The year 2020 threw our lives into chaos. This trend continued in 2021, when the virus resurfaced, wreaking havoc on many businesses. Almost half of the world’s CEOs predict that normalcy will not be achieved until 2022. COVID-19 has transformed the way businesses operate and has paved the way for a new era of marketing—namely digital marketing.
The year 2022 looks set to bring strong trends in digital marketing based on how the world has changed drastically on the Internet. Companies need to be aware of these trends but also devise strategies to focus on them.
The focus of marketing is human, diverse, and inclusive. Data-driven marketing, automation, and AI technology continue to grow. No one can predict where digital marketing will go in 2022, but it’s wise to keep an eye on new trends.
We can’t predict the future, but we can discuss the top 2022 digital marketing trends we see emerging. Let’s dig in.
- Artificial Intelligence: My first pick is Artificial Intelligence (AI). It has taken the digital marketing world by storm in recent years.AI will be integrated with SEO tactics in 2022 to improve organic and paid search ranks. Marketers are leveraging AI to build prediction models to understand the future behavior of customers based on their historical purchases and browsing history. The technology is primarily used in marketing to streamline repetitive tasks like keyword recommendations and data reporting.
- Introduction of Metaverse and VR/AR: Mark Zuckerberg announced the transformation of Facebook into Meta. There are plenty of augmented reality apps available via your smartphone’s camera. As mobile devices grow more powerful and VR sets become more accessible, virtual reality and augmented reality marketing will become an emerging digital marketing trend in 2022.
- Chatbots and Voice Assistants: Businesses will need to incorporate chatbots into their digital marketing strategy by 2022. Chatbot dialogue is typically powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and gives the chatbot an actual personality. Digital assistants, such as Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, are becoming increasingly popular. The market value of voice-based shopping will reach 40 billion by 2022 and consumer spending via voice assistants is also projected to reach 18% a research report says.
- Video Marketing: My next pick is Video marketing. It is one of the most powerful digital marketing trends, and it is here to stay. 80% of marketers say that video marketing has helped increase user understanding of their products or services. Users’ curiosity is no longer attracted by videos with spectacular special effects. Good content that is informative, entertaining, and story-driven is what users want to see.
- Word of Mouth: The number of followers is not always a good indicator of an influencer’s effectiveness in swaying decisions. Consider users’ engagement and ask the influencer to present case studies before you make a decision. Influencer marketing is still a major business, and it’s not going away anytime soon. It’s not about getting your word out to as many people as possible; it’s about getting the right people talking about your company.
- Email Marketing: Email is regarded as one of the most crucial tools in digital marketing. Email services enable much of the process to be automated, which is wonderful for businesses. Despite this, it is still simple to customize both the content and frequency of email correspondence. Email is crucial, and what is supplied should meet the same high standards as any other marketing medium. There are a variety of causes for this increase in popularity, including:
Automation
Customization
Privacy
Visibility
- Mobile-Friendly Website and Marketing: Mobile-first marketing will be the most important trend for businesses in 2022. Businesses must provide mobile-friendly content as more consumers use smartphones and tablets instead of computers. A mobile marketing strategy may be as basic as adapting the design of your website to fit smaller displays.
- Social Media Stories: With 500 million people using Instagram Stories every single day, crafting compelling content can be a great way to attract, engage, and retain customers. Brands tell stories because people love stories. The trend of telling their story online, in any form – written, pictorial, or video will be high in 2022.
- Omnichannel marketing: An omnichannel marketing strategy is one in which all marketing touch-points work in harmony on every customer interaction channel. Podcasts, PR and press releases, live chats, mobile applications, offline advertisements, chatbots, and virtual assistants are all tools that businesses may use. According to studies, 70% of shoppers research three or more channels before making a purchase.
- Search Intent Data: Search intent refers to the reason behind a search. Google strives to grasp the meaning of our search queries as well as the type of content we’re looking for. Some of Google’s complex machine learning algorithms, such as BERT and MUM, are used to make the search engine “more human.”
- PPC Automation: PPC automation refers to the system that charges marketers every time their ad is clicked.PPC automation enables marketers to handle their Google ad campaigns using machine learning, rather than spending hours modifying scope, scheduling, and targeting manually. You can use third-party software to automate some of the systems and tasks.
- CSR and Non-Profit Activities: In 2022, it’s high time we realize the marketing impact on the environment. CSR initiatives are becoming the norm in the marketing sector. Brands might look more empathetic in front of their target audience, which will draw in eco-conscious shoppers. Non-profit activities have huge positive feedback on brand awareness and how people see the company.
- Death of Cookies: Tracking users across the web is essential to many advertisers and businesses. In early 2022, Google announced that it will stop tracking cookies. There already is an option for consumers to opt-out of third-party cookies and tracking, so digital advertisers are looking for ways to change their tactics.
Final Thoughts
In 2022, marketing should be about interacting and talking with customers. AI-powered marketing is the way of the future. The sooner a company begins investing in AI, the more likely it is to succeed.
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