Digital marketing is a dynamic field that’s quickly gaining importance for businesses. It’s changing so much, in fact, that a lot of businesses aren’t able to keep up.

While many marketers have digital strategies, most don’t account for the rapid changes in user preferences. This is huge, and it’s essential to follow the data to know how your efforts are faring compared to those on the cutting edge.

We’ve compiled a few digital marketing statistics for you to browse and get ready to take on 2019.

Digital Marketing Statistics to Keep in Mind

We’ll give the numbers and unpack each statistic a little bit before moving on. Take these stats as guideposts for your marketing strategy this year.

A lot of the information has to do with user trends. Users are changing and you should too if you want your digital marketing to benefit your business this year.

1. Instagram Influencer Marketing is Now Worth $1 Billion

If you’re not aware of influencer marketing by now, it’s time to get acquainted. It involves partnering with an individual with a good deal of followers and having them integrate your product into their content.

Influencer marketing allows you to reach niche markets through reliable sources. Some companies use celebrities as their endorsers, but it might be wiser to work with a group of smaller influencers from different niches.

Instagram is the way to go here, too. YouTube is a good medium to enter, but Instagram is showing results that other sites can’t match.

2. Consumers Will Hold Attention for 8 Seconds

Time Magazine has noted that the average consumer attention span lasts for about 8 seconds. This is likely a response to fast-paced, ready-made media that fills the web.

This means that your content should load quickly and get straight to the point. Getting straight to it is especially important in video, which will cover next.

3. Internet Media is Predicted to Be 82% Video in 2021

The video is the new wave. Whether we’re talking about watching shows or consuming ads, people are leaning toward getting their content online via video.

The cable industry, for example, lost over 400,000 followers in just the first quarter of 2017. This is due to the presence of streaming sites like Netflix. But taking a peek at your social feed will reveal how this relates to marketing.

Short, bite-sized content is flooding the internet. Note how quickly convincing ads get to the point and give a call to action.

4. Half of Small Businesses Don’t Invest in SEO

You read it right. Half of all small businesses don’t see the value of search engine optimization. Depending on your competition and your area, that could mean that more than half of the small businesses you’re competing with aren’t putting any effort into getting seen online.

SEO is crucial. Even minimal effort could send you to the top of local searches, which we’ll cover next.

5. 82% of Consumers Conduct ‘Near Me’ Searches

That is, those who shop with their smartphones. We’ve all done it.

You want a specific good or service so you pull out your phone and search “Chinese food near me,” or whatever it is that you’re looking for. The ‘near me’ search is where small businesses can really shine.

That’s because local competition typically doesn’t employ any SEO. If your site is hitting the most important marks of SEO, you are likely to skyrocket in local searches, which, *cough*, 82% of consumers are making.

6. Tablets Have Declined for Over 4 Years

Tablets aren’t faring extremely well these days. Their sales have been going down for 11 straight quarters. This means that you don’t necessarily need to optimize for them as much.

Sure, accommodating all platforms and devices is a positive thing. That said, choose to cater to smartphones if you have to make a decision.

7. Smartphone Users Make Purchases

We mentioned that over 80% of smartphone users conduct ‘near me’ searches. Well, a good deal of those searches led to in-store purchases according to a recent Google study.

Just a little more incentive to optimize for local searches and make sure you’re tailoring your site to the needs of smartphones.

8. Email Should Still Be in Your Arsenal

According to Experian, email is still a viable marketing tactic. It’s easy to get lost in all of the craziness of social media and optimizing your site.

Every single user with a social media account needs to have an email address to create the account. Additionally, most people have to check their email if they do any amount of work online.

Even if your niche is geared toward younger people, modern students in high school and beyond regularly check their email for classes. Homework assignments, teacher correspondence, and registration are all conducted via email.

Try to cultivate a mailing list of users. This could mean signing up in-store or using your social media as a force for gathering a list. You can also provide an incentive for your customers by offering a discount for anyone who signs up for your email list.

In any case, reaching out directly to your customers is a great way to go. Experian also notes that the time between 4 pm and 8 pm are the best time to reach your users.

9. Most of Modern Marketing Budgets Go to Digital Marketing

A recent study from Salesforce found that modern marketing professionals are predicted to spend 75% of their budget on digital in the next few years.

Brands are starting to reduce their spending on traditional marketing methods and start to accommodate consumer habits. People may still be exposed to traditional marketing, but they are generally more persuaded by ads the experience online.

10. Facebook and Twitter Are Down

The results are showing that Facebook and Twitter don’t have great conversion rates in comparison to Instagram and YouTube.

It’s not that users aren’t exposed to material on Facebook and Twitter, it’s just that the mindset of consumers is different when using Instagram or YouTube. More research needs to be done to understand exactly why this is, but the results are in.

Need Help?

Hopefully, these digital marketing statistics gave you some good insight into where to put your marketing dollar. At the same time, it may be difficult to understand how to put the knowledge into action.

If you’re interested in getting help with you’re digital marketing, contact us to learn more.