5 digital trends to watch out for in 2019

Inspiring Stories

06 December 2018

5 digital trends to watch out for in 2019

  • Posted by Awfis Editorial

The pace at which the advertising world is changing, it is nearly impossible to keep up with trends. Tech companies are bringing out new innovations rapidly, completely disrupting the way marketing is done today. By the time you feel like you’ve got the hang of one innovation, there are 10 new ones to grasp. It’s like a mythological, multi-headed monster, only in a good way. Maybe.

Perhaps 2018 went by too quickly, but you still have 2019. Use the next few weeks to plan your strategy for the coming year keeping in mind some of the trends that are showing promise. Here are the top 5 trends we suggest you watch out for in 2019.

#1 Authenticity, at all times

Let’s face it; customers distrust advertising. And they can smell dishonesty from miles away. It is therefore critical for brands to be authentic today.

People would rather trust humans than brands. Which is why influencer marketing has been riding high for so long. Customers will ignore an ad, even be blind to it, but authentic content, generated by a real fellow customer, will grab attention immediately.

Encourage your customers to share their experiences with your brands. (And this includes positive and negative experiences.) Other customers are more likely than ever to believe that content created by a user is more authentic than one created by the same brand.

Look at what GoPro has managed so beautifully. There are nearly 5000 videos posted online every day with the GoPro hashtag – from skydiving and cliff diving to wildlife videos and eco-friendly initiatives. While their competitors talk about product features, GoPro talks about human emotions like passion, inspiration and awe. It’s all User Generated Content which has found a spot in their customers’ hearts and wallets too.

#2 Voice search is getting popular

Did you know that nearly one third of the world’s 3.5 billion Google searches daily are voice searches?

And that personal assistant devices are leading the way?

As Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant get better at recognizing human speech, they are exhibiting their potential to improve searching for information on the Web. How is this related to marketing?

Let us show you.

A voice search is quite different from a typical desktop or mobile search. When you ‘Google’ on your browser, you get hundreds of pages of search results. And being one of them is really a piece of cake now, pure hygiene, in fact.

Things get really interesting when you ask Siri a question: the results are few; often just one. And if that result is you, then the chances of CTR go through the roof. It is estimated that by 2020, nearly half of all search queries will be voice-based. But it requires work. You need to customise your SEO strategy to include voice search. And this is why you need to start planning for 2019 right now.

#3 Visual search is not far behind

It’s not just voice search that’s rising; it’s got competition.

While several big businesses have been focusing their marketing strategy on conversational queries, others, like Google, Pinterest and Microsoft have been quietly working on developing a stronger competitor in interactive SEO – visual search.

But how does this really work? You could say it’s like a search in reverse. Instead of typing your search query, you just point your phone’s camera at an object to get back text-based information.

What visual search does is that it identifies objects in the image and then searches for related images online. Say you point your phone at your bed. Visual search will give you back information about where you can shop for a similar piece of furniture.

Incredible, isn’t it? This technology is still in the developmental stage as there is a lot of machine learning yet to be done. But it is definitely something that you must keep an eye on.

#4 Have you heard of Micro-Moment marketing?

Despite consumers spending 3-3.5 hours on their smartphones every day, brands are having a tough time getting their attention. Blame it on the overabundance of information today – ads, content, emails, offers, push notifications and the rest. And it never switches off.

Maybe it’s time for micro-moment marketing to step in. What’s that, you might wonder.

Micro-moment is a new type of consumer behavior which usually occurs when a person turns to a smartphone to want to know something or to buy something. Some typical micro-moments are I-want-to-know-something-moment, I-want-to-go-somewhere-moment, I-want-to-do-something-moment or I-want-to-buy-something-moment. It seems users (that’s us) experience ‘micro-moments’ no less than 150 times a day! That’s an opportunity waiting to be tapped.

These are moments when people make snap decisions on what to buy, which restaurant to go to, where to go, etc. which gives a brand few precious seconds to get their attention. Micro-moments are successful when (if) they can offer the consumer the right information right when she needs it.

#5 Not just social media, but re-purposed social media

Man is a social animal, which is why there are 3.196 billion of us worldwide, that’s 3.196 billion global social media users! Social media cannot be ignored; it is a basic marketing requirement.

The most popular social media trends today are video, automation, and influencers. But they do not operate in silos; they should not operate in silos. You cannot afford to be the leader on Facebook but ignore YouTube, or vice versa. The key to success is not just social media content, but re-purposed social media content across multiple, relevant platforms.

Conclusion

Marketing trends will come and go, no doubt about that. Some will make a resounding impact, and some will fade away. It is up to you to know when to take notice of a sticky trend, and then to quickly, adapt.

