30 Marketing Trends for September 2024

Remember when Reliance Jio wreaked havoc on the telecommunication industry, making it the biggest turning point in India's digital market?

Their marketing strategy was the most unique one, as they offered cheap or free plans for people initially, even including free data roaming plans.

People were excited and immediately rushed to get Jio sim cards.

Later on, they started including fare for their plans. They tested the waters and realized increasing their plan slowly will attract more customers than starting as a paid-plan for telecom services.

As customers are now more informed and demand authenticity from brands, it is important that brands must continue evolving with these fast changing trends.

Therefore, we have collected 30 brands that have used the latest digital marketing trends to lead their business in the fierce competition all around.

Top Marketing Trends of September 2024:

1. McDonald's India - AI-Driven Marketing Solutions:

McDonald's India has taken engagement with customers to a whole new level through its AI-based campaign, for which it is inviting fans to help design its new 'Signature Collection' burgers.

They let users choose their preferred choice of ingredients through an AI chatbot which helps create their perfect burger, and post them on their Instagram.

This smart combination of AI and social media gives fans ownership and increases online interaction. Even the participating customers have a likelihood of winning exclusive rewards.

Also, The 2024 Marketing Trends Report states 88% of the marketers believe in AI marketing to stay ahead of the curve.

In any case, this would prove to be one of the most fabulous ways of combining technology with customer input, making sure McDonald's stays in touch and keeps up with its audience.

2. AA Gaming - Gaming and Esports:?

AA Gaming has announced its entry into the Indian market through AA Play, with a gaming and esports platform targeted at Indian Market. It is a platform that provides esports solutions for brands hosting tournaments.

The users will be able to participate in local esports tournaments which will make it a hotspot for Indian gamers to interact, compete, and present their skills.

It goes beyond just hosting the tournaments for a community of players that would participate in social engagement, create groups for gaming, and organize meetups.

Offering a marketplace of gaming merchandise, this platform has risen to transform the Indian esports scene through an all-rounded experience in gaming.

3. Sri Mandir App - Cultural Relevance and Engagement:

If you're a religious person who wants daily affirmations or virtual access to Hindu temple services, this Sri Mandir app makes it easier for people to stay in touch with faith.

The app based on over 50 temples across India streams customized prayer videos directly to the mobiles of users so they may participate in rituals and offerings from their houses.

Through this app, not only do individuals continue to hold on to their spiritual practice, but priests also have new income opportunities.

Sri Mandir is a perfect example of how technology may preserve cultural traditions by modernizing access to religious practices.

4. Sharwood's Curry Kits - Food Relevance: ?

Sharwood's is a British food company that has recently launched curry kits which made it even easier for the home cook to prepare authentic Indian dishes.

The product is available in Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala, and Korma flavors and will prove as a good combination for time-poor consumers with cravings for good taste and higher-quality meals.

Sharwood's brings authenticity into the home kitchens by adding traditional Indian cooking methods to kits, making it easier for more people to taste restaurant-quality Indian food without hassle. It is a genius way of providing convenience without having to compromise on flavor or authenticity.

5. Times of India/Swiggy Instamart - Mango-Scented Newspaper Ads:

Swiggy Instamart came up with this amazing idea of scenting their ad in mango in a bigshot newspaper, the Times of India. It's one of the most refreshing takes on conventional advertising as of now.

The multisensory method caught attention by connecting to readers through the eyes and senses, thus making for a more inclusive experience when ordering fresh mangoes.

The innovative ad did not only do justice to fresh produce but also helped consumers remember it. We could also say this might be the best example of how creative marketing makes ordinary services like grocery delivery stand out is the campaign launched by Swiggy Instamart.

6. Lay's - Globally Inspired Chips:

Lay's is launching a new portfolio of global-inspired potato chips flavored from India, Korea, and Greece.

There's spicy Indian masala, sweet honey butter from Korea, and refreshing Greek tzatziki flavor, so snacking just got a whole lot tastier.

Adding a digital aspect to go along with the adventure flavors of Lay's, consumers can scan a QR code to have a chance to win a trip to one of these flavor destinations, making it incorporate global flavors and marketing in an interactive sense that provides an experience unique and playful for the snack devotees.

7. Stryder Cycle - E-Bike Launch:?

Stryder Cycle is the most prominent e-bicycle company in India. The latest two affordable e-bike models by Stryder Cycle are the Voltic X and the Voltic GO. The mountain bike is designed for city rides and light off-road use.

Given that the product is ready for adventure, both the mountain bike variations cater to adventure enthusiasts.

Its step-through makes the Voltic GO very comfortable and accessible to users who prefer their e-bikes to be both stylish and still greatly accessible.

Both the models are fitted with quick-charging batteries and can run up to 60 kilometers in hybrid mode, saving energy and sustaining transportation for people in India.

