Mooresville, NC – 9 February 2024 – Gifted Travel Network (GTN), the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors, is partnering with Approach Guides, the leading content optimization platform for travel brands, to bring streamlined content personalization to its network. “Our network continues to be recognized for having the most engaged, passionate and dedicated advisors in the industry and we are committed to bringing them the most innovative, market-leading technology,” said Sandy Saburn, GTN’s Chief Strategic Alliances Officer. “Approach Guides’ co-brandable multimedia ‘content experiences’—showcasing destinations, suppliers, experiences and promotions—offer a paradigm shift in how marketing is done. And giving fast, easy access to them through our intranet gives our advisors a distinct advantage.” In a matter of seconds, GTN advisors can now effortlessly discover, personalize & share content experiences to elevate their outbound marketing, delight clients and boost conversion. The ever-expanding selection of content experiences—supporting Gifted Travel Network and Virtuoso Preferred suppliers like Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Tauck—can be shared with clients via email marketing and social media and can even be added to the advisor’s website. “GTN’s integration of our content personalization technology is thoughtful, elegant and intuitive, highlighting suppliers with a next-generation approach to marketing that advisors are coming to expect,” said Jennifer Raezer, Approach Guides Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. “GTN’s advisors are widely regarded as consummate entrepreneurs, and to help them be even more successful is quite an honor.” Getting started could not be easier. GTN advisors can visit the GTN intranet to find content experiences in the Partner Resource Guide—within the Approach Guides section or directly on each participating partner’s page—enter their email address and be swiftly on their way to supercharging their marketing with co-branded content from luxury suppliers such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Tauck, Lindblad Expeditions, Explora Journeys, Aurora Expeditions, TCS World Travel, Four Seasons Private Jet and Big Five Tours & Expeditions! ‍ About Gifted Travel Network‍ Gifted Travel Network (GTN) is the premier host agency for luxury travel advisors. Providing an elevated hosting experience through its collaborative community, exceptional support, superior access, and award-winning professional development programs, GTN has completely redesigned the luxury hosting space. As educators and community-builders with a clear vision of making a difference in the industry, GTN’s mission and passion is to cultivate success through travel entrepreneurship. For more information, visit www.giftedtravelnetwork.com. ‍ About Approach Guides Approach Guides is the leading content optimization platform, empowering travel brands to deliver hyper-relevant, personalized multimedia content at all stages of the guest journey and across all touch points, boosting impact, guest loyalty and conversion. Approach Guides is trusted by the world’s leading cruise lines, hotels, tour operators, airlines, DMOs and consortia. For more information, visit approachguides.com.

Exploring AI-Driven Conversational Marketing in Digital Marketing Sphere Dinero | February 14, 2024 AI has become a game changer in the digital marketing landscape. AI technologies are used by businesses to escalate interactive and personalised conversations with customers. Conversational marketing involves one-to-one, real-time interactions with clients to build customer relationships and provide personalised experiences. AI programs can simulate conversations like people. It incorporates language processing, machine learning, and voice recognition technologies to interpret vocal and written commands. Traditional marketing measures failed to deliver personalised and real-time interactions. These measures got outdated over time and hence were replaced by conversational marketing. Various channels such as messaging apps and chatbots offer personalised and instant responses 24/7. AI uses specific tools to understand user intent and automate conversations. Natural Language Processing (NLP) makes machines capable of understanding and responding to human language. It helps save time and increases accuracy. The use of chatbots has contributed to driving sales and increasing customer satisfaction. Conservational AI can be broken down into five components. These five elements have to work together to make a program understand human queries. NLP is the ability to understand human language and respond to it. It enables conversational agents to understand the meaning of words, the structure of sentences, idioms and even slang. Algorithms use large data sets to know how words are related and how they are used in different contexts. Machine learning enables computers to learn from data without being programmed. It is used to train computers to understand language, recognize patterns and adapt to changing conversations. Text analysis is the process of getting information from textual data. It involves identifying parts of sentences such as the subject and object. It also includes identifying different words in a sentence such as parts of speech. This helps to understand the relation between words and thereby understand the meaning of the sentence. Computer vision is the ability to interpret and understand digital images. It involves identifying objects and content