5 things that every startup can learn from Shahrukh Khan’s journey

Inspiring Stories

25 August 2021

5 things that every startup can learn from Shahrukh Khan’s journey

  • Posted by awfis

Bollywood and Shahrukh Khan have long been synonymous. From stage plays in his early career to 80 iconic Indian films and global stardom for over more than a decade – the Indian actor, producer and television personality has made waves in every sphere of entertainment. But, every now and then, one will often find him reminiscing his modest roots.

If you’re launching your start –up, then you’re also most likely to find yourself in times of struggle and despair. But guess what? Even the King of Bollywood has been there and done that. Here are some of the most inspiring life lessons coming straight from the Superstar, that will help you “hang in there!”

Lesson 1: Sail away from your comfort zone

“Being brave means being shit scared all the way. But, don’t let your fears become boxes that enclose you. Open them up, feel them and turn them into the greatest courage you are capable of. I promise you, nothing will go wrong. But if you live by your fears, everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong and you won’t even have done the Funky Chicken.”

Lesson 2: Embrace the madness in you

There’s no such thing as “normal”. That’s just another word for lifeless. Madness is an absolute prerequisite to a happy and successful life. Don’t ever treat your little insanities as if they are aberrations that ought to be hidden. Acknowledge them and use them to define your own way of living the only life you have. All the most beautiful people in the world, the most creative, the ones who led revolutions, who discovered and invented things, did so because they embraced their own idiosyncrasies.”

Lesson 3: Don’t panic ever – just be positive

“When life hits you with all the force of its resplendent rage, the Rolls isn’t going to give you comfort. A friend’s grace will, and if you can’t find resolution as easily as you would like to, don’t panic. Everything evolves as you go along. Even disasters eventually resolve themselves. Give life the space to move at its own pace, pushing it ahead only by way of being kind to yourself when you are hurting or in despair.”

Life lesson 4: Ignore the naysayers

“All the names you give yourself, or those that others call you, are just labels. You are not defined by them, no matter how flattering or uncomplimentary they are. What defines you is your heart. And I say this out of experience because if I was to go by what all I am called on Social Media I would be an old desperate manipulative that has been star who swings both ways while making crap movies, and these are just the good mentions.”

Lesson 5: Stop whining and start moving

“Whatever it is that is pulling you back, it’s not going away unless you stand up and start forging your own path with all your might in the opposite direction. Don’t attach yourself to either sadness or happiness, they’re both going to change with the same certitude. Take them with the ephemeral spirit of their impermanence and manage them with a healthy dose of good humour.”

Here’s what you need first – a office spaceco-working space in Qutab, New Delhi or business centre in Koramangala, Bengaluru , where you can kickstart your startup.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

#FAQatAwfis: Who Is My Ideal Target Audience?

Inspiring Stories

25 August 2021

#FAQatAwfis: Who Is My Ideal Target Audience?

  • Posted by awfis

Q1. What is my first step at targeting audiences?

It’s important to create a “why us” value proposition for your product. Be ready to stay in test and refine mode, as you move forward. Many startups and entrepreneurs get so caught up in their business plan and trying to execute it, they forget the most important aspect, which is the market. It is important to move out of your cubicle and office space and go out and discover more.

Q2. Do I start small or look at the bigger market?

You definitely need to start with the smallest group possible. It may seem contradictory to many who are starting a business, but it’s vital to find a group who think what you offer is special. Finding a narrow group with extremely specific demographics or a specifically targeted problem is the key. It’s easy to expand your reach after you gain traction, but it’s always the best to be a big player in the smaller markets.

Q3. Is it vital to keep resources aside for my research or can I just analyze?

The customers who currently buy your product are your audience and it is extremely important to understand who they are, their characteristics and their buying patterns. Analyze the elements that worked with your marketing strategy that connected with your audience. It is obviously important to invest in customer relationship management software for small businesses. Use tools and software to see your customers’ geographic distribution, age range, habits and other valuable insights.

Q4. How important is it to study the role of my competitors in the industry?

If you’re lucky and blessed, you’ve invented a product that the world has never seen. However, it isn’t so easy always. It’s extremely important to check out the competition that sells similar products to yours. Look not only at the big players, but even the upcoming startups. Start thinking of ways that would persuade your customers to switch to your product. Make your product more desirable. Study your competitors and their success and how they connected to their audiences. Along with success, study their failures as well so you can avoid them.

Q5. How to create an audience profile?

The ideal customer profile contains not only demographic but also psychographic information. Demographics describe aspects like gender, age, income, marital status, job status, education levels, etc. Psychographics identify hobbies, behaviors, habits, lifestyle choices, values, and interests. It is also important to give equal weightage to both these factors as they go hand in hand.

Q6. What is my next step?

