Around the turn of each year, there is always a lot of interest in digital marketing trends and marketing innovation. The year 2022 will be no different, in fact, it will be much more so, because Covid has put downward pressure on marketing budgets, forcing marketers to seek for new cost-effective tactics.
Trends in marketing can come and go as swiftly as they do in fashion, technology, or pop culture. However, staying ahead of the game is simple. Marketing gurus all over the world can get a pretty decent idea of what’s coming up in the following year by evaluating previous patterns and staying on top of existing changes.
It’s critical to keep an eye on where you’re going in the long run when making a great short-term plan. Nobody can foresee the future of marketing with 100 percent confidence, but industry experts can provide important insights and projections into some of the possibilities.
Understanding and applying basic industry ideas isn’t enough to stay ahead of the digital marketing game. Because the digital world, like every member of your target audience, is always evolving, being up to date on trends is an important aspect of successful digital marketing.
Nobody could have foreseen how marketing would alter in 2020. Those that precisely planned out their marketing operations based on what they knew at the start of the year were forced to trash their plans and start over.
Individuals and businesses around the world were focused on recuperating from the Covid outbreak in 2021, one of the most shocking global shocks in recent memory. In 2022, industries around the world will continue to adjust and adapt to the resulting changes.
Here’s a look at some of the most important digital marketing trends to watch in 2022.
1. Story-Driven, Interactive Content
The idea of what it means to have a connection with a business is shifting as social media continues to connect customers and the brands they buy from on exciting new levels.
Yes, your clients desire a more personal relationship with you. People, however, are looking for content experiences that go beyond traditional text, regardless of how snappy that information may be.
With the rise of smart speakers and voice search in recent years, it’s easy to believe that “readable” content now takes precedence above graphics and design.
Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. While advances in voice search are undoubtedly changing the way we create content now and in the future, interactive content should not be overlooked.
2. Exceptional Customer Service
No matter what year, it’s the customer’s year. We’re witnessing a significant shift in perceptions of what marketing is.
It’s no longer about persuading people to buy from or work for your business. Instead, the focus has shifted to offering outstanding customer experiences that will entice customers to return.
When you concentrate on creating a happy work environment and offering excellent service, marketing almost takes care of itself. Customers are not just impatient, but they also expect their fish tacos to arrive on a silver plate.
3. Conversational Marketing
More businesses are taking a conversational approach to many elements of how they engage with their audiences, including marketing, in order to forge increasingly intimate ties between brands and consumers.
When today’s customers want to contact a company, they don’t want to wait days or even hours for a response, and marketers are taking notice.
According to studies, 82 percent of current customers expect a quick response from a company if they have a query or problem.
4. Employee Activation
How do you know you’re offering efficient and courteous service if that’s the cornerstone of a wonderful client experience? Your employees, of course, are the answer.
According to the study, 46 percent of customers will quit a brand if its personnel are uninformed, and terrible employee attitude is the number one factor that prevents customers from doing business with a company.
Because your employees are the human face of your company, focusing on interactions with consumers should be a crucial component of your marketing plan.
5. Use of Voice Search
Have you ever begun a web search by asking your virtual assistant Siri, Alexa or Google a question rather than typing it into a browser or app?
If that’s the case, you’re already familiar with the benefits of voice search. These days, voice search isn’t simply popular. It’s become a huge component of how almost everyone gets the information they need.
This can include details about items, services, or brands that they’re interested in. The more detailed and sophisticated alternatives like Alexa or Google Assistant grow, the more comfortable customers will be with utilising them.
6. Personalization of Your Brand
What can be done now that traditional advertising is losing its effectiveness? Personalized marketing communications that create a genuine bond between the brand and its target audience.
When a buyer is faced with two nearly identical items and must choose between them, the bet is on the brand that captured their heart. Personalizing marketing to match your clients’ requirements is one method to engage their hearts as well as their heads.
Psychologists have taught us for years that people enjoy hearing and seeing their names in print. Today’s technology, on the other hand, allows digital marketing teams to go deep into data to uncover the issues that keep clients awake at night – and then determine which messages will help them address those issues and get a good night’s sleep.
7. Hybrid Events and Gatherings
People were distraught when Covid first hit, as it meant that activities like parties and in-person events would be out of the question for the foreseeable future. To fill the void, virtual events grew in popularity and were highly successful.
However, now that people are gradually resuming their normal lives, marketers must make some difficult decisions. While some customers were ecstatic to get back to normal and interact with other people in person again, others had mixed feelings.
To put it another way, marketers now have to cater to two distinct audiences. That is why, in 2022, hybrid events that combine the best of both worlds are expected to be huge.
8. Push Notifications
Push notifications as a digital marketing trend is being driven by two factors. First, the email marketing landscape is becoming so crowded that actually connecting with your audience through that channel is becoming increasingly challenging.
Second, mobile phones are increasingly being used for all types of internet activities, including brand searches and online buying.
As a result, it’s no surprise that marketers are turning to push notifications as a more effective way to get their customers’ attention. More than half of consumers now enable marketers to contact them through push notifications on their phones.
9. Social Media Stories
Social media stories have been popular since Snapchat initially pioneered the concept years ago.
Instagram was the first to join on board, followed by other major sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and perhaps Twitter.
It’s reasonable to conclude that stories are more than a digital marketing fad at this time. They’re here to stay, and their popularity is predicted to rise through 2022 and beyond.
In contrast to regular social media posts, stories are only available for 24 hours. As a result, they’re an ideal platform for individuals and businesses to share more raw, authentic content with those who want to see them.
10. Google Search Featured Snippets
As we approach into 2022, SEO will continue to be a vital component of digital marketing, but we’re now witnessing one of the most significant changes in the SEO sector in the previous decade.
People are changing how they use search engines like Google as mobile and voice search become more prevalent. Being number one in the search engine result pages, or SERPS, is no longer the most important goal for your company to pursue.
Featured snippets and other “on SERP” information means you don’t have to go to a website to find the information you need — it’s all right there on the Google search results page.
Gear Up for 2022
While marketing trends come and go, the fundamentals of success stay the same: understand your audience’s needs and communicate effectively and consistently with them.
The beauty of digital marketing trends is that they are not only effective, they’re also predictable. So, all it takes is a little research and planning to remain on top of things and obtain the outcomes you want.
That’s why creating customer-centric content has always been the most effective approach to build long-term relationships with your audience.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to start thinking about your marketing strategy for 2022. Make sure you begin the New Year with a clear vision of your objectives and a strategy for achieving them.
Content marketing will undoubtedly continue to dominate the digital marketing scene for some time to come. The majority of these trends are dependent on content in some way.
To be successful in them, you’ll need a solid foundation of high-quality content spread across all of your marketing channels.