Digital Marketing Trends in 2022 and beyond
The digital marketing industry is a fast-paced and ever-changing one. It’s not unusual for new trends to come about every few years. So, what’s in the forecast for the next few years? Here are some trends that have shown up so far and what you can expect to see in the coming years.
Big Data
Big data is a common trend in the world of digital marketing. It’s about analyzing information to learn more about your audience and what they want. This can be done with social media, website traffic, and various other sources. Big data is a blanket term for the large sets of digital information that are now available, and this has become popular in modern-day marketing. The company can predict where people will go before they even leave so ads are placed on their current platform or future travel destination to notify them about Airbnb availability at those locations. Big Data analytics have made it possible to see patterns among consumers’ behaviors, which helps companies like AirBNB advertise effectively. Great marketers will be the ones who’ve understood which data to leverage and what data to ignore.
Authenticity
Authenticity is important when it comes to marketing, and in the next few years it will be more important than ever. People are tired of the “hype-y” content that’s everywhere. They want real information and recommendations. Brands will have to get creative if they want to stand out – and not just with how their products look. They’ll also need to focus on quality content that provides solutions for customers’ problems.
Generational Shifts
In 2020, millennials will became the largest living generation in the United States. To accommodate this change in demographics, brands are trying to find ways to cater to these generations – from adjusting their digital marketing strategies to paying more attention to their preferences. This is especially true for Generation Z, which has surpassed millennials as the second-largest living generation. Brands are beginning to pay closer attention to this demographic, who have a different set of preferences than millennials do. Some brands have even decided to target them specifically and produce content just for them.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is quickly becoming a new way to engage with your customers digitally. Brands can use it to conduct live events, such as Q&A sessions or product demos, that are more immersive than standard video chat or screen sharing. This technology is still fairly new, but it’s only going to grow in popularity and become more mainstream as time goes on.
Companies like Dell and Samsung have already started developing VR content to promote their products. And VR isn’t just for companies- you can create your own virtual reality content by using an app on your phone or tablet.
And not to mention, the Metaverse. The Metaverse is a collective virtual shared space, created by the convergence of virtually enhanced physical reality and physically persistent virtual space, including the sum of all human knowledge.
Video Marketing
Video marketing is a popular trend that shows no signs of going away anytime soon. It’s an inexpensive way to create hype and get your message out to more people. With more and more people using smartphones, video marketing is a great way to reach your audience on the go. Videos are also more memorable than text-based content, which helps improve brand awareness.
Live Streaming
Live streaming has been a popular trend for some time now. And it’s not just for the major sports events anymore, with more and more niche live streams popping up. According to Hubspot, an estimated 80% of people prefer watching video on YouTube over other video sites like Facebook or Vimeo.
Because live streaming is still new and growing, there are fewer regulations in place about what you can and cannot do while streaming- something that could lead to some interesting new opportunities for digital marketers.
Lifestyle Videos
Lifestyle videos are videos that show people living their lives doing things they enjoy. They’re meant to inspire others and have the potential to go viral.
Facebook Live is a great way to add this type of content to your marketing strategy. If you’re not sure what you should do, check out YouTuber Casey Neistat’s YouTube channel which features his daily life in New York City.
Geo-Location Based Marketing
Geo-location based marketing is an upcoming trend that will allow marketers to reach customers in their geographic location. This is a growing area of the digital marketing world that will only increase in popularity. The idea behind geo-location marketing is for a company to be able to have ads in places where their potential customers would be most likely to see them. For instance, if there were two ice cream shops close together, one might want to put flyers and ads on the signpost outside. The company would then set up geo-location based marketing so that people close by who search for ice cream see this ad while people far away would not.
Voice Recognition and Chatbots
Voice recognition and chatbots are on the rise. Voice recognition is a growing trend as technology improves and becomes more available. It’s also becoming more accessible for smaller businesses. As a result, you can expect to see virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa become more prevalent in the next few years. Additionally, you’ll see an increase of chatbots that help with customer service or sales. Chatbots will make it easier for customers to get their questions answered without having to talk to someone over the phone or via email.
AI Influencers and Personalized Content Creation
AI influencers are the next wave of influencer marketing. They use A.I. to create content that is personalized to the audience they’re targeting.
AI influencers have a lot of potential in the future. One of their greatest advantages is that they have the capability to target specific preferences and interests like never before. AI influencers can create personalized content for every individual with different needs and wants, which translates into more conversions and better ROI for advertisers.