in the image as well as the relationship between various objects in the image. Speech recognition is the ability to understand human speech. This involves recognizing different sounds, grammar and syntax. It is also used to interpret the emotion of people speaking in a video and to understand the context of the conversation. Chatbots – Programs that simulate human conversations. E.g. chatbots are used in e-commerce websites to respond to the enquiries of customers. Virtual assistants – personalised assistants to perform specific tasks. Examples of virtual assistants are Siri and Alexa. Voice assistants – voice-activated digital assistants on smartphones E.g. Google Assistant Engagement – AI provides live interaction with customers. It responds to their queries instantly, keeping them engaged. Personalised experience – Analyses customer data and makes suggestions based on it to provide the best experience. Data collection – AI tools gather valuable insights that help businesses to make decisions, plan marketing strategies and optimise campaigns. Scalability – AI driven chatbots and visual assistance can handle a large number of conversations simultaneously without an increase in resources. Even though conversational AI has several advantages, we have to overcome many challenges to implement it. One of the challenges is ensuring AI accurately understands and responds to customer queries. Customers may use different dialects and slang and AI should be able to handle all these conversations. AI gets its intelligence through machine learning and uses NLP to develop better responses to human queries. Privacy concerns due to data collection is another challenge faced in conversational marketing. Balance between personalization and user privacy should be strictly maintained as part of data security. To conclude, AI-driven conversational marketing has become a crucial part of customer engagement. The use of chatbots on websites has increased customer satisfaction and also helped employees to focus on more concerning issues. Learning the components, types and benefits of conservation AI will help you to use it in the best way your business demands. It will also help you to identify the challenges and overcome them.

The best way to increase membership in your Scouting unit is to learn some easy, simple ways to market your unit in your community. And the simplest, easiest way to learn how to market your pack, troop, crew, ship or team to your community is to attend the 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp, an exciting virtual event designed to teach volunteers new marketing and public relations strategies to help get the word out about Scouting. What is the 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp? The 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp is a two-session virtual seminar designed to educate volunteers at the unit, district, council and national level on the best practices of raising awareness of Scouting in your community. The bootcamp will cover new strategies to take your recruiting and marketing efforts to the next level, including exciting new research on the outcomes and benefits that families get from being involved in Scouting and tips to help you recruit in the digital space. You’ll also get tips on taking impactful photos of your Scouts in action, and on producing engaging websites for your unit. When is the 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp? There will be two sessions. Session 1 is March 14. Session 2 is March 21. Both sessions will be at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central / 6 p.m. Mountain / 5 p.m. Pacific. If you attend both sessions, you’ll become a BSA Certified Marketer for 2024 and will be awarded this year’s digital badge. Who should attend the 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp? Basically, everyone. This event is designed for volunteers at all levels of Scouting, as well as council staff. Are you excited about Scouting but have little marketing experience to share your enthusiasm? Attend the bootcamp and learn skills and strategies that will come in handy and could inspire you to become your unit or district’s marketing lead. Are both sessions the same? No! Each session will contain unique information and tips for marketing your Scouting unit. Will recordings of the sessions be made available for later viewing? Yes! We’ll share links to the recorded sessions as soon as they are available. What other resources are available to help me spread the word about Scouting? Start with the BSA Brand Center, where you’ll find materials to help you create marketing materials for a variety of uses. The Brand Center also features several short, fun videos that are great for sharing digitally with your friends and fellow community members. You can visit this website for more tips on marketing and recruiting. And, even though it’s already February, it’s not too late to start our five Scouting-related — and marketing-related — New Year’s resolutions. How do I sign up for the 2024 National Marketing Bootcamp? Inspire Leadership, Foster Values: Donate to Scouting Inspire Leadership, Foster Values: Donate to Scouting When you give to Scouting, you are making it possible for young people to have extraordinary opportunities that will allow them to embrace their true potential and become the remarkable individuals they are destined to be. Donate Today

