9 Digital Marketing Trends to Watch Closely This Year
The doors of opportunity for anyone who is eager to improve business performance with digital marketing have been flung wide open. This is a great time because even if you’ve always wanted your foot in those lush baby steps but might not have had a chance before now - there's an entire industry eager and waiting just on tiptoes behind their shiny new frontiers!
But the universe of digital marketing is dramatically transforming. Brands now have to be on their toes and constantly adapting, or else get left behind in this ever-changing industry.
Everything is so driven by technology that it is hard to take the leap and create a difference without staying abreast of the latest digital marketing trends and insights. It is more important than ever to keep a pulse on the newly developing digital marketing ecosystem.
Digital Marketing Challenges in 2022
Oracle’s survey on the top marketing challenges tells an interesting story. The respondents of the survey reveal the followings:
- Maximizing performance across channels – 38%
- Ability to change/adapt to circumstances as they arise – 36%
- Delivering exceptional customer experiences – 35%
- Aligning marketing and sales efforts – 32%
- Segmenting and targeting audiences – 32%
- Ability to scale programs, content, and personalization – 31%
- Proving marketing attribution and ROI – 31%
Top Trends That will Impact Marketing in 2022
The digital marketing landscape has shifted, and now businesses must be ready to change with it—or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive industry.
The old way of doing things isn't working anymore; we've entered a new era where technology is steering the course for consumer attention spans around media outlets like never before.
Brands need fresh strategies that take into account how people consume information across many platforms or they'll quickly become extinct among this generation who lives their lives on digital and social media platforms.
What was once a new and innovative way to reach customers has become commonplace, as more and more businesses adopt digital channels. As the landscape changes, so do the trends. Here are some of the latest digital marketing trends:
1. Immersive Interactive Content
In today’s world where buyers are becoming less dependent on sellers throughout their journey—especially when it comes down right before purchase decision-making moments.
We must shift focus onto creating engaging and immersive experiences which will help build stronger relationships between parties involved: consumers/customers vs. companies producing goods or services (marketers).
Marketers should prepare themselves accordingly because interactive content is going to be an increasingly popular trend in 2022 as they try and keep up with customer demands. It's time for you, our customers - the ones who make all of this possible by coming back again and again - to get more than just a quick fix from your favorite brands!
2. Intent Marketing
Marketers should focus on finding buyers who are ready to buy. To that end, it is helpful to know who searches for your solution—and in-market potential customers can be identified through intent monitoring as a top trend for 2022.
We no longer use a single search engine but also social media platforms and marketplaces like Amazon and WallMart because they provide specific results better when looking up products online.
3. Influencer Marketing
Influencers are the key to building trust with your audience.
They have a long-standing relationship and are perhaps creative and due in part take an active role on social media platforms like Instagram or Twitter where their followers know exactly who is recommending what products. Influencer marketing gives brands more credibility when promoting their products and services.
4. The Time for AR/VR
The future is here, and it's about time!
With recent announcements from Facebook (now Meta) regarding their metaverse project that will soon become available for users worldwide in 2022. More than ever before we're expecting new software tools or apps to come out.
The majority of marketers anticipate seeing hybrid/mixed reality experiences becoming increasingly popular among the public in the near future.
5. Targeting in New Avatar
It's time to get your sea legs on!
The third-party cookie is coming back, but this time it'll be different. Marketers have less time left before all those old tactics are toast. We need a new plan in place for people-based targeting or else our customer data could disappear with them.
Just a thought: Your company needs to be vetted by an expert if they want their cookies still edible after 2023.
6. Experiential Commerce
With the rise of ecommerce, companies are now selling their products online with a major focus on customer experience. This experiential commerce trend will be crucial for those that want success in an increasingly competitive market. It provides interactive experiences and highly tailored pathways to accommodate user expectations.
As mentioned on the Entrepreneur website, “this is a new limb to experiential ecommerce because it allows brands to make their consumers feel center-focus in the experience. Much like a brick-and-mortar store, in which an associate will take the time to recommend products, personalized shopping quizzes offer that same feel to build confidence that a product will work at the individualistic level.”
7. Seamless Communication
The communications industry has made digital-first a priority these last few years, but it’s not just about the technology. In 2022, we'll see an increased focus on “doing" things right when implementing integrated campaigns by leveraging best practices from both traditional and new media angles.
