2022 Marketing Trends Pack: Success is Around the Corner!

While the marketing industry may remain constant, strategies change. Marketing trends come and go. What’s “in” seems to shift every year, keeping even the best marketers up, ready to make changes and adapt to the new trends. Evidently, it can be one of the most stressful aspects of a marketing career, but it can also be one of the most exciting. To keep up with the fast pace of the world, staying on top of marketing trends entails anticipating them. So, as 2021 comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to the next quarter and beyond, and begin planning for 2022 marketing trends.

We are all aware that since 2020, the world has been subjected to a whole array of unexpected events caused by the new COVID-19. It really provoked havoc and the situation is still going on! This pandemic has transformed the way we communicate, make business, and live but there was one silver lining! Businesses have shifted almost entirely to digital resources, and as companies adapt to the new normal in business, digital marketing has become a common focus.

Let’s take a look at some of these trends and how you can start planning strategies now to capitalize on what’s going to happen in the industry next year!

Pandemic Wake-Up Call!

We learned last year that not having your digital plan in order is not an option, and much less your marketing plan! But even those seemingly foolproof plans can face small or large failures due to completely unexpected circumstances. As a result, being quick pays off. Review and update your plan on a regular basis, keeping in mind that everyone experiences some level of stress and change.

So, what about if you “polish off” your marketing plan? First, review your marketing personas. Your stakeholders’ needs and goals are very likely to have changed since 2019. Next, assess your website’s performance. We are living in an age in which the image is everything. If you want to build a strong brand image, you must use the right words and communicate your message in the clearest, concise way. Concentrate on generating word-of-mouth by providing quality service to your customers and keeping in touch with them quickly.

While digital advertising will continue to be important in your marketing strategy, it is important to note that it will also become more expensive. In fact, the cost of Google Ads has risen year after year because Google charges through bidding. Furthermore, as competition for online advertising grows, the price you pay will naturally rise as well.

You should consider organically increasing brand awareness. Consider developing a strategy that will provide long-term value to your audience. Instead of shouting “buy from me now!” it could be an interactive video, a regular podcast, or web content that educates and provides value to your brand.

Put Effort In Online Events 

Online events such as webinars, seminars, or product launches are always a great way to reach out to your existing clients or potential new clients. We are sure you have witnessed an increase in the number of brands participating in online events. These events are good opportunities to directly gather data on the event’s audience.

This data can later be used to create consumer profiles, this way you can sell your products or services directly to them! It will reduce the need to rely on third-party information and will aid in the development of a stronger relationship with your audience. Online events may not give you the ROI right away, but they will undoubtedly help your business grow in the long run.

Implement Marketing Automation

And speaking about data! In 2022, we will see an increase in the use of data-driven marketing campaigns across a broader range of industries. For example, incorporating marketing automation into your digital marketing strategy will increase its efficiency and effectiveness because marketers will be able to automate workflows and spend less time on repetitive tasks.

Marketers will, however, be able to create consumer profiles and nurture them down the sales funnel. The “one size fits all” approach has long since stopped working, and it’s past time to consider segmenting different strategies, content and sizes based on the diversity of your audience.

Nowadays, customers are becoming far more knowledgeable and savvy. So, if you want to stay in front of them when they search online for information about your product or service, you must track what they see online: article titles, links shared from other websites or social media posts about your brand that can help them make a decision. 

In general terms, it is time to consider marketing automation to strengthen relationships with your customers and learn more about them. As a result, starting complete marketing automation will be critical on this journey towards success!

Collaborate with Nonprofits

Consumers are increasingly looking for companies that have a mission or that give back to the community in some way. This trend will only continue to grow, and a well-rounded marketing strategy should take advantage of it by collaborating with non-profit organizations. This collaboration opportunity has the potential to help you grow your business while also connecting you with important humanitarian causes. It’s great when you can expand your brand while also advocating for a good cause, it’s a win-win situation!

However, simply expressing your support for a charitable organization should not be the end of your marketing strategy. Product placement, affiliate marketing, sales percentage contributions, and corporate sponsorship should all be considered.

Integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI)

While artificial intelligence (AI) remains a hazy concept, it is a technology that is available to everyone. Marketers can use AI to predict audience behaviors in a variety of ways, including personalization, conversational experiences, predictive analysis, marketing operations, and dynamic pricing.

The predictive analysis predicts the likelihood of a lead or customer acting in the same way as others who have acted in a similar manner. Dynamic pricing assists you in leveling offers by using an algorithm to predict which price level will result in conversion at a higher price point.

Influencers Will Still Be A Thing

While many predicted the demise of influencer marketing, this has yet to occur. The industry is expected to grow to $15 billion by 2022, from $9.7 billion in 2020, with the vast majority of marketers allocating more than 20% of their budget to influencer content. The peculiar thing? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used to identify the best influencers and their influence in the market. The return on investment (ROI) is virtually guaranteed!

Over time, influencers have become masters of the platforms they use as well as the field or topic they discuss. They already have an engaged audience that is interested in their content and is influenced by the information they provide. When marketers collaborate with industry thought leaders and influencers, they can increase brand awareness and gain fans from the influencer’s own audience. 

The Death of the Cookie

According to Google’s recent announcement, the third-party cookie’s demise has been postponed until 2023. While the delay has made it slightly less urgent for marketers to abandon 3P-cookie-based targeting techniques, it remains critical. Consumers are demanding greater privacy protections and data control, forcing marketers to adapt. You can begin by focusing more on collecting and fully utilizing first-party data, or you can use technologies such as Google’s Privacy Sandbox or FLoC (Federated Learning of Cohorts) to achieve customization and consumer targeting without invading user privacy. CRM tools, surveys, and interactive content will all play a larger role in future marketing success.

Hop in the Metaverse!

The announcement that Facebook’s parent company will be renamed Meta, in reference to the metaverse, was one of the most talked-about stories in 2021. We are still talking about it!

The metaverse is a virtual digital world in which many of our daily activities can be performed by 3D avatars. Many organizations are currently working on this concept, ranging from Facebook to the South Korean government, and even Disney are already up to join this virtual world. So far, Epic Games has already organized massive virtual events within its video game Fortnite!

Inbound Marketing Will Be Even More Important

Inbound marketing is one of the top marketing trends marketers will invest in by 2022, according to Hubspot’s Not Another State of Marketing Report 2021, trailing only short-form videos. Indeed, more than 80% of marketers intend to keep or increase their investment in inbound marketing.

It’s also worth noting how inbound marketing has evolved in recent years. Its basic premise, which is attracting users rather than directly targeting them, remains unchanged, but it is transitioning from viewing the customer journey as a conversion funnel to using the flywheel methodology, which is focused on 3 phases: attract, engage and delight your customers. Don’t get behind this transition!

Don’t Dare to Forget About SEO: Google’s Position Zero is Here!

The world of SEO has changed dramatically: the most desired position in Google search results is no longer the first, but position zero. A featured snippet, or position zero, is a result that is displayed above the rest and in a more visible format, including a fragment of the content, a URL, and sometimes an image. It attracts a lot of impressions and clicks, so it should be included in optimization strategies.

It is highly recommended that you present your content in the form of answers to common user questions and include structured data on your website to increase your chances of appearing in position zero.

Wrapping Up

It’s easy to forget that Americans are exposed to 4,000-10,000 advertisements per day! Marketing trends that are focused only on the hard sell will simply not work as well as they used to. Instead, a strong brand that focuses on relationship building and trust with its customers is the way to go.

For many in the marketing industry, the last two years have felt like a rollercoaster ride and in StoryBox Studios we sure know how to navigate this up and downs! As things begin to return to normal, it’s important to remember that some things will never “go back” to how they used to be, and this will have an impact on trends this year and beyond. So, while it’s critical to plan ahead, it’s also critical to approach these trends with adaptability and flexibility. When you hire our services, you will be truly prepared for whatever trends that come your way.