8. Starbucks - Heritage-Inspired Cup Capsules:

Starbucks is joining forces with streetwear brand New Era to roll out a super cool edition collection of drinkware and lifestyle items in India as a limited edition.

The iconic coffee cup will combine modern cups with heritage-inspired coffee culture that revolves around creation as a unique customer product, all of which will go along the lines of stylish tumblers and mugs that create an edge.

The offer from Starbucks lets fans heighten the experience of coffee and build a statement in style all through this thoughtful and clever merging of everyday coffee rituals with trendy lifestyle branding.

9. Khyber Agro - Sustainable Indian Curds:

Khyber Agro has just launched a new curd product in an eco-friendly packing line. Instead of using plastic packaging, they are now sold in biodegradable IML buckets. The fact is that it is not just a traditional dairy product but an initiative towards green consumption.

Reduction in plastic waste from the ecosystem is another example of the rising demand for sustainable food packaging in India. Khyber Agro took this initiative as an advantage to help people have sustainability with health benefits.

This is an environmentally friendly approach from the company, which steps forward in a balance of the convenience, quality, and environmental responsibility of the dairy industry.

10. Redmi Watch 5 - Sporty Cubic Smartwatch Models:?

Who knew the Redmi Watch 5 Active would be the most sought-after by fitness enthusiasts in India? This device exudes a modern look by way of its sleek, cubic design and two-inch LCD screen.

It promises to provide non-stop performance to the user, who is always on their toes, with an 18-day battery life. The smartwatch goes on to track over 140 sports activities.

The health metrics of heart rate and sleep are monitored, and they can be synced with smartphones via Bluetooth. With stylish color options available, the Redmi Watch 5 Active is more than a fitness tracker - it's a statement piece for consumers who still crave a dose of functionality and just a touch of style.

11. Glenmorangie - Exotically Thematic Whiskies:

Glenmorangie launched a new single malt limited edition whiskey, “Shinra Bansho”, in cooperation with Dr. Bill Lumsden and floral artist Azuma Makoto.

This special malt is the integration of whisky production and nature, as the wooden packaging contains intricate flowers. The whisky is Japanese horticulture and high-end spirits and thus demonstrates how brands can, by creative co-creation, create a distinct and culturally rich product experience.

With arts and culture integration in its approach to marketing, Glenmorangie markets up-luxury consumers who look for premium products and aesthetic value.

12. Oreo and Coca-Cola - Food Collaborations:

Oreo and Coca-Cola have together created some limited-edition products featuring these iconic flavors. These pairings come together in an Oreo Coca-Cola Sandwich Cookie and Coca-Cola Oreo Zero Sugar beverage, where that unique blend of both brands' signature tastes fuse interestingly.

The global collaboration is part of its strategy to connect better with consumers as it offers fresh, exciting new products. It's a very unique packaging and flavor combination to engage people through curiosity. They are making news by collaborating over food and even reaching new customer segments through co-branding.

13. Marico - Indian Masala Millet Lines:

With Saffola Masala Millets, Marico's Saffola brand is adding another healthier food to its list. This affordable, flavorful millet-based product caters to the health-conscious Indian consumer. Masala Delight and Tomato Delight are the two versions of millets.?

Millets provide a nutritious and convenient meal option for busy go-getters. All this works as a testimony to the healthy eating trend that is gaining popularity these days, especially in India. It makes a giant leap for Marico to be positioned at the top of the millet-based food sector.?

The highly accessible availability of all these products in many retail stores shows Marico's prominence over making it accessible and mass market appeal.

14. Zepto, Dunzo - Quick Commerce:

Zepto and Dunzo are known for quick commerce. These platforms can deliver products in minutes, and the effect it has on users relates to the speed and convenience that traditional e-commerce cannot offer.

When people have last-minute needs, these apps provide quick delivery to your house. Businesses use this dire need for customers as a strategy to make those products visible which are last-minute needs.

This is the most beneficial trend for FMCG as such brands can use these channels to announce new products or offer free samples to build the brand. The instant gratification of consumer demand is changing how businesses approach retail.

15. Zomato/Swiggy - Push Notifications:

Have you ever noticed the push notifications of Swiggy and Zomato?

Source: Nomtek

The push notifications have emerged as the primary tools for food delivery applications such as Zomato and Swiggy.

These notifications allow brands to be on top of their mind as the applications push personalized offers, discounts, and updates straight into consumers' smartphones.

By 2024, the strategic use of push notifications will enable such platforms to engage users better and drive more order volumes and repeat business.

This has been achieved by Zomato and Swiggy by keeping users appropriately informed, offering correct deals, and thus increasing customer engagement, while upping their presence in the market.

16. Starbucks - Personalization:

A mobile application developed by Starbucks takes personalization to a whole new level. This application tracks not only visits by a customer and their history of purchase but also provides suggestions for drinks that may interest the customer along with rewards at regular intervals.

