Every year new trends shift the way we as an agency or you as a business owner market your business. And if you are thinking right now that you haven’t adjusted or changed anything, then you are missing out. But no worries, we have you covered right here.
Now there are several factors that come into consideration for the content marketing realm, such as the impact of the global pandemic, the growth of social media platforms such as TikTok, and now the rise of the creator economy.
Here are our top marketing trends and predictions in digital marketing for 2022:
- The Social Impact of Storytelling
- Rank and Win with Consumer-Driven Content
- Use Personalized Content
- Why You Need Shareable Assets
- The Influencer Economy
- Social E-Commerce: The Innovative Way to Shop Virtually
- Accessibility in the Digital Age
- The Future of Browsing with Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Now let’s dive deeper into what we are talking about.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #1: Social Impact of Storytelling
Your audience is constantly watching and that’s why it’s important to be transparent in your storytelling. The most powerful trend is storytelling which makes your product or service feel more positive and authentic. Immerse your users in the world of the content you produce that puts your brand values, voice, and style front and center to stand out.
There are many ways to storytelling your content through using customer testimonials, data-driven narratives, and using visual content.
- Customer Testimonials: Customer Testimonials are the direct source from real buyers. If people want the authenticity of brands it’s best to highlight customer stories which that will establish credibility among your audience and future customers.
- Data-Driven Narratives: Share with your audience in a creative way thought-provoking storytelling of your raw data that can turn insights into action.
- Visual Content: Utilize creative graphics or videos that help put a face to your brand. Videos are effective for generating more leads, especially those that are used on social media.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #2: Rank and Win with Customer-Driven Content
Instead of playing a guessing game on what your audience wants, use data, surveys, and reviews to understand what type of content they crave. Consumer-driven content takes the frustration of guessing what your audience wants to see and helps you center your target.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to your audience directly and ask what they want. You can also use social polls or on-site surveys to gather data. Remember customers depend on you to solve their problems and deliver information throughout their buyer experience making it pleasant and easy for them giving them the comfort of knowing they will be repeat buyers.
By uncovering the greatest pain points and needs your audience is having, you can provide solutions that resonate long after purchase.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #3: Use Personalized Content
According to a study conducted by Salesforce, they found that 66% of customers expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations. The important thing is not to let your customers feel like they are the next number in line. Utilizing personalized interactions and connected experiences is not just a smart business decision, but they are absolutely necessary.
Today the experience you offer your audience and customers is the differentiator for today’s consumers.
Getting to know your audience by utilizing a chatbot feature offering personal shopping or presenting a quiz that will allow your users to see the best-fitting product that fits their needs.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #4: Why You Need Sharable Assets
Creating sharable assets is content that’s meant to generate brand awareness through digital public relations, social engagement, and backlinks.
When sharing these materials it will generate SEO-boosting backlinks, which will establish authority in your niche, and offer helpful info to your established target audience.
Sharable assets can increase brand awareness or gain traction around a new product or service all while helping you define your brand values and drive traffic back to your site. You will also be able to see new data and insights.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #5: The Influencer Economy
The influencer marketing industry has more than doubled in value from 2019 to 2021, growing from $6.5 billion to over $13 billion which is predicted to hit $15 billion by the end of 2022 according to experts.
Consumers take time to research products before buying. If the customers see one of their favorite influencers using your product on social media, they are more likely to buy it.
It’s important to know what type of influencers your target market follows, so you get your product in the hands of the right influencers. Don’t think using an influencer will blow your budget out of the roof. There are micro-influencers who won’t cost you an arm and a leg. They may not even charge you to advertise your product and you can send them free samples in exchange.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #6: Social E-commerce, the growing way to virtual shopping
When you have the right content marketing strategy to your social e-commerce strategy, you can see a tremendous up change in the results from this change. Social e-commerce is set up already to be the next trending marketing strategy for the next years coming.
However, the pandemic and the temporary shutdown of businesses allowing walk-in customers brought explosive growth to online shopping and drastically accelerated the rise of social e-commerce.
After examining buyer behavior in 2021, retail experts are forecasting social e-commerce sales to increase by more than 35%. But by 2025 experts say social e-commerce sales will grow by nearly $80 billion which means 5% of the country’s retail e-commerce sales will be coming through social media e-commerce.
It’s highly important to include calls to action in your social post, either as clickable elements on your photos or videos or in the social copy itself. Your brand’s social e-commerce strategy should incorporate user-generated content and niche-specific influencers.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #7: Accessibility in the Digital Age
It is highly important that you prioritize accessibility that will ensure your brand makes inclusive strides in communication efforts. 15% percent of the world’s population experiences some form of a disability. With that being said, brands should care about making their digital properties more accessible.
A growing number of companies have been sued for not having accessible websites. A lack of accessibility stunts business growth and could tarnish the brand image.
Marketing Trends/Predictions #8: The Future of Browsing with SEO
SEO is nothing new when it comes to having a website, but new strategies keep changing, and it’s important to know to keep your website competitive in driving conversions in modern-day marketing strategies.
What is SEO? It enhances the discoverability of websites and content on all search engines, especially Google.
What is Local SEO? Local SEO populates searches specifically for the businesses area. Businesses with a brick-and-mortar location can benefit greatly from having their local audience and customers find them through a web search.
When searching on google for businesses, google like many other search engines provide a local panel below a map that shows the type of businesses near you that you are searching for.
Having a strong Local SEO is the best way to stand out and be competitive against Amazon. Also, remember SEO is included in your website to set up and will show results for searchers who are located nearby and for free. But it takes an expert to set up.
Stay aware of these marketing trends and shifts
While the future is uncertain it’s always essential to be sure about your strategic marketing efforts for 2022. As we continue to stay on top of the trends, we are always here to help you get in the right direction and will offer a free diagnosis on your website and marketing plan. If you have any questions please contact us.
