Do you think that trends are ever-evolving? or, do you think customers’ preferences are changing?
Well, trends are evolving constantly because customer’s preferences are evolving. Hence, the market and marketers both need to adapt and shift where the customer is moving.
Year by year, we get to see drastic changes in the digital marketing industry simply because customers’ choices and preferences are shaping the marketing strategies.
As we all know, 2020 saw tremendous growth in the digital marketing industry because of the global pandemic and how it accelerated the usage of digital assets and channels for marketing and branding purposes.
Since then, businesses are allocating a defined budget for digital marketing as per the trends to stay ahead of the competition.
Let’s check out what all key differentiators are there in digital marketing trends in 2021 and 2022, which might help you plan your digital marketing strategies accordingly in 2022.
1. Content Marketing
We have heard so many times on almost every digital platform that ‘Content is King,’ but how does it even help if it’s not clear and simple?
Actually, unique, simple and clear content is the King. In 2021, we can see an exponential rise in Instagram reels, blogging and influencer marketing, which demands content. In 2022, content marketing will remain the same in terms of clarity and simplicity. However, content quality shouldn’t be mediocre i.e., it must include engaging questions, more thoughtful content, interactive – quiz and games, and of course, humor.
It will boost productivity and you don’t have to compromise on the quality part. Engaging, Simple, Clear and Thoughtful; just keep these 4 things in mind while creating content.
2. Educating or Hard Selling?
People nowadays are getting immune to hard-selling tricks used by brands and marketers. And, whenever it annoys, irritates and pressurizes them for product/service purchase, they just become defensive.
Digital Marketing experts have started utilizing the ‘Educate your customers’ approach in 2021 and we will see that in 2022 as well. We can’t pressurize the audience to buy our products or services. We have to show them how it’s useful for them, for their business, for long-term goals. Education is the key to marketing your product wisely. Don’t just do it for the sake of customer education, but make sure you help them explore the product or service you’re offering and leave it on them to make decisions!
Therefore, more ‘education’ and less ‘hard-selling’ you’ll see in 2022.
3. Creativity and Innovation
Of course! If the branding or marketing strategies aren’t creative enough, they won’t look appealing to the audience. Doesn’t matter how it worked out in the past, but you constantly need to work on ‘Creativity’ and ‘Innovation’ in your digital marketing approach.
An unconventional way of marketing is the new trend, remember that! If you aren’t thinking outside the box for your business/brand, you are surely losing out big time on your target audience.
Explore different platforms like Tik Tok, Insta Reels, Quora, etc., as these are currently in trend, and the best way to reach out to the audience is through these platforms. So, go ahead and outpace our competitors!
4. Personalization
Personalized content is the need of the hour. To stay ahead of your competitors in the digital marketplace, a brand must provide personalized content to its audience.
2021 and 2022 are all about personalized content, be it offering personalized vouchers, or first-time shopping offers or tailored content/suggestions as per customer history.
Stay relevant for your customer with custom content and provide them a great experience!
5. Empty Cookie Jar
Google is now planning to deprecate third-party cookies beginning by mid-2023, finishing in late 2023. For advertisers and businesses, tracking the users is crucial and it is managed through cookies. However, due to privacy concerns of internet users, this demand needs to be obliged as soon as possible as it is raising many questions and concerns.
Audience targeting will be impossible to implement afterwards. Nevertheless, many CRM tools, interactive tools, will play a vital role in marketing success. Moreover, zero-party data will equally gain attention as data will directly be given by customers to a brand incorporating different methods.
So, the year 2023 will change the entire game of digital marketing.
In 2022, brands and marketers will see some major fundamental changes in digital marketing. Presently, many businesses are heavily dependent on digital marketing and who knows what’s coming next in the digital world! But, one thing that will never change is the customer and his ever-evolving demands. Thus, the market will move, adapt and experiment according to the customers.
Are you fully ready to fulfil your customers’ demands in 2022?
If not, hire a digital marketing consultant to scale up your business and build your brand to cater to your customers’ demands! Good luck.