The term “
Visual Search Marketing” has been around for a number of years. Although large companies like Bing, Yahoo and Google have been utilizing visual search technology in their search engines for a while now, it wasn’t until recently that this type of technology reached a point where it could become a top trend in the digital marketing world.
In this blog, we'll walk you through the basics of what visual search is, and why it is on the cusp of becoming the biggest marketing trend of 2021.
What is Visual Search?
Simply put, visual search uses Artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help people search for items using real-world imagery as opposed to a text search. When someone performs a visual search, they are searching for a product using an image, which saves them the hassle of typing multiple keywords into a search engine in hopes of finding what they are already currently seeing.
Imagine you are on a hike in the woods and come across an animal or flower that you want to know the name of. As we know, it can sometimes be incredibly difficult to describe exactly what you are seeing. Instead, you take a picture of the object, using Google Lens, for instance. The software will identify the object as well as give you information on what you are looking at.
There are a lot of reasons why visual search is becoming such an important component of
integrated marketing, but here are the main top four:
- The Demographic Demands It
Visual search has been around for several years so why is it now, in 2021, becoming a top trend? The answer is simple. Millennial and Generation Z consumers are drawn to visual search capabilities more than any other new technology. In fact,
62% of Millennials desire the ability to visually search for products online. With Millennial consumers making up over
30% of total retail sales and Generation Z accounting for $44 Billion in buying power, it’s important that marketing trends closely follow these generational tendencies.
- Statistical Success