As digital communications continue to evolve, the future of place branding hinges on adapting to emerging trends and technologies. It’s essential to explore how strategies can be future-proofed to stay relevant and effective in this dynamic landscape. From AI-driven personalization to immersive experiences, the opportunities are vast, but so are the challenges. But how to do it right?
We asked our panel of place brand specialists about the future of digital communications in place branding and how strategies can evolve to meet these shifts. Here’s what they said (highlighting respondents with professional and / or business profiles).
Key Takeaways:
- Adopt AI-driven personalization and immersive technologies like VR/AR.
- Engage with user-generated content and real-time communication.
- Focus on authentic storytelling and sustainability.
- Leverage data analytics for informed strategy adjustments.
Expert Opinions
Robert Govers
Anholt & Co | Visit professional profile
If your strategy has to evolve in order to deal with future changes in the landscape of digital communications, it is not a good strategy. A brand positioning strategy should be timeless; in the sense that it is built on the past, is constructive today, and builds the future. It is implemented through policy, projects, events, infrastructure, investments, collaborations, and other aspects of behavior.
Communication, in all its forms, is just one of the tools used for place branding; and, I might add, certainly not the most important tool. Sure, digital – and in particular social media and artificial intelligence – have had and are having a major impact on how people’s perceptions are influenced; and we are seeing increasing volatility in reputation measurements as a result.
However, brand strategy is about controlling the narrative, not about controlling the channel.
The future of digital communication could be seen as a threat with increased polarization, cyber warfare, and misinformation campaigns. Yet, it could just as well be an opportunity if this future can be harnessed to ensure that consistent (on-brand) constructive behavior does not go unnoticed.
Gustavo Koniszczer
FutureBrand | Visit professional profile
We are certainly living in a fast-paced, dynamic digital world where future-proofing digital communication requires a careful balance of risks and opportunities.
Personalization and targeted communication face the challenge of addressing privacy concerns, which currently restrict marketing strategies. Innovation in technology enables more engaging brand experiences, but rapid advancements often render newly adopted tools and platforms obsolete. Additionally, the global expansion of audiences and the vast amount of available information can sometimes dilute a brand’s message and overwhelm its audience.
In this context, digital strategies for place branding must navigate these dichotomies, staying ahead of technological shifts, adapting to user preferences, and addressing ethical considerations.
We’ve learned from our experience in Latin America that one way to tackle these challenges is by developing a unique and central brand idea, accompanied by a clear narrative and storytelling, a solid and authentic identity, and a seamless experience across all digital touchpoints and platforms. If a brand’s purpose and experience are thoughtfully developed and remain adaptable to this changing world, it will be better positioned to achieve a future-proof digital communication strategy.
Jaume Marín
Future-proofing digital communication in place branding involves anticipating technological advances, shifts in audience behavior, and emerging communication trends. As cities, regions, and countries compete globally for tourism, investment, talent, and residents, evolving digital strategies are crucial for effective place branding.
These strategies will involve:
- Hyper-personalization: Implement AI-driven platforms to analyze visitor data and automate the delivery of personalized content. Use CRM systems to segment audiences and create customized engagement strategies.
- Immersive experiences: Develop VR/AR apps or experiences that showcase key attractions, infrastructure, or living experiences. Use mixed reality for interactive virtual tours, cultural experiences, or property viewings.
- Interactive and User-Generated Content: Encourage user-generated content by running social media campaigns that invite visitors to share their experiences. Utilize interactive tools on websites and social media to engage with the audience.
- Real-time communication: Integrate AI-powered chatbots on websites and social media for 24/7 customer support. Use live streaming for events, virtual tours, and announcements to engage with audiences in real time.
- Enhanced Data Analytics: Employ sophisticated data analytics tools to measure engagement, track ROI, and refine campaigns. Use predictive analytics to anticipate trends and adjust strategies proactively.
- Sustainability and Ethical Communication: Highlight sustainable practices, transparent messaging, ethical content creation, and community involvement.
Steve Noakes (guest contributor)
It is clear that AI is bringing in the need for new skills as travel and tourism stakeholders secure competitive advantages in the rapidly evolving digital communications space.
There could be a wider digital divide emerging between the different generations of investors and the owner/operators and staff at many tourism enterprises. So I think there is a need for strategies to cater for the cross-generational readiness to embrace dynamic and more highly personalized forms of marketing communications.
José Pablo Arango
The most important thing is to keep in mind that the future of digital communications is already here. And it is in our hands to understand and adapt our strategies so that we can maximize their potential.
The infinite capacity of digital communications allows us to segment and personalize our messages to a very great level of depth at very reasonable costs.
Hila Oren
The future of digital communication in place branding must center around authentic storytelling, celebrating individuals and communities alike.
Advances in technology like AI, AR, and VR will help create more personalized and engaging experiences. It’s crucial to use these tools to tell real, heartfelt stories that resonate with people and showcase the unique charm of a place.
By tapping into big data, we can target messages more effectively and use social media influencers and content from actual visitors to highlight genuine experiences.
High-quality visuals and a focus on sustainability will be important, but the real key will be making sure our stories stay true to the local community and its values. Engaging with locals and promoting inclusivity will make the branding feel more authentic.
Staying adaptable to new trends and investing in talented people will help keep these efforts fresh and effective. Authenticity is what makes a place special, and preserving that in our storytelling will attract people who truly appreciate what the community has to offer.
Hjörtur Smárason
Digital communications is changing radically with the emergence of powerful AI bots who can put things into context. One of the current challenges is inaccuracy in recommendations and answers from AI bots, so part of any future strategy has to include how to feed those bots with relevant, accurate information.
In the last century, books were the main channel of information sharing. Many of those contain loads of treasures with information about history, lifestyle, culture, geology, business, legal environment, etc. They can be reused as source material for DMOs’ own bots, although that has to be done with the risk of outdated information in mind.
Feeding AI bots who can help answer questions about your region, design itineraries, explain expat rules, promote current investment initiatives, and provide contact information of relevant people will be a key component of future digital strategies.
With thanks
To our panel of place brand specialists for sharing valuable insights on what the future holds for digital communications in place branding, and how strategies can evolve to meet these shifts.
