The world today is smart. Devices such as smartphones are becoming more and more commonplace with people (even three-year-olds know how to use them) and this smart-ness is reaching new and exciting heights. As technology has been advancing, other aspects of our lives have started becoming smarter, and over the last decade, our home shave started catching up, giving us smart homes.Â
Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), the idea of an automated, smart home is not just something we see on Black Mirror (well, we’d hope our home never gets that smart) but has become a reality for many people. This has meant that many digital marketing companies have had to change their tactics when it comes to reaching their audiences. Â
Not sure what this will mean for your marketing campaign? Below we delve a little deeper into what smart homes could mean for marketers.Â
But First: What Is IoT?
Before we look at what smart homes could mean for marketers, you first need to understand the Internet of Things, or IoT. Now, this might sound like the title of a Dr Seuss book, but the Internet of Things can be understood as taking all devices and connecting them via the Internet. For example, how are you reading his post right now?
It might be on a desktop, mobile phone, a laptop, or even on a tablet. Whatever device you are using, it is definitely connected to the internet. IoT means that more than just your mobile devices and computers are connected to the internet – now, fridges, cars, TVs and even thermostats are connected to the internet and can be controlled remotely. Now, you might be wondering what this means for your digital marketing strategy. Well, keep reading below.Â
IoT Means More Data
A smart home is connected by IoT, meaning that devices are connected to appliances or other devices, and are gathering data about the behaviour of the consumer. For example, if your car is connected to your cellphone to allow it to track mileage or make phone calls, this data can be used by automotive marketers to recommend products or services based on this information.Â
Having this data will allow you to create digital marketing strategies that are personalised and targeted to your audience, encouraging more purchases to be made and can help with better brand interaction. This data can also help you to improve the user experience of your consumers, as you can implement design changes to your website to reflect the preferences of your audience.Â
Reach Them Where They Live
A smart home allows marketers, especially home brand marketers, to reach their audience where they live – literally. What could be more personal than reaching people in their homes? This ability to instantly reach consumers in the comfort of their own home is allowing marketers to create more personalised campaigns, ultimately driving more sales.Â
One way to use smart home devices intelligently is to install an instant push notification plugin into your brand’s website or into the app that consumers are using to connect with the device. For example, if you have designed a mobile application or a smart fridge, you could send alerts to people on this app notifying them of when they need more of a product, or if the fridge itself needs maintenance. Directly marketing to consumers allows them to make instant purchases.Â
Unique Advertising Opportunities
If your client is a well-known household brand, you can use the adoption of smart homes to your advantage. For example, smart washing machines could choose to advertise a certain brand of detergent, encouraging consumers to purchase more of this brand over others. With your paid advertising campaigns, you will need to focus on a mobile-first approach too.Â
Other than using smart devices to advertise certain brands, you can also choose to share certain content across these devices. A car that is connected via IoT could be sent content such as audio advertisements for companies including driving playlists, a fridge could be sent blogs with recipes and links to where to purchase ingredients from, and so forth.Â
Social Media Marketing Possibilities
It is a well-known fact that consumers enjoy sharing both positive and negative experiences on social media, and those with smart homes also enjoy sharing their experiences with their friends, families, and followers. The smart home hashtag has grown in popularity over the years, and you can use this ot your advantage on social media platforms to grow visibility for your client’s brand.Â
You can also look for what is trending alongside smart homes by looking at other hashtags or mentions. You could also ask users of smart homes to post their content on your social media platforms using a specific hashtag or phase. This will help to boost brand visibility and improve your online presence.Â
If you are looking for an innovative digital marketing strategy for your business, feel free to contact NetMechanic today to find out how we can help you.