This way, Starbucks can provide a highly personalized experience to each customer, where they would feel valued, which in turn adds to repeat visits to the store as well. For the brand, personalization has been a powerful tool that allows for an increase in loyalty among customers and an immense sales boost.

In this case, regarding Starbucks, the focus placed on personalized marketing reflects an even broader trend that seeks to attain expectations from the customers that concern their unique preferences for the brands.

17. Pepperfry - Augmented Reality:

Pepperfry, an online furniture retailer, has emerged with a recent innovation in the shopping experience through augmented reality, which lets its customers see before they buy.

Augmented reality lets customers see through the products, how different furniture pieces will look at home before deciding to purchase, and comparing prices which in turn reduces uncertainty and increases customer confidence in online shopping.

The usage of augmented reality has actually enabled Pepperfry to stand apart as a furniture player in a competitive market and provided an ultra-experience for tech-conscious consumers that is richly interactive and engaging.

18. Instagram - Livestream Commerce:

Livestream commerce is a super-sized, fast-moving trend, and at the forefront of the movement are Instagram and many other social media that have online shopping platforms. It has helped brands greatly to sell products directly while living for that much shorter travel time from the moment of discovery to purchase.

Livestream commerce lets customers engage with brands in real-time, ask questions to clarify fit or size, and even make purchases directly through the app.

This is very popular among the younger generation, who are now looking for more instant and immersive shopping experiences.

With the growing livestream commerce trend, Instagram has provided a dynamic environment for brands to show products to the world and help boost sales.

19. Amazon Alexa or Google Home - Voice Search Optimization:

Brands have been optimizing websites to be compatible with smart devices, similar to the ones on Amazon Alexa and Google Home, which is how growingly important voice search is for the consumers in searching for their products.

This shift of focus forces companies to follow SEO strategies, that way the customers would easily find their product. Popular voice assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa make sure to implement those SEO strategies to get those products straight to their devices.

In voice search optimization, brands attempt to get into a largely untapped target market for a much more convenient experience.

Read Also: How is Voice Search transforming Digital Marketing?

20. The Economist - Programmatic Advertising:

The Economist enhanced its digital presence and attracted new subscribers by applying programmatic advertising.

The AI-based automation of advertising buying allowed the company to reach and bring in more specific target groups. Campaign results are remarkable: 650,000 new prospects were attracted and an increased ROI of 10:1.

Programmatic advertising helped The Economist to attract curious readers with personalized advertising, enhanced brand impressions, and thereafter subscription drives. This is a perfect example of how automation can play a significant role in improving marketing results.

21. Flipkart Naukri – Chatbots for Customer Engagement:

The core component of customer interaction in 2024 is chatbots, and Flipkart/Naukri is one of the best places that apply this technology efficiently.

Flipkart/Naukri has increased its responsiveness towards the queries made by customers through the help of AI-powered chatbots. These chatbots solve questions ranging from very basic FAQs to complex issues in customer support, thereby allowing service round the clock.

Not only these two apps but now a majority of business apps have incorporated chatbot features to help their customers.

Through this, they can reach out to job-seekers on a real-time basis, so that the latter can get a job, upload their resume, and even get instant feedback about the status of the application. All these ensure saving of time for both the customer and the company, thereby gaining overall satisfaction and trust.

22. Nykaa – Collaboration with ELC:

Nykaa has collaborated with the ELC company and launched a new brand, BEAUTY&YOU India.

India has been on the rise in launching Indian-based makeup products since 2013 when Nykaa launched. Through various marketing campaigns such as influencer marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing, Nykaa has been on the top ever since.

In short, all their campaigns on Nykaa.com are data-driven so that each message is relevant to the customer's preferred products and shopping history. This has the advantage of keeping Nykaa in mind, and with successful conversion as well, since a customer receives targeted content.

23. Myntra – Short-form Video Content:

Short-form video content has gone viral, through Myntra. Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are used to upload pieces from Myntra's latest collection.

If you scroll down through the product in the Myntra app, you will see short 15-30-second videos with quick outfit tips and hacks, as well as influencer collaborations. This type of quick information of pairing and styling perfects the capturing of a younger audience's attention.

As video marketing is well tested by showing upliftment in the conversion rate, Myntra's short-form video strategy has brought improvement in customer engagement and sales significantly.

24. Myntra – Shoppable Content:

Now Myntra has also made use of "shoppable content" to make buying easier for their customers.

That means it directly links the shopping process through its Instagram posts and videos so that customers can buy a featured product without leaving the platform.

When you watch an Instagram story talking about new clothing, the user can click on and buy the item directly. This friction in the customer journey is reduced while making shopping easy.

Myntra has transformed social media content into a virtual mall, thereby making impulse buying easy for customers, which improved its performance in e-commerce.

