The Future of Digital Marketing and How Far We've Come
Digital marketing always moves at a fast pace. Need a quick refresher of how far we've come in the past year? In a 2023 Technology for Marketing conference, Dr. Dave Chaffey, co-founder of Smart Insights, provided a compelling overview of the then latest trends and practical recommendations for digital marketing. Drawing from the Future of Marketing 2023 research report, Dr. Chaffey offered a pragmatic look at the innovations shaping the industry.
Take part in this year's survey
Key Insights
Generative AI: Proceed with Caution
Dr. Chaffey highlighted that while generative AI tools like ChatGPT are currently in vogue, they are often overhyped. He advised marketers to experiment with these technologies but remain realistic about their current capabilities. More advanced AI systems are necessary for strategic planning and guiding overall marketing strategies.
Lag in Digital Strategy Adoption
A significant portion of businesses are not keeping pace with digital marketing best practices. Nearly half of the businesses surveyed lack a comprehensive digital strategy, and few engage in regular testing and optimisation. This gap underscores the need for businesses to prioritise digital strategy development and continuous improvement.
AI’s Role in Email and Personalisation
AI has shown promise in specific areas, such as email subject line optimisation, although human creativity remains superior for crafting branding messages. Website personalisation is another underutilised area that is expected to grow as AI technologies advance, offering significant potential for enhancing user experiences and engagement.
Content Creation and SEO
For content creation, AI tools can assist but are not yet capable of matching human quality in long-form content. SEO remains a critical factor, with effective strategies extending beyond mere copywriting to include various technical and strategic elements.
Navigating MarTech Solutions
With thousands of marketing technology solutions available, businesses face the challenge of selecting and integrating the right tools. Dr. Chaffey emphasised the importance of a structured approach to MarTech adoption, noting that few businesses currently have such a framework in place.
Dr. Chaffey’s session provided valuable insights into the future of digital marketing, underscoring the need for strategic planning, cautious adoption of AI, and a structured approach to leveraging MarTech solutions. For businesses looking to stay competitive, these recommendations offer a clear path forward.
Watch The Full Session
Be Part Of The Future Of Marketing
Want to help us benchmark the future of the industry? Participate in this year's Future of Digital Marketing Survey!
Even more inspiring sessions at Technology for Marketing in 2024:
Latest News
-
Carolyn Tang Kmet: eCommerce Evolution, Data-Driven Teaching, and the Future of Personalisation in Marketing
30 Oct 2024Meet Carolyn Tang Kmet, a seasoned expert in eCommerce and digital marketing turned educator at Northwestern University, as she shares insights on personalisation, data-driven marketing, and building ... -
Exhibiting at this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing was Greg Landon, Head of Marketing at lead conversion platform Leadoo, who we sat down with to discuss the most exciting trends he ...
-
Sam Heaton, CEO and Co-founder of direct mail platform Stannp.com to find out what valuable insights he gained from the shows and the major challenges eCommerce retailers will face ahead of peak shopp ...
-
Tjeerd Brenninkmeijer, Executive Vice President EMEA and Brand & Communications at eCommerce experience platform Bloomreach runs us through the best piece of advice he’d give newcomers in the industry ...
-
How To Write a B2B Marketing Strategy You Can Actually Deliver
10 Sep 2024 B2B Jade, TikTok Influencer and Founder - B2B Breakthrough AcademyIt sounds so simple, but the biggest reason most B2B companies don’t see results from their marketing efforts is that they aren’t working to a clear strategy with objectives, the right budget, and a s ... -
Zaria Parvez: Senior Global Social Media Manager at Duolingo – Creativity, Community, and Social Media Strategy
10 Sep 2024 Laura DazonMeet Zaria Parvez, the mastermind behind Duolingo's viral social media success, who grew their TikTok from 50K to over 11M followers. Discover how she transformed Duolingo into a social-first brand, c ... -
Jamie Crummie: Co-Founder of Too Good to Go – Fighting Food Waste One Meal at a Time
10 Sep 2024 Laura DazonMeet Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good to Go, the app tackling food waste and now serving over 100 million users globally. In this interview, Jamie shares his journey, challenges, and vision for a ... -
We spoke with Amie Lane, Senior Manager, Partner and Field Marketing at referral marketing platform Mention Me on what she’s looking forward to seeing at this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for ...