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As the New Year 2014 approaches, consumers and marketers alike find themselves in an ever-changing landscape of technology. 2013 saw 3D printing, cloud storage going mainstream, and digital currencies getting mass attention. While innovative technologies drive productivity and more engaging communication, marketers will have to struggle to get creative to deliver value to their brands.
Already on the market in 2013 were the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and a popular competitor, the Pebble Smartwatch. These iPod nano-like watches provide hands-free bluetooth connection to your smartphone, plus stand-alone apps for seemingly limitless applications.
While mainstream adoption may not occur right away for some wearables, health and fitness-tracking technologies like NikeFuel Band and Jawbone Up devices could be hot items throughout the year and beyond.
Google Glass will launch to consumers in 2014.
As the New Year 2014 approaches, consumers and marketers alike find themselves in an ever-changing landscape of technology. 2013 saw 3D printing, cloud storage going mainstream, and digital currencies getting mass attention. While innovative technologies drive productivity and more engaging communication, marketers will have to struggle to get creative to deliver value to their brands.
New Tech Paradigm Emerges
The new year will bring a shift (albeit slowly) toward wearable technologies. With ultra-hyped eyeglass computer Google Glass expected to be released sometime in 2014, a slew of competitors will surely follow, including Epiphany Eyewear and Zeyez.Already on the market in 2013 were the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch and a popular competitor, the Pebble Smartwatch. These iPod nano-like watches provide hands-free bluetooth connection to your smartphone, plus stand-alone apps for seemingly limitless applications.
While mainstream adoption may not occur right away for some wearables, health and fitness-tracking technologies like NikeFuel Band and Jawbone Up devices could be hot items throughout the year and beyond.
Google Glass will launch to consumers in 2014.
Smartwatches could be a hot gift item next Christmas 2014.
Visual Content Dominates
The top three fastest growing apps this year were all visually-based. Vine, Flickr, and Instagram made huge strides in building their usage (Vine grew by nearly 400%). Twitter and Facebook have long realized that people enjoy sharing images and videos. Proof? Twitter acquired Vine in 2012. Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 and introduced Instagram video this summer. Snapchat turned down $3 billion from Facebook last fall. If that doesn't tell you where visual content is headed, nothing will.
As more and more information washes over internet users, concise writing and impacting images will become more necessary to attract and hold viewers' attentions. Look for more infographics and short Vine-like videos to supplement content marketing as marketers seek to leverage emerging platforms.
As more and more information washes over internet users, concise writing and impacting images will become more necessary to attract and hold viewers' attentions. Look for more infographics and short Vine-like videos to supplement content marketing as marketers seek to leverage emerging platforms.
Dunkin Donuts ran a series of Vine ads on Monday Night Football.
What It All Means
More devices and more apps means brands need more content to target and engage users. The rise of mobile in the last couple of years has mandated a shift toward mobile ads and content. The same will eventually happen for wearable devices once app development catches up. Concision + visual aids make content creation more challenging and rewarding for those brands that get it right.
I like what Justin Pearse, head of marketing at Bite, had to say about content in 2014:
"In 2014 we will see brands stop talking about 'acting like a publisher' and start actually acting like one. The froth surrounding content marketing will start to settle and brands will start investing in the people, processes and technologies to deliver truly compelling content.
2014 will be the year job titles such as head of content and content director become common at brands, both B2C and B2B. This will help companies start to emulate content professionals like journalists, authors and even film directors, in treating content as sacred.
If they do, brands will be able to avoid contributing to the problem of content pollution choking us online and start delivering content people actually want."Check out our digital marketing services at chromatic-solutions.com.
