Digital Marketing Trends For 2022

Yep, it’s that time again. It’s the most joyous (and for some the most stressful!) time of the year, but it’s also to start thinking about next year.

The holidays provide a time for us to take a step back and be thankful for all that we have. However, this time of year also reminds us how important it is to prepare for the future. And, that future is more important than ever. (But, truthfully, we say that every year.)

While 2021 was a huge success for many when compared to 2020, businesses and marketers alike must prepare for what’s next to make 2022 even better. Digital marketing is a constantly evolving industry, and the trends we see now will most likely change in just a few years. This means that it’s important to stay up-to-date with current digital marketing practices and begin developing new strategies to use in the near future. Here are some digital marketing trends that we predict will take charge in 2022:

Content Creators Light the Way

Content creators, such as blogging, YouTubers, Instagram influencers, and TikTokers, will be the new celebrities due to their mass following on digital platforms. Globally, digital content creation is expected to surpass the $16 billion mark by 2025.

Rather than relying on traditional celebrities, models and actors, marketers will work with content creators to promote their brand. Influencer marketing is predicted to become one of the largest trends in advertising over the next few years, and marketers need to stay aware of this. However, this is a good thing! Content creators are more plentiful than traditional celebrities and, therefore, may be less expensive to work with while enhancing your brand.

Hybrid and Digital Events Are Here to Stay

What started as a temporary measure due to the COVID-19 pandemic has connected more people than ever imagined. Hybrid and digital events allow more people to network than ever before, learning from one another through digital means and being able to share in experiences that are more accessible than ever. Marketers can prepare for the 2022 market by working with event organizers on hybrid events, as well as creating digital components for client-attended events.

Artificial Intelligence Becomes More Prominent

It’s not a matter of whether artificial intelligence (AI) will be integrated into people’s lives around the world, but how and when.

While AI provides many benefits for marketers, it’s important not to abuse this new technology. For example, chatbots are a great way for companies to connect with customers on social media platforms without hiring additional staff or dealing with hiring challenges. Additionally, AI is being used for email marketing, content creation, as well as website personalization. Check out a list of AI tools for marketing that any small to mid-sized business can begin using.

Storytelling Takes Center Stage

Since the dawn of time, people have been drawn to stories. Therefore, marketers will need to learn how to tell a story or two if they want their brand to stand out from the crowd in 2022.

Storytelling has been used in marketing for some time now, but it’s predicted to become an even more important part of the digital marketing world. This is because stories can be used in a variety of ways, including connecting with customers emotionally and providing educational content for their audience that keeps them engaged and coming back for more.

Gamification Techniques

We see more gamified elements in many of our daily activities, from work to play. Brands have begun using this approach in their marketing strategies as well. In 2022, we expect marketers to adopt a “game-like” approach and integrate leaderboards, points, badges, and more elements to keep customers engaged with their website. Brands will begin to “gamify” every aspect of their organization that they can, from booking appointments to purchasing goods.

More Personalization Overall

When it comes to marketing strategies for 2022, we will begin seeing a lot more personalization across the board. Not only do we expect marketers to focus on highly targeted ads based on behaviors and online activities, we also expect to see more personalized experiences and messages in conjunction with the rise of content creators and storytelling.

Video Takes Center Stage

It seems like every year, articles like this wave their arms about how important video will be next year, but this time, we really mean it.

Video is king when it comes to marketing strategies for 2022. This means that brands who market themselves on video platforms like YouTube, Instagram Stories or TikTok are at an advantage over competitors. Visuals are more engaging than text, and when you add in timely trends, you have a winning combination that is hard to beat.

Web Experience Becomes More Interactive

We expect to see more interactive web experiences in 2022, with a greater focus on the user experience. Instead of merely focusing on how many users convert from their website, marketers will start working towards creating a better overall experience for everyone who uses their site. This means making sure that pages load quickly and that each page is designed to be mobile-friendly. While this has been the focus for a few years, 2022 will be the last year that consumers will tolerate anything less than outstanding.

At this point, having a bad website does nothing but drive your next customer to the competition.

Digital Marketing Trends for 2022: The Wrap-up

While many different digital marketing trends will take hold over the next few years, we believe these eight will be most impactful.

Social media platforms will continue to grow in popularity, with more brands moving towards Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube as well as the creators within them. AI through chatbots and other mediums will become a more popular tool for marketers. Storytelling will be one of the most powerful techniques, with personalization and gamification techniques following close behind. Brands that focus on video, content creation, and AI will see the biggest benefits in 2022.

While Facebook is now known as Meta, there’s been a bit of buzz about the Metaverse and what that will mean for business. Our estimate is absolutely nothing for the coming year. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t give it thought down the line, but as it is now, the Metaverse exists in pieces, in theory, and in pieces of theories rather than something that will affect the way we do business in the coming year.

Choose a Partner Who is Prepared

Anyone who runs a business knows that your network and partnerships are of the utmost importance. While you focus on growth, choose an informed and prepared partner for all the marketing trends that 2022 has in store. Contact the staff at Make It Loud today to kickstart your marketing strategy into the new year.