Now that we’re firmly into 2022, it’s time to look at digital marketing trends to see what will carry through the year. With huge changes over the past few years in how people interact with technology to the upcoming departure of third-party cookies, we’re seeing huge changes in the digital space. Here are 4 trends we’ve seen and what they mean for businesses.
TikTok Goes the Clock
TikTok has come to dominate social media in the past couple of years, influencing existing internet giants like Facebook and YouTube, both of whom now feature short videos. While a young app, TikTok isn’t just for kids anymore. Millennials and Gen X both have a strong presence on the platform. