WEBITMD NEWSLETTER VOL.41

READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING?  

Another year is behind us. From the rapid rise and adoption of new technology like AI to the introduction of strategies like Nearbound marketing, there were a multitude of takeaways. Here's the most lessons we learned in 2024, and how you can apply them to maximize your ROI in 2025.

THE FOCUS OF 2024: RELATIONSHIPS

Last year was all about personalization, developing community, and tapping into trusted relationships to generate new business opportunities. How was that accomplished? A few ways:

• Nearbound marketing: Nearbound marketing is a strategy that focuses on using existing trusted relationships to drive new business opportunities. Unlike outbound marketing’s broad approach or inbound marketing’s content-driven tactics, the Nearbound strategy taps into the power of your current network. 

• AI-driven personalization: Artificial intelligence has enabled predictive analytics and improved data analysis - which has resulted in more personalized experiences for every individual customer.
  
  
• Omnichannel approaches: Consumers want a flawless, interconnected experience that spans every interaction point, whether online through websites and apps or in-person at stores and service centers. The leading companies in 2024 wove their marketing strategies into a unified, tapestry across multiple marketing channels to deliver a consistent journey for customers.

SHOW TO KEEP BUILDING IN 2025

Now that we've walked through some of the strategies and tools that had the biggest impact last year, how do we keep building upon these lessons this year?

• Take a thorough stock of your marketing tech stack: Evaluate which tools are driving real results and which are just creating busy work. This is the perfect time to experiment with AI tools for content creation and customer service, but be strategic – don't adopt new technology just because it's trendy. 

• Capitalize on Nearbound marketing: Beef up your partner network by conducting a network audit using the ICE (Identify, Collaborate, Execute) model, using partner data to keep your messaging tailored to your audience.

• Check for consistency across all of your marketing channels: In order to make sure you’re getting the most accurate and helpful data, be sure that you’re using the right UTMs on your landing pages.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Relationships continue to be paramount, especially as the rise of artificial intelligence has more people than ever seeking authenticity and true connections. Don't be afraid to lean on advanced new tools to speed up time-consuming tasks, but don't forget your brand's voice, purpose, and community in the process.

👀 TLDR: 2024's most successful marketing strategies centered around developing community with customers and building authentic, personalized experiences, and 2025 is no different. Evaluate your current approach to make sure you're touching on community-centered tools like Nearbound marketing and omnichannel experiences.

Best Regards,
WEBITMD TEAM