After you have figured your audience, it is important to envision your product and your company five years into the future. Both your business and your customers need to move forward in the same direction. Be aware of all the technology changes related to your product. And remember, as your business evolves, your customer base will also shift. But once you’ve found your target audience, the transition won’t be too difficult.

Hope this would guide you into finding the ideal audience, for more queries comment below!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

How To Negotiate And Win Your Way With Each Zodiac Sign

Inspiring Stories

25 August 2021

How To Negotiate And Win Your Way With Each Zodiac Sign

  • Posted by awfis

It’s no surprise that great businesses are often built on solid human capital. That means constantly having to network and collaborate with others – be it your eccentric employees, unreasonable clients or an over demanding boss. But sometimes, winning them over to see your side of the story can be quite a task. For what seems like a stalemate, simply follow our zodiac manual to crack the code to their entrepreneurial mind…

AQUARIUS (January 22 – February 21)

They are known to be true visionaries who are constantly pushing to break social norms. Traditional and conservative is not their style and they love hearing about fresh and new ideas that have yet to be discovered. Adaptive and innovative, it is best to consider them as decision-making equals, since they are probably ten steps ahead of you in terms of creativity.

PISCES (February 22 – March 20)

Their generous sense of spirituality and service to others makes negotiating with a Pisces – easy and effortless. To win them over, show them the greater good behind your motives over a great fine dine. Idealistic, empathetic and caring, they will lend steady support to social and humanitarian projects, while their knack for being organised and detailed will help you execute your projects to perfection.

ARIES (March 21 – April 20)

Assertive, dynamic and courageous are a few words that describe these folks. They adore a healthy amount of risk and adventure and will be the first of the lot to take a brave leap. Get them to tune in by being point-blank straightforward and allowing them to take centre stage in form of sincere compliments and leadership positions. Their world revolves around genuine warmth and affection and they look up to those who inspire them!

TAURUS (April 21 – May 20)

Show them the money through concrete numbers, because for them comfort and security rank very high. They are hardworking, dependable and practical but also very rigid in their goals. Never rush them into making decisions since they like to take their own sweet time to think things through. If you really want their support, then statistics and a steady plan for the future will do the trick.

GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)

Sell them your idea like a true salesman, and they will buy it. Known for being social butterflies and great communicators, they love like-minded people who are equally as charming and enigmatic as them. Since they are very knowledgeable, they can be great teachers when it comes to their field. Remember to stay in their good books by being extremely diplomatic, at all times.

CANCER (June 22 – July 20)

Sensitive and nurturing, Cancerians use their emotional feelers to respond to their surroundings. Their body language and expressions will tell you everything you need to know. If you’re at a deadlock with them, then acknowledge their contributions and they’ll be on cloud nine. Being kind and understanding about   their dreams will win you their support in return!

LEO (July 21 – August 20)

Give them a chance to shine! These kind, vivacious and artistic personalities love being classy and centre-stage. Want a Leo on your team? Then simply consider adding value to their reputation and image. For them, loyalty and friendship is above anything else, so don’t ever break their trust. Known for being great managers, they will know how to strike the perfect balance between work and play.

VIRGO (August 21 – September 22)

This category signifies all the number crunchers and organisers that believe in logic and statistics over unpredictable emotions and gut instincts. They tend to hold on to order and tiny details with acute focus. If you’re banking on them in the long term, then get them to look at the bigger picture and how it could align with their personal goals. Also, don’t forget to over look all the details before approaching them, as they can tend to be highly critical.

LIBRA (September 23 – October 21)

They bent towards partnership and compromise, often finds them in positions where they believe in keeping everyone happy. Show them a general consensus, and they will be more likely to hear your plans. Just be clear about what you want and choose your words carefully as their investigative sense leaves no stoned unturned.

SCORPIO (October 22 – November 20)

These all-rounders are drawn to all that’s complex and analytical as they can achieve anything in difficult situations with flying colours. They appreciate go-getters and reliable people who can align with their goals. Sometimes, they might be sensitive due to their strong intuitive abilities but all you have to do is motivate them with a fair share of passion, risk and challenge.

SAGITTARIUS (November 21 – December 22)

They are fun, enthusiastic and optimistic who are constantly on the lookout to further their knowledge. They wear their heart on their sleeve and are naturally attracted to opportunities that involve travel and leisure. Their strong sense of independence makes it difficult to commit to one single thing but if you manage to show them the bigger picture of your bargain, then you might just have an audience!

CAPRICORN (December 21 – January 20)

They are masters of strategy and implementation. Make sure you show them your ideas, as they will help you execute them with ease. Known for being poker-faced businessmen, they will often keep their feelings to themselves. Getting to know them on a personal level, can earn you their support and companionship, come what may.

Want regular tips on how to tackle your professional life? Follow Awfis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.