Today’s consumers wield more purchasing power than ever, which means that growth is there for the taking for the most opportunistic of brands. However, consumers’ tastes are constantly evolving based on the world around them, which makes it all the more important for us, as marketers, to maintain a pulse on what matters most to them.

It’s official: influencer marketing has hit the mainstream. According to Social Media Today, influencer marketing is already estimated to be a $1.5 billion industry, with 84% of brands reporting that they plan to increase those expenditures in 2019. What used to be a murky field of marketing has now developed quite a bit of process, and marketers have gone from wondering what influencer marketing is to wondering how to optimize their efforts.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of tech-lovers and tech brands from around the world descend upon Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The annual event is a global stage on which next-generation consumer technologies are introduced to the marketplace. While some of these innovations are as simple as a voice-powered alarm clock for your bedroom, others are audacious, boundary-pushing technologies that could very well change the way the world works. With that, let’s take a look at some of the most innovative products that were introduced this year and evaluate what they mean for us going forward.

In the ten years since the United States emerged from the economic recession, the travel industry has experienced a prolonged period of growth. Want proof? Look no further than U.S. hotel bookings, which experienced a six percent compound annual growth rate between 2009 and 2017. This growth, however, was not limited to traditional hotels, as boutique options, as well as disruptors like Airbnb and its copycats, have entered the fray.

As marketers, we have a problem on our hands. Mothers make up one of the largest consumer groups out there, yet fewer than half of them feel understood by marketers. What gives? Despite how important moms are to brands – especially those brands in the CPG category – many marketers have failed to adapt their approach to this constantly evolving demographic.

Today’s businesses are under the constant threat of competition. Thanks to rapid advances in technology and continually evolving consumer behavior, brands know that they must continue to adapt their products and services in order to avoid disruption.

From connected phone applications and Apple CarPlay to 360º cameras, the automotive industry has seen some amazing technological advancements in recent years. Yet, despite all of the innovation happening to the cars themselves, the auto-buying experience has remained largely the same. While brands in other sectors have made great strides to offer fast, seamless purchase experiences, buying a car can be a fractured experience from the online discovery phase to in-person at the dealership.

As technological advances continue to reshape the world we live in, industries from automotive to financial services are undergoing great change. For the food and beverage industry, it’s no different. Whether it’s the chemical composition of the food that we eat, who is selling it, or where it’s being sold, brands must adapt their offerings to fit the need of the modern consumer. Here, we take a look at four trends that are shaping the future of the food industry.

Though the business of eSports is still in its fledgling years, it has become increasingly clear that it’s here to stay. How do we know this? According to research from Simmons, total revenue is expected to surpass the $1 billion threshold in 2019, with nearly 60% of that money coming from sponsorship and advertising.

This has been a pivotal year for retail. It’s out with the old and in with the new, and there’s an interesting story emerging with what’s new. Retailers have learned that consumers aren’t simply interested in shopping, which they can easily do from the comfort of their homes. Rather, they want retailers to offer a seamless omnichannel experience at all touchpoints and immersive brand experience when they are in-store.