That’s it. The working year over.
Another year has passed but not entirely taken with it the after-effects of Covid 19, the crazy energy prices, the politicking and a huge amount of fear for the future. War seems closer to our doors these days and the normal we are now living is not the normal we once knew.
As entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders we are charged to set the tone for the people we lead and bring in some much-needed positivity. But what does 2024 hold for us?
From our perspective in marketing, here are ten things we believe will emerge as normal for 2024 and beyond…
ONE: Networking will grow exponentially.
Networking is part of every business but with the prevalence of remote or at least hybrid working arrangements, these networking events are taking on more importance.
Experience-led events rather than a service breakfast are the order of the day and will bring people together across the country.
TWO: The Metaverse will become more mainstream.
Too much remains a mystery if we choose to avoid this strange new world. In 2024, Apple will launch their absurdly priced VisionPro, and others will begin to embrace the Metaverse at entry-point levels.
Having a space on the internet is one thing, but many more of us will embrace the curious journey into the Metaverse.
As a business, now is the time to play, not just peek. It’s not a wise move to ignore the opportunity the Metaverse represents.
THREE: Podcasts will replace the business card.
The more rooms I have been in the more the conversation has steered towards the podcast. Authority marketing is here to stay and the podcast is at the heart of a strong personal brand.
Business cards sell a story, podcasts show it and they add a value that sets you apart.
Why not listen to ours?
FOUR: Long Form Video will make a comeback.
Years ago, we used to create long-form video and burn it to a CD or DVD. With the emergence of social media that changed and short form was all the rage.
Then YouTube and Vimeo helped provide us with a base for longer form content and now making a longer form piece from which video marketers take shorts has become ‘de rigeur’.
Reels and shorts help signpost people to longer form and, with podcasts being longer form, documentary-style videos are back. Longer form content basis is on storytelling and, for 2024, filmmaking should be at the heart of your marketing message.
FIVE: City living will diminish.
The migration will continue as cities continue to become more expensive to engage with. That is why networking works as people retreat to the outer limits and just head in for events.
London has seen the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday working patterns emerge and no signs of slowing. Parking, congestion and even air quality make it even less attractive to commute daily and out-of-town retail outlets will see a continued rise in popularity.
Local is indeed making a comeback.
SIX: No code is the smart revolution.
Building products with expensive coders is changing and changing fast. No code tools are making MVPs easier and quicker to build and test an idea.
Gain traction using marketing spend to gain users rather than be swallowed up on bespoke builds that leave you at the mercy of the developer.
Bubble, Builder and Adalo continue to help the UI and UX world execute their ideas more quickly than ever and with the emergence of AI, no code is becoming everyone’s go-to tool.
SEVEN: Research is charged by AI.
While the merits of writing content via ChatGPT are still up for debate, its uses for research are undisputed.
Knowing the right prompts and seeing AI as a supercharger search engine can help you get information far quicker than Googling (yes, I know Google has Bard).
You will still need to check out the cited sources however, when you treat them as a library of information, these platforms provide quicker access to large research projects than ever before.
I see Chat GPT as my assistant rather than my replacement and I have more confidence to express myself when I’m armed with the facts.
EIGHT: X will emerge as the no.1 social platform
Twitter changed to X and with a vision to become the West’s version of WeChat (everything in one app), X continues to make bolder steps into content generation.
To be honest, I use X as a tool for information. I’m not much of a poster on this platform – my engagement centres around the performance of my beloved Reds.
Yet, as it has opened up, so have the opportunities.
Content is being rewarded, and with longer-form content being rewarded regardless of your political persuasion, X is getting harder to ignore.
As Meta moves towards the metaverse, X moves toward the news. Mainstream news has taken a battering and although X houses some crazy stuff, its reinvented version of journalism is becoming a real thing.
2024 will see many casual scrollers (like me) begin to take advantage of this new advancement with podcasts and long-form content being made available on X. Furthermore, X is looking to reward content contributors and getting sponsorships will be a great option.
NINE: Groups will make a comeback.
Facebook Groups were an exceptional marketing tool during the pandemic and were often the place where people found a platform to engage in community.
Facebook has recently updated the ad manager to include advertising a target audience to join the group which is a sure sign that groups are making a comeback!
With one eye on the Metaverse, this could help bring people into a group more quickly than ever. Watch this space.
TEN: Sustainable marketing will lead with print again.
Print has taken a hammering in recent years but now printers are looking to be kinder to the environment. Digital may no longer always be the best, most sustainable option over print as energy hungry servers challenge the environment!So guess what? Print is slowly making a comeback and what’s more, it’s supporting the marketing efforts of the digital world.
QR codes in books leading to portals of content aren’t uncommon. Also being adopted in the medium of print are beautiful, coffee table books with high-end photography.
Letter writing makes it easier to engage prospects than the deluge of emails in our inboxes. Print definitely could be as sustainable as digital and it’s certainly worth asking the question.
Cre8ion already made the switch to green servers two years ago and enjoy a great relationship with several printers who are looking to do things more sustainably.
SUMMARY: 2024 the year of more.
2023 has seen some incredible opportunities for the Cre8ion Team open up all over the globe and they have given us an insight into what will be trending.
I believe there are far more opportunities than ever. Embrace uncomfortable tech tools and diverse approaches and engage in conversations where you are not the expert. It will help you and your business grow beyond expectation!
Get excited, the next year CAN be BETTER!