When it comes to digital marketing, no year goes by without something new as a trend.
Where 2020–2021 was a boom for TikTok and Zoom, who knows what will become the eye candy in 2022? One thing is clear: digital marketing will not be limited to the platforms we are using now. And the platforms that are the hub of marketing for people today will no longer function in the pattern they’ve been functioning in from then till today.
The digital marketing trends and advancements, besides being adventurous and exciting, will also impact the way we reach out and communicate with our customers. No one knows if it’ll get easier to reach consumers and advertise, or if the client base will be shifting towards new areas and parameters, leaving digital marketers in the dark as to what to do next. To not get a sudden shock of change and instead enjoy it, read the list below.
“They may become trends in 2022.”
Let’s have a handsome set of skills and knowledge before we face advancing and more demanding digital marketing trends and techniques. If you get the grip below, you might survive the quickly coming changes and adapt to them soon.
- DIY VIDEOS
- REAL NOT THE REEL STORYTELLING
- TRANSPARENCY
- CUSTOMIZATION
- SEGMENTED CONTENT
- ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL MARKETING
- NFTs, CRYPTO, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND E-COMMERCE
DIY VIDEOS
When it comes to digital marketing, almost all digital marketers put forth a conscientious effort in terms of content and design. Attractive posters, creative thumbnails, Instagram photography, and witty blogs have undoubtedly captured the attention of millions across digital channels and have been an impactful source of advertisements in recent years, but watching a movie always has more votes in a competition than reading a novel. Similarly, short DIY videos have been observed to garner more attention than static posters on social media.
Reading requires energy. Watching is relaxing. From 90 to 10 ratios of posters and videos, respectively, while advertising, it is seen to be a 60:40 rational now. It’s better to get hands-on video animations and short DIY videos before they get ignored among the numerous others floating across channels. TikTok has already been a game-changer with its short videos with bigger and easier messages in contrast to the landscape photo grids. Its effectiveness is proven with the abrupt launch of Instagram reels and YouTube Leaning Shorts. Evolution is already there.
REAL STORYTELLING, NOT REEL STORYTELLING
Real storytelling is not a new trend; it’s the one. Stories that are real are seen going viral across digital platforms. People are more interested in knowing the truth and something more than fantasies. Relatable stuff has to be real. Let’s adopt the habit of being true to our customers when telling them a story to convince or communicate with them. In 2022 and beyond, truth will be more important.
Only brands that are informative and result-oriented are catching and retaining them. People in 2022 are more focused on how their problems are solved and addressed by a brand instead of just knowing how they’re better than others in a competitive environment. This doesn’t mean brands should stop marketing and let the reviews do the talking but presenting the customer testimonials is the new attractive. It might not result in direct sales, but it’s a great way to put your brand front-and-center in the minds of consumers who are considering a specific issue. That way, when they face that issue, you’ll be the first one they turn to.
Make your customers think.
“Damn, I should try this out” with this new way of marketing.
TRANSPARENCY
Digital marketing is overloaded with time and is saturated enough. Google’s announcement of curtailing third-party cookies by 2023 is a clear alarm for digital marketers to reconsider and redirect their digital marketing strategies. Since people are more conscious of what content they are shown and are tired of getting their eyes tossed with ten ads in a two-minute scroll on social media, restricting data is Google’s smart decision to create trust and transparency for people in this abundant era of AI. However, this still does not mean that targeted advertising has come to an end. If search engines can create trust among people about their data transparency, digital marketers should strive to be trusted by enough consumers so they can comfortably share what type of content they are looking for.
Tell your customers why and what data you’re collecting to make them comfortable with sharing. Avoid collecting any data beyond what is needed. That way, you have what you need. If you use this kind of digital marketing, you’re more likely to have a good relationship with your customers and a specific group of people you want to reach.
CUSTOMIZATION
Customized content will be loved by the customers in 2022 and ahead. On social media platforms that are already flooded with generic content, a personalized composition is going to be popped up and tapped on for sure. Composing general advertising material in the hope of gaining as many customers as possible will not get you even those who would choose your products if they were only marketed to them in a way that they could relate to. It’s not just creating the right content and artwork for the right audience, but having your customer receive it at the right time and in the right place that’s more crucial to engagement in an oversaturated landscape.
To be able to create customized content for your customers, you need to understand which platforms they are using and what they are using them for. Having a grip on this research is worth it. It will make your advertising dollars go further and reach the right customer at the right time and place. Since your customers will be facing different ads on different platforms in diverse ways, your customized content will surely make them feel understood and will draw their attention and loyalty to your brand.
SEGMENTED CONTENT
Segmentation has been a trend and will always be a trend when digital marketing is the topic. Segmented content builds a community, a connection, and contact among geographies. A post on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day or Eid or Holi can help marketers bond with the segments of their customers and help them make their customers feel valuable. Segmentation was, is, and will remain a useful tool in digital marketing. Holding onto this evergreen trend could have your back in 2022 and afterward.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL MARKETING
We already come across the magical operations of AI every day on all of the digital platforms. From autocorrect on our keypad to the smart suggestions on search bars and relevant ads popping up on our screens every day, AI has already won our hearts, but rather than only wondering about its smart effectiveness, it’s time to understand what impact AI will have on digital marketing as a trend shortly.
The users, besides being threatened by their data being shared for the sake of advertising, will surely love it if they get to see more of what they are interested in on their feed. As a result, AI can analyze more data more quickly than we do as humans. For this reason, it’s able to use the large data set that’s there to analyze the purchase history and behavior of customers. Then, they will be able to suggest a specific item or offer, or even a personalized advertisement. Using AI to predict your customer’s next move can help digital marketers pitch more customized, relevant, and detailed ads to the right audience without being overwhelmed by unnecessary targeting.
NFTs, CRYPTO, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND E-COMMERCE
Even if you do not invest in crypto right now, it’s impossible to close your eyes to how rapidly it is being felt around you or being heard a lot. Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are not the trends that are going to affect our marketing strategies. 2022 is not accepting this kind of passive thinking at all.
Facebook already promoting NFT listings and avatars is a loud alarm for digital marketers to start planning their strategic approach towards it right now. Nearly every company will probably be seen taking a step in this direction. Now is the time to think about how to jump onto the bandwagon, where platforms like Twitter are taking steps to integrate online currencies. It is important to keep in mind that NFTs and cryptocurrencies are becoming more common in social media, e-commerce, and digital marketing as a trend.
So, are you ready to adopt the latest estimated and expected trends in digital marketing?
Your handy guide to digital marketing is here. It is hard to ignore, and you won’t even want to. Keeping these tools and tips in hand while digitizing will help you keep up with the latest advancements and the evolving digital world. From NFTs to AI to data transparency, tech continues to advance, evolve, and become more exciting at the same time.
Digitalize without being surprised, stay informed, get prepared.