Empowering Commercial Solar Growth: A Deep Dive into Digital Marketing Strategies In the ever-evolving landscape of the commercial solar industry, digital marketing has become paramount in fostering growth and ensuring visibility in a competitive market. This blog post explores the diverse ways in which digital marketing, encompassing both organic and paid content, catalyzes the success of commercial solar businesses. From leveraging the expertise of marketing professionals, including brand strategies and PR agencies, to crafting compelling solar marketing campaigns, we’ll navigate the intricacies of the digital realm and its profound impact on the solar industry. Digital Advantage for Commercial Solar Businesses Collaborating with seasoned professionals, including digital agencies, branding firms, and PR agencies, can be a game-changer for commercial solar businesses. These agencies specialize in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with target audiences, fostering brand credibility and trust. At the onset of any digital marketing investment, companies should consider engaging in a brand strategy session. From here, a brand strategy playbook should be developed, incorporating important elements like mission, vision, color palette, font family, and strategic public relations practices and modes for marketing deployment. This helps commercial solar companies solidify their brand, enhance their online presence, and establish themselves as industry leaders. Solar Marketing Campaigns Creating impactful solar marketing campaigns is a vital component of organic content strategy. Commercial solar businesses can position themselves as authoritative sources in the industry by producing valuable and shareable content, such as blog posts, videos, case studies, drone footage, articles, and infographics. Keyword-rich and informative content attracts organic traffic and improves search engine rankings, making the brand more visible to potential customers. Paid Content Strategies Engaging with specialized solar marketing companies can significantly amplify the reach and impact of paid digital marketing efforts. These companies understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the solar industry, tailoring campaigns to address specific business objectives. From targeted advertising on social media platforms like LinkedIn and X to strategic pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, their expertise ensures a high return on investment. Plus, the work done at the onset during a brand strategy session helps reinforce the personas you are marketing to. Finding a PR Partner Partnering with branding and public relations firms like M studio, whose home base is in NJ, offers a strategic advantage. These firms have a deep understanding of commercial solar and community solar market dynamics and can tailor marketing strategies to align with the preferences and needs of commercial solar developers. PR efforts can enhance brand recognition, establishing a solid foothold in the community and fostering trust among potential clients. The Components of a Successful Digital Marketing Approach Brand Strategy Playbook: Establishing a Brand Identity A comprehensive brand strategy playbook is essential for commercial solar businesses looking to build a distinct identity in the digital space. It involves defining brand values, crafting a compelling brand story, and developing a cohesive and flexible brand system. A well-defined brand strategy sets the foundation for a successful digital marketing campaign and creates a foundation by which the brand can grow and evolve. Consistent Messaging Consistency is critical in digital marketing. Commercial solar businesses must maintain a cohesive and consistent messaging approach from website content to social media posts. A pre-determined tone of voice and brand personality should guide this. This essential work reinforces the brand identity, and customers receive a unified and compelling message across all digital and IRL touchpoints. Digital Marketing for Solar Companies Targeted Content Distribution Understanding the target audience is crucial. Digital marketing for solar companies lets marketers utilize data-driven insights to identify and target specific customer segments. This targeted approach allows for personalized content distribution, increasing the relevance of marketing messages and improving the likelihood of customer engagement. Social Media Engagement Social media platforms serve as powerful tools for engaging with the audience. Commercial solar businesses can leverage platforms like LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram to share industry insights, project highlights, and sustainability initiatives. Building a solid social media presence enhances brand visibility, fosters community engagement, and establishes the company as a thought leader in the solar sector. Embracing a Digital Future for Solar Success The synergy between organic and paid digital marketing strategies, supported by a strong brand identity and messaging platform, is key to unlocking unprecedented growth for commercial solar businesses. From collaborating with brand and PR agencies for authentic storytelling to partnering with solar marketing companies for targeted campaigns, a holistic approach is essential. But first, begin at the beginning. Map out and integrate these strategies into a well-crafted brand strategy playbook; commercial solar companies can confidently navigate the digital landscape, ensuring sustained visibility and success in an ever-evolving industry. The power of digital marketing can genuinely let commercial solar businesses shine in the digital era.

