is made” and how their personal information is used by advertisers. 2018 was the year that gave awareness to these issues. 2019 is the year that steps are taken to protect consumers. The EU recently instituted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is lauded as one of the most important changes in data privacy regulation in 20 years. Look for the United States to follow suit.
- Companies Continue To Play Ball With Google
- Another trend that won’t be exclusive to 2019, but could see a major uptick, is companies’ aligning website copy and functionality with Google’s new standards. In August of 2018, the online search giant announced innovations aimed to improve user experience and put the onus on marketers to meet certain standards. As SEO has become more top-of-mind, companies have adjusted their websites accordingly, and 2019 will see the same thing only with website speed. When Google introduced its new Landing Page Speed Score, it was a message to companies of all kinds: Improve your mobile site functionality! The speed score ranges on a 10-point scale (extremely slow to extremely fast). The score is based on factors like conversion rates and page speed. Look for companies to further improve the mobile experience for users in 2019.
The beauty of a new year is that the possibilities are endless. There are sure to be trends that come out of nowhere, but the strategic thinkers in the communications industry (and at MP&F!) will continue to roll with the punches and forge ahead.
If you or your company is looking to stay ahead of the curve in the New Year, reach out to MP&F here.
Happy New Year!