25. Local Businesses – Local SEO Optimization:

Local businesses around the country have come to understand that one of the most important strategies is local SEO.

The pandemic has just pushed up the demand for local searches, small and mid-sized businesses are now optimizing Google My Business listings, optimizing for local keywords, and asking customers to leave their reviews.

In this way, they can rank higher with a local search. You can own a local café or retail shop that can attract more pedestrian walks by just appearing on the top list of search results for "best coffee shop near me."

Read Also: 5 ways to take control of your small business using effective Content Marketing

26. Reliance Jio – Competitive Pricing and Digital Domination:

Reliance Jio revolutionized the telecom space with very cheap data pricing that brought 4G services to millions of Indians. Now, in 2024, it stands at the top with low-cost data plans and bundled digital services such as JioTV and JioSaavn.

Capitalizing on its infrastructure and low-cost pricing, Jio even chipped in with a lot of shares in the market with the consumption of data on the rise and is staying stronger than ever. The pricing strategy brought millions of new subscribers and connected rural and semi-urban India to become a digital powerhouse.

As of 2024, Jio has increased its plans to improve the financial health of the company and boost their Average Revenue per User (ARPU).

27. CRED – Innovative Fintech Marketing:

The company has successfully set new benchmarks in fintech marketing through creativity and tech-savviness. Their app is named, "CRED. not everyone gets it has an interesting take on credit scores. This exclusive app portal targets credit score holders with rewards in return for on-time credit card bill payments.

Their marketing campaign often becomes humorous and full of celebrities, reaching the young generation whose focus and attention are more centered on technology-based systems. Paying bills has become a fun and rewarding experience that CRED has offered its customers.

Their application has been seen as a hallmark of luxury and exclusivity, a factor that has contributed to enabling them to cultivate a loyal high-value customer base.

28. Paytm – Digital Wallet Marketing:

Paytm plays its game of being on top with a continued marketing approach of Cashback offers, rewards, and seamless integration with other services. You can book tickets for a movie, pay for groceries, or transfer money, your digital wallet will make life much easier for you.

They have also collaborated with small traders who can now support digital payments, even in street markets. Paytm has become the generic term for digital payments through constant improvement of the user experience with its wallet present across India.

29. Ola Cabs – Localization of Services:

Ola Cabs has successfully started their map services, instead of having connected to Google Maps. They have also localized its services to meet the requirements of distinct cities. They have introduced various options such as auto-rickshaws, bike taxis, and even shared cabs in smaller cities in an attempt to cater to the varying needs of each city.

Along with that, they have fine-tuned their pricing according to local competition and customer preferences. This hyper-local approach has helped Ola scale across India while maintaining its market leadership, even against global giants like Uber.

30. Patanjali – Cultural Branding through Marketing:

Patanjali has started a campaign of #FullFullFresh for their popular product Dant Kanti, which encourages their consumers to take care of their oral health.?

Founded by Baba Ramdev, this brand appeals to users who have a very high respect for traditional wellness and rely heavily on using products that are natural. The brand has differentiated itself using a deep connection with Indian culture from the global FMCG giants.

Creating an aura of tranquility, Patanjali has incorporated many marketing strategies that create an everlasting presence among customers. To bring the essence of mint freshness, this oral hygiene campaign is for consumers who are always on the go.

The future and beyond…

For marketing in 2024 and beyond, Metaverse marketing and voice search optimization, among other emerging trends will open new opportunities for brands.?

Companies that will take the leap and invest in these booming marketing trends will have an easy advantage, and most importantly, continuous innovation will be the key to long-term success. Things keep changing in marketing, and agile and forward-thinking brands will stand out and will be best positioned to handle what the future holds.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• AI-driven campaigns and interactive experiences are helping brands like McDonald's and Lay's create personalized customer engagement.
• Esports and gaming platforms like AA Gaming are transforming the Indian gaming industry by providing social interaction and competition.
• Augmented reality and virtual engagement are enhancing customer confidence, as seen with Pepperfry's virtual furniture experiences.
• Voice search optimization is becoming critical for brands like Amazon Alexa and Google Home to reach voice-search users effectively.
• Local SEO and competitive pricing strategies, employed by brands like Reliance Jio, are crucial for dominating digital markets and driving customer acquisition.

FAQs:

1. What is the future of advertising in 2024? The future of advertising in 2024 will involve innovative digital trends such as AI-driven solutions, programmatic advertising, and multisensory marketing. Brands like McDonald's and The Economist are already showcasing the power of AI and automation to engage consumers and optimize ad spending.?

2. What is the marketing vision for 2024?

The marketing vision for 2024 is focused on personalization, cultural relevance, and innovative technology integration. Metaverse marketing and voice search optimization will also play a significant role, pushing brands to continuously evolve and cater to tech-savvy, experience-driven consumers.