Lisa Marie Ferrell Named NC State’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer For Immediate Release North Carolina State University announced today that Lisa Marie L. Ferrell, Lenovo’s communications officer for North America, has been named associate vice chancellor for university communications and marketing. She will start her new role on March 1. Ferrell currently leads the North America communications team at Lenovo, overseeing public relations, internal and external communications, events, community relations, sponsorships, government relations and organic social media. She joined Lenovo in 2019 following three years in a marketing executive role at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Lisa Marie brings a wealth of expertise and leadership in academia and industry along with a spirit of collaboration and inspiring passion for her work that will certainly serve NC State well during an exciting period of growth,” said Brian Sischo, vice chancellor for university advancement. “As a long-time business leader, volunteer and resident in the Raleigh area, Lisa Marie knows this community, she knows NC State, and she is well-positioned to hit the ground running.” Ferrell served as global senior executive in marketing at Lenovo and as marketing communications senior manager at IBM prior to her experience at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also served as president of the Junior League of Raleigh. “As NC State’s chief communications and marketing officer, I’m excited to embrace the opportunity to weave narratives that transcend boundaries, ignite curiosity, and unite communities in the pursuit of knowledge,” said Ferrell. “It is my honor to help shape the future of NC State’s highly respected global brand and perhaps inspire future generations to Think and Do.” University Communications and Marketing is NC State’s dedicated communications agency, providing leadership, strategy, services, and support to advance the NC State brand and help the university achieve its core mission. Ferrell earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing and a minor in Italian, at Roanoke College. -kulikowski- Categories:

Account Based Marketing Account Based Marketing

Forrester  defines Account Based Marketing (ABM) as “a strategy through which marketing and sales jointly obsess over how to pursue, establish, and grow long-term, highly engaged revenue relationships with specific customer accounts.” ABM is often referred to as a “holistic approach” to marketing with a blend of sales and marketing that focuses on accounts rather than leads. Marketing teams who embrace ABM see it as the next logical step in modern B2B marketing, especially if they have hit a wall with traditional inbound and are trying to reach enterprise-level brands. The foundation of ABM is built on several assumptions for B2B buyers and marketing: They are highly self-educated before they reach the conversion stage There is usually a team of buyers rather than one single decision maker Targeted lists and advertising will yield better ROI than traditional “wide net” strategies While outbound methods make up a large part of ABM, SEO and account based marketing efforts can share the same goals: Raise the LTV of existing customers Keep new prospect accounts in the pipeline Reduce the buying cycle time for high-value accounts SEO and Account Based Marketing SEO and Account Based Marketing

Does the shift from Lead-to-Revenue Management to Account Based Marketing change the future of SEO in B2B marketing? Yes and No. SEO will still have a place at the table to connect B2B buyers with the right product or service. Research shows that 71% of B2B researchers  start their research with a generic search. Modern SEO as a stand-alone service delivers value to brands in all of the following areas: Mobile-first algorithms Social media placements for branding and thought leadership Quality, long-form content production for target audience Voice search optimization SEO strategy in combination with an ABM approach helps brands leverage the power of search engines and content to maintain engagement, interest, and interaction. SEO for the buyer’s journey Content optimization for long-term nurturing Early stage sales cycle Topic & keyword research for multiple decision makers Customer retention SEO Let’s explore how each of these SEO tactics will drive results for Account Based Marketing. SEO for the Buyer’s Journey Focusing on SEO for the Buyer’s Journey ensures that landing pages are targeting the right buyers at the right time. Buyers and key decision makers who land on a website page that speaks to their intended questions or queries will help move them along in the sales funnel. The targeted marketing approach in ABM will require an SEO strategy that aligns every persona on the decision-making