By Alexis Young

With only a week left of Q1, now is a great time to reflect on how your marketing plan is going and whether or not it needs adjustments in Q2. And, if we’re making adjustments, then it’s also a great time to reflect on the best practices for 2024 and double-check we’ve checked all the boxes. 

Personally, our team is focusing on these 6 boxes; 

1. AI Marketing Automation
2. Hyper-Personalization 
3. Influence Marketing
4. Video Marketing
5. Social Commerce 
6. Sustainability And Purpose-Driven Marketing

The list may seem long but they’re all important. Let’s break them down together. 

1. AI Marketing Automation
   1. We are focusing on AI for three main reasons; it is changing how we analyze data, it is personalizing our customer’s experiences and it is optimizing our campaigns. AI can do a lot and in the marketing world, it is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be looked down on. In our personal experience, we are ensuring that 2024 is the year we use it to better understand our customers, improve their journey, and ensure our social campaigns are reaching the CORRECT consumers. AI is scarier when we don’t understand it so taking the time to not only understand it but learn how to use it, is vital. 
2. Hyper- Personalized
   1. AI opens new doors to making our marketing personal. In 2024 we are stepping away from massive audiences that all receive the same message and moving into detailed groups that get messages that match their current stage in the customer journey. 
3. Influence Marketing
   1. Influencers are not going away. In fact, according to Statista, “The global influencer marketing market size has more than tripled since 2019. In 2024, the market was estimated to reach a record of 24 billion U.S. dollars.” This is the year to harness those groups and make them work for your business! Finding an influencer that matches your market and is already speaking to your demographic is an amazing way to reach new consumers and build brand awareness. 
4. Video Marketing
   1.  Video Marketing has been important for a few years now but in 2024, it is only growing in importance. Consumer’s attention spans continue to get shorter and shorter so static images are no longer cutting it. In order to keep people engaged and make your brand stand out, you need to utitlize videos in your digital marketing plan. 
5. Social Commerce
   1. Calling all e-commerce brands!! You can sell your products almost ANYWHERE so it’s time to branch out from the basic Google Shop or website only. Social platforms (Meta, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, etc.) are improving their shops every quarter and their efficiency has proved to be a top choice for consumers. If you haven’t yet, get your shop onto these platforms so you are right in front of your shoppers at all times. There is a HUGE market on these platforms and by keeping your shop off them, you are missing out.
6. Sustainability And Purpose-Driven Marketing
   1. We think Forbes said it best with this one so we are going to cheat and share their thoughts; “As environmental concerns continue to take center stage, consumers increasingly seek brands that align with their values. To achieve success, it will be essential for businesses to adopt sustainable and purpose-driven marketing strategies that are authentic to the brand. It’s not enough to showcase eco-friendly initiatives. Instead, brands must actively incorporate sustainable practices, support social causes, and authentically validate their purpose. In today’s era of conscious consumerism, brands that genuinely embody and communicate a commitment to sustainability will be able to attract and retain a loyal and socially conscious customer base.” Can we get an amen? 

These 6 areas are the tip of the iceberg but they are a solid place to start. As 2024 continues on, we want to hear from you! What are your top priorities this year? Have you put these 6 into practice yet or do you need assistance? 

The team at CCox Social invites you to reach out for a discussion about your 2024 plans. Let’s make this the best year yet for your business!