UNDERTOW LIKES: PR TRENDS IN NEW ZEALAND

Current trends for 2015 – 2016; what we’re seeing and why they matter

Go digital, go mobile or go home.

This is not a new trend but it is worth remembering and accepting that as the world around us gets faster messages of all forms must keep up, meaning brands now more than ever must stay on top of how people are consuming information and develop accordingly.

The use of smart phones and devices is still on the increase with people taking any opportunity or spare moment to scroll, click, view, read and buy. Make sure you have channels, that they are easy-to-use, intuitive and being regularly monitored. From apps to online shopping and customer service everyone wants to stay online all the time.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Visual content is now key. With the wealth of information currently available to the masses and the constant assault on our senses for attention by people, products and brands our attention span is getting shorter. It is harder to ‘sort the wheat from the chaff’ and we don’t have time to read masses of information, nor do we want to. Think about ways to create compelling visual content, from static imagery to short videos. Powerful imagery is the new attraction.

Now, now, now!

We don’t want to wait anymore. Once we find what we’re looking for, if we can’t have it immediately we will find something else. For the most part people are prioritising immediacy for their purchasing decisions. This means whatever you want to say, concentrate on saying it loudly – make the most of your time, you only have a short window (remember, short attention spans), so take into account how you can amplify through multiple channels and platforms then make sure you can execute efficiently. But before all else, make sure the product, service or activation is ready and accessible straight away.