3 Technologies Shaping the Future of Digital Marketing

Social media and Digital marketing have become essential parts of most brands' marketing initiatives. The ability to collect useful data about customers has enabled brands to focus their messaging on their core audiences. Our connectivity to each other has also spurred other technological advances.

With these new advances in technology being made regularly, social media and digital marketing will soon evolve to give audiences a more curated advertising experience.

Here are 3 technological trends poised to reshape the world of digital marketing for years to come.

1. Virtual reality (VR)

Interest in Virtual reality grew exponentially in 2016, with numerous new applications being revealed. Various new industries are finding ways to exploit VR to get their message across . Marketers now see the benefits in immersing potential customers in a simulated experience to help shape buying decisions. We will all soon be able to tour hotels, theme parks and resorts from our living room allowing us to fully experience a product before buying.

Numerous brands have started focusing on Virtual reality as part of overall marketing strategy. The value proposition is huge for both brands and consumers. If you want to successfully utilize VR create a captivating and fun story about your product clearly displaying its uses and features.

2. Geotargeting

Geo targeting in geomarketing and internet marketing is the method of determining the geolocation of a website visitor or app user and delivering different content to that visitor based on his or her location, such as country, region/state, city, metro code/zip code, organization, IP address, ISP or other criteria. Although, the technology is not really new, marketers have found really cool ways to use Geo targeting as a means of creating a more personal advertising experience for consumers.

Google uses the technology very successfully in their "Maps" application. Messages about businesses and available products are sent to consumers based on your location. The technology is not only being used by Google to send messaging, but also to collect top quality geo data. Google Maps asks users to take photos and edit data on various business locations and provide reviews based on the consumers' proximity to the business location in real time.

3.Self-driving cars

Consumers spend a lot of time driving back and forth to work and other destinations. So how much time do we spend in our cars? That total adds up to about 10 hours a week (assuming you work five days) and 40 hours a month, just going to work. Marketers realize that freeing up this time will allow consumers to, well, consume. The cars of the future will not just be self-driving, but will have interactive screens turning it into the largest mobile device on the planet. Marketers will utilize this new found free time to sell their products and service to consumers.

Google has released its Android platforms for vehicles, where you can now essentially convert your in dash screen into one large media center equipped with apps, videos, etc.

Marketers will approach this medium with a focus on personalization. Creating curated, interactive experiences. Brands will seek to connect with consumers on a more personal level. Gone are the old days of just sending out generic messages to consumers.