From analytics and CRM to emails and social media, automation has seeped into virtually every step of the marketing process. Despite how far it's come, automated marketing will continue to scale, with global spending on marketing automation software slated to grow to reach $25 billion, a sevenfold jump from where it stands now at $3.6 billion. To produce tangible results in the increasingly automated landscape, marketers must learn to embrace automation by cashing in on the latest trends. Before taking a deep dive into some of the top-of-mind trends that are gearing to dominate the industry this year, let's quickly brush over how automation became the hub of modern-day marketing teams. The numbers pretty much speak for themselves.

If you can afford for your team to spend more time on critical tasks, you will always be a step ahead of the competitors that can't automate simple processes. This is why marketing automation is one of the most important aspects when it comes to saving money and time. It is important to stand on top of marketing automation trends if you want to get the most out of your marketing campaigns. Bear in mind that you have to put in at least some effort to take your marketing campaign to the next level. Use the right automation tool, do your research, talk with our employees, and follow the trends mentioned below!

Rapid advancement in technology is constantly shaping the marketing landscape. Today, marketers have access to various tools that help them improve their strategies and earn more profit. They are able to target the right people at the right times through the right channels. From sending welcome emails to new subscribers to interacting with website visitors using chatbots – automation has invaded every facet of marketing. Therefore, it is crucial for marketers to stay abreast with the recent marketing automation trends. Before we take a look at the most important marketing automation trends, let's understand what it actually means. Marketing automation enables you to use certain tools or software to automate marketing tasks and workflows.

According to some estimates, worldwide spending on marketing automation software will hit $32 billion this year, and that number is expected to increase in the years to come as more companies begin embracing marketing automation and the tools become more sophisticated. Thanks to products from companies like Hubspot, Marketo and Act-On Software, marketers now have the ability to create highly effective digital marketing programs that were unthinkable just a few years ago. Technological improvements related to machine learning, chatbots and analytics will drive a number of notable developments in the field of marketing automation. Here's a look at four trends to watch in 2018. A recent MarketingSherpa study found that 58 percent of social media users follow brands on social media.