In this wide-ranging conversation from the Perpetual Traffic podcast, hosts Ralph Burns and Kasim Aslam dive into some of the key trends shaping digital marketing and e-commerce in 2024.
Touching on everything from the rise of personal branding to the limitations of attribution tracking, Ralph and Kasim break down their thoughts on where things are headed. They also reference insights from past podcast guests like Perry Marshall.
Kicking things off, Ralph highlights how personal branding is becoming increasingly vital for standing out in the digital space. He references social media influencer Alex Hermosi's perspective on celebrities leveraging their brands through endorsements of products like alcohol and apparel.
Ralph and Kasim discuss strategies for capitalizing on personal branding as part of a company's marketing efforts. Putting a human face and personality behind a brand can help forge deeper connections with potential customers.
Some key takeaways include:
- Media buys are a great way to boost brand visibility and recognition. Ralph shares an example of how his increased spending on YouTube ads led to more real-world encounters with people familiar with him and his brand.
- Thought leadership positioning is vital. By sharing unique perspectives and insights, you can establish your brand as an authority in your industry.
Expanding on the theme of branding, Ralph and Kasim analyze how celebrity endorsements can dramatically enhance a brand's recognition and value.
They note high-profile examples like George Clooney's tequila brand and Ryan Reynolds' mobile carrier Mint Mobile. Even if the product itself isn't unique, the fame and influence of the celebrity can attract a huge customer base.
Pivoting to the next major trend, Kasim shares his belief that community building needs to be a central part of any brand strategy today, especially in e-commerce.
Kasim advocates that brands focus on galvanizing a community of engaged followers even before launching a product. He notes how one of their clients amassed over 700,000 YouTube subscribers by sharing workout and nutrition advice, then eventually leveraged that audience in launching supplement products.
Having an existing community also makes market research easier since you can directly ask members what products or features they'd like to see. Their early involvement also makes them more inclined to purchase once you release an offering.
Beyond just pre-launch buzz, nurturing a loyal community pays dividends in the long run through sustained brand growth and customer retention.
Kasim highlights how communities built on platforms like Facebook Groups or WhatsApp enable intimate, real-time dialog. This helps brands provide better support, while also fostering brand advocates who passionately promote you to others.
…and if you want to join our community head over to perpetualtraffic.com/telegram.
Shifting gears, Ralph relates insights from Alex Hermosi (a dream podcast guest) on the value of putting your face and personality front and center in advertising.
Strategically increasing media spend can dramatically boost brand awareness due to wider reach. Ralph shares a personal anecdote about how his ramped up YouTube ad budget led random strangers to recognize him in real-world settings.
Ralph also touches on the significance of personalization in advertising. Infusing ads with a human touch, whether it's conveying your own experiences or showing real customer recognitions, helps messages resonate more.
While Ralph and Kasim cover several key trends in this wide-ranging discussion, they only scratch the surface of what the future holds.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series where they will breakdown even more trends and insights to shape your 2024 marketing strategy!