team with specific keywords and topics. Content and website assets are created for the main decision makers. Persona and conversion data will guide the creation of content and downloadable assets, podcasts, and videos. SEO teams will be responsible for identifying keywords and topics that potential accounts are searching for and create content that keeps the brand directly in front of key decision makers, edging out competitors. Content Optimization for Long-term Nurturing The B2B sales cycle from website leads takes an average of 75 days ( SalesForce ). The lead to opportunity cycle has an average of 84 days. From there, the decision process often moves at a faster rate. SEO tasks will focus on targeted, strategic assets that appeal to accounts to drive engagement, brand recognition, and trust building. Before ABM, SEO focused on capturing lead data from website visitors. With ABM, content optimization focuses on the entire account potential, creating assets and content that appeals to accounts at every stage. Early Stage Sales Cycle SEO strategists will work with sales team members to identify questions, concerns, and objections that apply to accounts in the early phase of the sales cycle. From there, the SEO team will ensure that the website has content that helps reinforce trust and authority with potential accounts, so they are not lost during the research phase. Research for Multiple Decision Makers Before ABM, SEO teams were likely to target personas with specific keywords to drive leads. Once the ABM approach is in place, SEO teams will focus on topics and keywords that appeal to a specific target market and speak to multiple decision makers. Customer Retention SEO Harvard Business Review  reports that increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%. If a company invests in a solid SEO strategy, using existing SEO resources and tools will help with customer retention. ABM framework is built around customer value and Lifetime Value, and SEO teams can deliver ABM results by working closely with sales teams to identify customer retention topics, keywords, and assets. ABM Tracking, Metrics, and Analytics Since ABM focuses on accounts rather than leads, it’s important to set up tracking for Customer Lifetime Value. Simple, right? Not quite. While Google Analytics offers Lifetime Value Tracking (LTV)  and provides valuable data for ABM, it won’t stand up to a robust CRM like Salesforce  to deliver predictive analytics for your marketing team. If you’re ready to begin tracking, the best thing to do is get started, analyze the data, and adjust tracking as necessary. Google Analytics LTV tracking in Google Analytics for ABM purposes works best with Custom Metrics . You’ll also need to define audiences with Custom Dimensions – use the Google Developer guide  to get started with dimensions and metrics. Tag manager  will help track ABM campaigns and engagement from email, social media, and referral partners. Bounce rates  will indicate the success of landing page content with their intended audience. High bounce rates  will indicate that landing pages are not interesting to visitors and not connecting with decision makers. Goal Completion will help marketers follow the path of engagement. Destination goals  will identify problems with the funnel path for ABM campaigns. Account Based Marketing KPIs While Google Analytics can track the effectiveness of marketing programs that capture results from existing customers and specific targets, it will take CRM power to measure the overall success of ABM. ABM works best when sales and marketing are aligned, and nothing provides valuable data like an advanced CRM tool. These CRM solutions offer ABM campaign support: If you use a CRM that’s not on the list above, be sure to inquire with the support team. The list is meant as a starting point for those who are just getting started; it’s not an all-encompassing list. Conclusion When it comes to SEO and Account Based Marketing, set it and forget it is not an option. Procrastinating to the point where competitors are capturing all of the high-value accounts isn’t a viable option either. B2B teams can start today by defining sales and marketing journeys and setting up proper tracking. Once journeys are defined, and sales and marketing teams can identify the weak points, SEO & ABM can begin to work together for skyrocketing success. As Marketing and Sales teams begin to work together, a better prospect experience emerges, driving even more value to potential new accounts. When sales and marketing teams are on the same page, tracking and reporting the most important metrics, the account journey appears and will guide digital strategies, including SEO. Together, SEO & ABM will uncover user intent, giving marketing teams insight and direct access to key decision makers on high-value accounts.

