Thanks to 5G, our world is in the middle of a huge technology shift. With early stage 5G networks already active, it’s clear how a future with global 5G coverage will completely transform how we live and how we communicate with each other.
This article explores what digital marketing professionals can look forward to as 5G arrives — and how to take advantage of the new opportunities it brings.
What is 5G?
5G, which stands for 5th Generation, is a new global wireless communication standard. Unlike previous generations, which focused primarily on communications between phones and other handheld devices, 5G technology is also designed to bring together wireless-connected machines and objects — also known as the “Internet of Things” (IoT).
Some of the highlights of 5G technology include:
- High speeds: With the potential to deliver data on the order of Gigabits per second (Gbps), 5G speeds will rival even the fastest wired internet speeds today, making it easier and faster to stream high-quality video
- Low latency: With low latency, communication between devices will be more “in-sync” than ever before, making live interactions more effective and controlled
- Greater availability and reliability: Unlike modern 4G and LTE networks, which slow down speeds for everyone when too many people are connected to a single tower, 5G technology will better manage communications traffic to avoid bottlenecks.
As you can see, 5G will majorly improve current technology. But what does it all mean for digital marketing?
5G Will Bring More Complex Content
One of the biggest changes that 5G will bring is much faster data transmission — 100 times faster than 4G and over 10 times faster than most broadband connections. This will make it possible for digital marketing to go far beyond today’s content, which is often limited to low-data interactions (for instance, direct messaging and chatbots) or low-resolution video.
Here are just a few of the digital marketing possibilities that 5G can make possible:
- Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) simulations of customers trying and using your products before they buy
- Live, high-definition video troubleshooting to improve customer satisfaction while reducing call handling times
- Contextually place ads based on customers’ location and recent interactions with other content
5G Will Widen Digital Marketing Reach
One of the biggest limitations of digital marketing is that it misses a substantial population — those people who live in less-populated or rural areas where high-speed mobile internet is scarce. 5G promises to change all of that.
It’s expected that 5G will be the primary internet connection for millions of people without broadband internet access at home. So not only will you be able to reach a wider audience, but that wider audience will be using their 5G phones every time they want to connect. It’s the perfect scenario to quickly grow market share.
5G Will Help Enable Better Personalization
Almost every marketing professional would agree that personalized content is key to building a better customer relationship and improving conversion rates. But all that personalization needs data, and there’s only so much data that can be transmitted over 4G networks. 5G will make it simple to collect and wirelessly transmit vast amounts of data every second. Marketing companies can then use customer data to offer a genuinely curated customer experience.
From the other perspective, customers will also have more visibility on how their data is collected, stored, and processed. This will allow them to better manage who can access their personal data, meaning that marketing companies will be able to make each customer experience as personal (or as general) as the customer wants.
5G Will Bring More Devices Into the Digital Marketing Sphere
Most digital marketing is now centered around customers with smartphones or tablets. The rise of 5G will usher in an entirely new generation of devices. New kinds of home gadgets, smartwatches, AR and VR gear, and video game systems will all be able to independently connect to the 5G network — no need to join WiFi or link with a phone first. And with every new device is a new opportunity to connect with customers and improve their experiences.
5G Will Make Call Marketing Even More Valuable
As 5G pushes the limits of what’s possible with digital marketing, call marketing will improve as well. That’s because 5G will connect more people with phones — phones they can use to call your business as soon as you prompt them. That’s why calling technologies like call intelligence, call tracking, and toll-free vanity numbers are critical for every digital marketing team.
If you don’t already have a toll-free vanity number, there’s never been a better time to get one. As more new people are exposed to your brand, you want to make sure that they remember who you are. With a vanity 800 number with call tracking, you’ll be able to immediately start taking advantage of the opportunities that early-stage 5G can offer. Get started today and sign up for an 800 vanity number with call intelligence and call tracking.
