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Trends to Look for in 2020

2020 is almost here and we can’t wait! The arrival of a new year is an opportune time for the agency to reflect on the past 12 months and think ahead to the future of PR. A lot can happen over the course of the year, especially in the fast-paced digital world, so change is a constant. As an agency we must anticipate and be prepared to guide our clients through these changes, so we’ve been thinking strategically about what’s to come. Here are a few trends we expect to see in the new year.

Privacy and Personalization – Efforts to find the right balance between privacy and personalization will continue. We already know that providing personalized content is an absolute must. In 2020, brands will further explore and determine the way in which they will provide personalized content while respecting the privacy of customers.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – CSR will become a focal point for all brands. Consumers, especially Millennials and younger, are seeking out brands that take responsibility and action in today’s social and environmental concerns. Brands that already have a robust CSR plan will be poised for success, and those that don’t will need to catch up quickly.

Prepared for Crisis – You never know when a crisis will hit. In less than a day, unexpected events can cause a company to be in the spotlight. In today’s 24/7 business world, it’s vital that companies have a crisis communications plan in place, and an agency on call to handle those delicate situations. Being properly prepared for a crisis is half the battle, and in 2020 more companies will develop crisis communications directives just in case.

Move to Boutique – A boutique PR firm has a lot to offer. In 2020, you’ll see brands embrace the flexibility, innovation opportunity and personalized service that boutique agencies provide. This may mean that brands will engage with a few smaller agencies (instead of one giant global firm) to meet their varying PR, marketing and advertising needs. This will also mean that smaller, boutique firms will create partnerships with other agencies that provide complimentary services.

Facebook Groups – In 2019 Facebook launched their Groups feature, which we’ll see more and more businesses will experimenting with in 2020. According to Public Relations Today, “Facebook is changing the user experience to put Groups and community at the center of the platform, offering an opportunity for businesses that act quickly and nurture their own communities in this arena.”

Podcasts –
Podcasts are becoming more popular than ever. eMarketer estimates that listeners will spend more time with digital audio (including podcasts) than with traditional radio for the first time in 2020. Brands are already tapping into this resource, but 2020 will see a boost in brands creating their own podcasts or becoming official sponsors of podcasts that are already established.

Authenticity – This one has been around for a while and was especially prominent this past year. However, the importance of communicating authentically with your consumer will continue into 2020. With so many more ways to reach your target market, making sure every single piece of content is authentic will be a key focus for this coming year.

New Year Trends
We’re so excited to see what the new year holds both for our agency and PR in general! With trends in traditional and digital PR practices expected, it’s fun to speculate on which trends will reign supreme in 2020. Whether your brand decides to start a podcast, adjust or begin a CSR program or create a Facebook Group, authenticity in everything will still be an important part of all 2020 communication.

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