How Digital Marketing Empowers Commercial and Industrial Solar Companies The commercial and industrial solar market is experiencing unprecedented growth as businesses increasingly embrace sustainable energy solutions. In this dynamic landscape, it’s crucial for commercial solar companies to leverage digital marketing strategies to amplify their brand and stay competitive. In this blog post, we’ll explore the power of commercial solar marketing and the role branding and PR agencies can play in the process. The Digital Shift in Commercial Solar Marketing The Digital Shift in Commercial Solar Marketing The commercial solar sector has witnessed a significant shift in how companies approach marketing. With the increasing prevalence of online channels and the growing awareness of environmental issues, digital marketing has emerged as a powerful tool to connect business to business and consumers alike. One key aspect of commercial solar marketing is the ability to tailor messages to a target audience. Solar companies can create personalized campaigns through digital platforms that speak directly to businesses’ and community organizations’ unique needs and interests, especially those looking to adopt clean energy solutions. This targeted approach enhances engagement and increases the likelihood of converting leads into customers. The Role of Branding and PR Agencies in Solar Marketing The Role of Branding and PR Agencies in Solar Marketing A strong internal marketing team supported by an outsourced agency specializing in services like branding, PR, and digital marketing is crucial in elevating the visibility and credibility of commercial and industrial solar companies. Marketing and PR professionals, especially those working with renewable energy companies in states like New Jersey, who is setting a national standard on the clean energy front, understand the local landscape and can navigate the intricacies of the industry in particular. Solar companies collaborating with a reputable agency that focuses on B2B and industrial projects can enhance their public image, establish thought leadership, and foster positive relationships with key stakeholders. The strategic placement of news articles, press releases, and expert interviews can position a solar company as an industry leader, attracting the attention of potential customers and partners. Solar Marketing Companies: Crafting a Unique Identity Solar Marketing Companies: Crafting a Unique Identity In the competitive commercial and industrial solar market, differentiation is key. This is where solar marketing companies come into play. These specialized agencies understand the nuances of the solar industry and can develop tailored marketing strategies to set a company apart from its competitors. Oftentimes, they will start with a brand strategy session that will culminate with a brand strategy playbook (more on that below) to guide all internal and external marketing and communications. A comprehensive and proactive approach to marketing includes a mix of content marketing, social media management, asset creation, and expert positioning. Companies specializing in supporting commercial solar companies with marketing create compelling content that educates businesses about the benefits of solar energy while optimizing online platforms to increase visibility in search engine results. This ensures that businesses find and consider the company’s offerings when they search for solar solutions. Implementing a Brand Strategy Playbook Implementing a Brand Strategy Playbook A brand strategy playbook guides commercial and industrial solar companies to define their brand identity, communicate their values, and connect with their target audience. This playbook outlines the company’s unique selling propositions, key messages, and visual elements, providing a cohesive framework for all marketing efforts. Interested in more? Read about how a Brand Strategy Playbook can elevate renewable energy marketing. Building a Strong Online Presence Building a Strong Online Presence In the digital age, a strong online presence is essential for commercial and industrial solar companies aiming to thrive in a competitive market. An effective website serves as the centerpiece of this digital presence, offering a user-friendly interface, informative content, and clear calls to action. Solar companies can utilize their website to showcase successful projects, highlight industry expertise, and provide educational resources. Including case studies and testimonials from satisfied clients can build trust and credibility, influencing potential customers to choose a company with a proven track record. Social Media Engagement for Solar Success Social Media Engagement for Solar Success Social media platforms are invaluable tools for commercial solar marketing. By strategically utilizing platforms such as LinkedIn and even Instagram for those commercial solar developers participating in community solar programs, solar executives can connect with businesses, share industry insights, and showcase their commitment to sustainability. Engaging content, such as infographics, videos, and blog posts, can be shared across social media channels to reach a wider audience. Paid advertising on these platforms can also be an effective way to target specific demographics and generate leads. Harnessing the Power of SEO Harnessing the Power of SEO Search engine optimization is a critical component of any successful digital marketing strategy. Optimizing website content with relevant keywords can improve their rankings on search engine results pages. Consistent blogging on topics related to solar energy, renewable solutions, and industry trends can also boost SEO. Providing valuable and relevant content positions companies as an authority in the field and attracts organic traffic to the website. In conclusion, the commercial and industrial solar market is poised for continued growth, and digital marketing is an indispensable tool for companies seeking to amplify their brand and remain competitive. Branding and PR agencies like M studio, based in NJ and serving clients across the country, are integral components of a comprehensive marketing approach. By embracing digital marketing strategies, solar companies can enhance their online presence, connect with their target audience, and showcase their unique value proposition. As the industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve with innovative marketing practices will be crucial for commercial and industrial solar companies to shine brightly in the marketplace.

