In the dynamic world of marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success. As markets evolve, consumer behaviors shift, and new technologies emerge, marketers must constantly adapt their strategies to remain relevant and competitive.
In this blog, we’ll explore effective strategies and tools, such as monitoring social media platforms and attending industry events, that can help marketers keep up with new trends.
Google Trends and alerts
Through Google Trends, you can easily find out trending topics and stories.
Use the search bar to look up keywords or topics related to your industry. You can see when and where they’ve been most searched.
Check the “Related Queries” section to discover related topics that are gaining traction. This will help you identify niche trends or complementary topics to incorporate into your marketing strategy.
Stay updated on industry news and trends by setting up Google Alerts for relevant keywords or topics related to your industry. This way you will get notified whenever there are new search results for these keywords.
Social media
Social media monitoring is key for keeping up with new trends, because what can be a better way to do so than being active on the platforms where the majority of them are created? Here’s how you can leverage social media as a marketer:
- Check Twitter’s trending topics section daily, as it provides access to the most popular news and discussions happening in real time.
- Organize your Twitter feed by creating lists of accounts that post useful information related to trends.
- Follow industry experts and thought leaders on platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. They regularly share valuable insights, news, and predictions related to your field.
- Join Facebook Groups related to the industry you work in.
Blogs and podcasts
Marketing blogs are treasure troves of knowledge. The Gradient blog, for example, not only breaks down emerging trends, it also provides quality in-depth information about marketing best practices, and industry-specific news.
By frequently visiting these blogs, you can stay informed about the latest trends with minimal effort.
Additionally, you can also listen to marketing podcasts, like Neil Patel’s Marketing School, whenever you have free time. Dozens of successful marketers have started their own podcasts, where they share the learnings from their experiences and invite others with relevant expertise to discuss new trends.
So, turn on a podcast on your way to work or during your evening walk to update your marketing knowledge on the go.
Industry conferences
Conferences present a great opportunity to network with and learn from your peers and industry experts. You will gain valuable, data-driven, and actionable insights from the discussions, presentations, and guest speaker seminars held at conferences.
Moreover, connecting with other professionals can also potentially lead to partnerships in the future. Conferences bring together many professionals working for businesses producing complementary products with similar values. These partnerships can enable you to reach out to more people and tap into newer markets.
Your team
Yes, sometimes what you’re looking for is right in front of you. Your marketing team members, especially younger people (Millennials and Gen Z), might have already noticed up-and-coming trends on social media or through publications like Forbes or The Washington Post.
Consult your teammates for their views and findings about recent trends by creating an online forum (e.g., a slack channel), where they can share resources like articles and podcasts relevant to these trends. Also, ask them to analyze the social media content, advertisements, and other marketing material of your competitors to identify the trends that have contributed to their success.
Then you can conduct weekly meetings to discuss if and how you can profitably utilize these trends.
Conclusion
Successful marketing requires constant evaluation of your current marketing strategy and the adoption of newer, useful trends. But before jumping on the bandwagon of any trend, make sure to conduct thorough research into it (its origins and impact) to determine if it aligns with your organization’s values. You don’t want to confuse your audience with conflicting messages conveyed by your older marketing efforts and the new trends you incorporate into your marketing strategy.
By following the tips mentioned in this article, you can easily identify new and relevant marketing trends for your organization that will help you attract potential customers.