Right from the PR, social media, and electronic media, seamless brand communication in one voice will take the centerstage to reduce friction and bring more credibility to brand messaging across channels. However, this will depend upon what's most effective for brands—whether that be in advertising sales or retention strategies!
8. Machine Learning for Campaigns
Artificial intelligence has become an important tool in the world of marketing. The ability for systems and machines to learn on their own, without human intervention is something that many businesses are taking advantage of for diverse purposes.
The first-party cookie information collected from users' web browsers as well other sources such as email newsletters is a growing asset. By using machine learning like neural networks or support vector machines which analyze these data sets and recommend the right path to effectively execute campaigns to the targetted audience.
All in all, you can make sense of the information faster than ever before.
9. Engaging Long-Form Content
When people search Google using keywords like “lake worth hotels," your business needs top rankings so customers find you quickly when scrolling down results listing page after list comes up...
Long-form "guide" pages are popular. Those who can make their long-form content more engaging will win out in this competition between brands vying for attention online.
So instead of just throwing all your information on one page and hoping people will read it or share it with their friends; make sure that each point has its section. So they're easy enough for readers who don't have time (or attention) but still want everything in order.
Because you know curiosity killed THE CAT: nobody wants an unorganized web page where nothing goes together...especially if there are pictures included.
Finding the Right Digital Marketing Mix
The reality is, marketing trends come and go. But the important thing is what makes them worth it for businesses who invest heavily into them - connecting deeply enough to customer relationships and building up trust.
There are many different digital marketing trends that businesses can leverage to reach their target audiences. But the fundamental tactics remain the same. The most important thing is to find the right mix of strategies that work for your business and your goals.
Content marketing: This involves creating and sharing informative or entertaining content to engage your target audience. Content can be in the form of articles, blog posts, infographics, videos, podcasts, or any other type of material that provides value to your audience.
Social media marketing: This entails using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram to promote your brand or business. It can involve anything from creating and sharing engaging content to running ads and sponsoring content.
Search engine optimization: This refers to the process of optimizing your website and its content for a higher ranking on search engine results pages. SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, but there are certain basics that all businesses should be aware of, such as keyword research and link building.
Pay-per-click advertising: This is a form of online advertising in which businesses pay a fee every time someone clicks on one of their ads. PPC can be an effective way to generate leads and traffic to your website, but it's important to create ads that are relevant and targeted to your audience.
Email marketing: This involves using email to send promotional messages or newsletters to your subscribers. Email marketing can be a great way to stay in touch with your customers and build relationships, but it's important to avoid spamming people with too many messages.
Mobile marketing: This refers to any marketing activities that are geared towards reaching people on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. Mobile marketing can involve creating a responsive website design, developing mobile apps, sending text messages, and running mobile ads.
And with all these opportunities available at an affordable budget (especially considering one can spend as per their budget bracket ) who could say no? This is the exciting time to jump into the wagon of next-generation digital marketing.
What Steps Should you Take?
Here are four key actions you can take to ensure your digital marketing strategy is on point:
Keep up with the latest trends and technologies: As digital marketing evolves, so do the trends and technologies associated with it. It’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements to make the most of your digital marketing strategy.
Invest in data-driven marketing: Data is key when it comes to effective digital marketing. By collecting and analyzing data, you can gain insights into your target audience’s behavior and preferences. This information can then be used to fine-tune your marketing approach for maximum impact.
Create a multi-channel approach: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when it comes to digital marketing. Instead, create a multi-channel approach that includes a mix of online and offline channels. This way, you’ll be able to reach your target audience no matter where they are.
Focus on customer experience: At the end of the day, it’s all about the customer experience. Make sure your digital marketing strategy is focused on providing an exceptional experience for your customers. If you do, they’re more likely to stick around – and even become brand advocates.
In the future, marketing will be multidimensional. The role of digital marketing will become more important for fulfillment, engagement, and branding.
So, keep up with the latest trends, invest in data-driven marketing, create a multi-channel approach, and focus on customer experience to make digital marketing work for you. What other digital marketing trends will create an impact in the future. We will love to know your thoughts.
Source: Read the full article at Minds Task Technologies