10 Ecommerce Trends Redefining Your Marketing Strategy in 2024 (and Beyond) The ecommerce industry has seen significantly less growth in the past couple of years, now that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have settled down. Many customers are returning to physical stores to shop, resulting in just 9.4% in projected ecommerce growth for 2024 (compared to 26.7% back in 2020). Global ecommerce sales are expected to account for 21.2% of retail sales in 2024, up just 1% from 2023, for an estimated total of $6.5 trillion. This can be attributed to inflation and increased cost of living, significant slowdowns in China’s economy, and the decline of ecommerce in a few areas around the world, most notably in Western Europe and East Asia. If brands want to keep up and stay competitive, they need to know which trends are redefining today’s ecommerce landscape and how to leverage them. Major ecommerce trends of 2024 Artificial intelligence and generative AI Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly one of the most impactful trends in ecommerce that’s here to stay. From machine learning to natural language processing, AI is key to helping brands automate and optimize their business. It’s used to power sales forecasting, shipping logistics, customer support, personalized recommendations, and more. For example, StampedIQ uses AI to help customers write better reviews and help brands discover valuable insights. 🧠 Learn more about the power of StampedIQ and how it enables brands to make smarter business decisions. Generative AI is one of the newest advancements in artificial intelligence, where algorithms help create new content like images, text, and audio. Brands can use generative AI tools to create ads, graphics, copy, voiceovers, and so on. They can also be used to improve shopping experiences, product recommendations, and chatbot effectiveness. While generative AI can significantly increase productivity and efficiency, brands should be cautious about its ethics: 62% of customers say they’re less likely to trust content created by an AI application. Mobile shopping and omnichannel marketing With the increased prevalence of social shopping, brand apps, and mobile wallets, more and more customers are shopping on their phones and tablets instead of their computers. Mobile commerce, sometimes called “m-commerce”, is expected to account for 42.9% of ecommerce sales in 2024, an estimated total of $621 billion. Some industry experts predict that phones may become customers’ preferred shopping channel in the next five years, especially as millennials and Gen Zers gain even greater spending power. 📲 Interested in launching your own mobile app, complete with product reviews? Check out our integration with Tapcart to drive more trust, engagement, and conversions. As mobile devices become more popular, new marketing channels are starting to pop up, giving brands more opportunities to reach and engage with customers. Recent trends in omnichannel marketing include SMS, push notifications, live shopping, and connected TV ads, shown on smart devices and streaming services like Hulu, Roku, and YouTube. 💬 96% of brands say text messaging helps them drive more revenue. Learn more about SMS marketing and how to make the most of it with our Attentive integration . Social commerce and brand communities Social commerce has become a huge part of the mobile shopping experience, where customers purchase directly through apps like Instagram and TikTok without having to leave the platform. The combination of convenience, accessibility, feed ads, and influencer marketing has made it one of the most effective marketing channels today: social commerce is expected to increase by 30.8% in 2024 and reach $1.6 trillion in sales. To make social commerce even more impactful, brands need to find ways to tie it back to their other marketing channels. This might mean partnering with influencers for omnichannel campaigns, putting positive comments and reviews in their product descriptions, and giving customers reward points for purchasing through social media. 💡 Learn how to turn your product reviews into social ads and smart banners with Stamped Reviews . Brands can also use social platforms and other marketing channels to create deeper connections with customers, increasing the likelihood of repeat purchases and boosting lifetime value. One of the best ways to build these more meaningful relationships is with brand communities: when customers feel connected to a brand, they’re 76% more likely to choose them over a competitor and 68% more likely to recommend them to a friend. Brand communities take many different forms. Some brands create hashtags and host giveaways to drive more engagement. Others create dedicated spaces like forums and Discord servers, where like-minded people share their love for the brand. Lastly, brands use exclusivity marketing like in-person events, niche newsletters, and VIP programs to reward top customers. 🥇 Loyalty programs with tiers are proven to result in a 1.8x higher ROI and a 2.1x higher AOV compared to loyalty programs without. Launch your own VIP program with Stamped Loyalty . Data-driven experiences and post-purchase personalization Having the right data is key to creating shopping experiences that meet customers’ needs and expectations. This can range from basic information like name, location, and payment details to exhaustive customer profiles based on their purchase history, product reviews, and so on. Brands should incorporate data throughout the customer journey by gradually collecting information at every step. Lead forms, account registrations, quizzes, product reviews, and NPS are all quick, yet effective ways to capture customer data without asking for too much at a time. 💡 Learn more about how to build brand credibility and gather actionable feedback by collecting Net Promoter Scores with Stamped Reviews. Once brands collect the relevant data, they can use it to further personalize customers’ experiences and encourage future purchases. Data-driven personalization leads to increased profitability and longevity: it can reduce acquisition costs by as much as 50%, lift revenue by 15%, and increase ROI by as much as 30%. Optimizing marketing strategies based on customer data can increase conversion rates by 160% or more. One of the easiest ways to drive more sales with data is product recommendations based on past purchases. Brands can also build email campaigns based on loyalty program activity, such as reminding customers to come back to spend their points. Lastly, brands can incorporate comments and reviews in the product development process. Customers feel more valued when brands take their feedback into consideration, leading to increased retention and LTV. Ethical manufacturing and sustainability practices Customers want to align themselves with brands who share the same values. They also want brands to take clear stances regarding widespread issues like poverty, sustainability, and equality. 46% of customers are more likely to purchase from brands already donating to charity and 39% are more likely to buy a product based on the brand’s diversity practices. Brands need to evaluate their manufacturing and logistics processes, employee policies, and business transparency. Many customers actively look for information like working conditions, employee wages, and environmental impact before deciding whether to make a purchase. Some brands may also want to consider looking into more sustainable alternatives, such as biodegradable packaging and carbon-neutral shipping. Another thing brands can do is partner with non-profit organizations that align with their values. For example, a female-owned business might donate to women’s shelters while pet brands might work with veterinary organizations. Clear, genuine brand values help customers feel closer to them, leading to repeat purchases. Major ecommerce trends by industry Apparel Customers’ interest in luxury apparel is declining due to inflation and economic uncertainty, with just 2% year-over-year sales growth in 2024 compared to nearly 50% in 2021. And as customers start to travel more and spend more time outdoors, the lines between technical apparel and lifestyle apparel are starting to blur. Lastly, customers are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact of fast fashion, generative AI, and climate urgency. Beauty Four of the biggest themes in beauty for 2024 are sustainability, biohacking, artificial intelligence, and viral micro-trends like latte makeup and glazed donut nails. Customers are seeking out a combination of eco-friendly packaging and scientifically-proven ingredients like collagen and polynucleotides. They’re also using AI to build personalized skincare routines and test makeup products while also looking to platforms like TikTok for inspiration. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) Like many other industries, more and more CPG brands are using social commerce to create frictionless shopping experiences and artificial intelligence to assist with demand forecasting, predictive analytics, and so on. They’re also working to reduce their carbon footprint with compostable materials and reusable packaging. Lastly, while the cost of living crisis has customers turning to off-brand CPG products, they’re also becoming more critical of them. Health & fitness Holistic health is becoming more relevant as customers shift their focus towards their overall well-being, managing their stress and anxiety with yoga, meditation, and counseling. Technology is also becoming more ingrained throughout the fitness industry, from biometric data to personalized workout routines to health wearables. Lastly, fitness is becoming increasingly inclusive for all ages and abilities, leading to opportunities for adaptive fitness products. Home goods Multi-purpose products and “cleaning” influencers are on the rise, as evidenced by their collective 79 billion views on TikTok. Customers are also becoming more willing to invest in both luxury and eco-friendly products, expressing their concerns with harsh chemicals like bleach and formaldehyde. Lastly, customers are seeking out the right balance of function and aesthetics, creating a highly curated collection of organizational products. Drive more engagement, sales, and retention in 2024 with Stamped As ecommerce trends continue to grow and evolve, brands may find it difficult to keep up. However, with reviews and referrals, brands can drive customer acquisition by building trust and leveraging social proof. With loyalty programs, brands can reward customers for repeat engagement and purchases, accelerating lifetime value.To learn more about Stamped Reviews and/or Stamped Loyalty, book a demo with one of our sales reps today. Trust Builds Brands Sign up to see how Stamped can help your Ecommerce brand drive growth and awareness. Sign Up Free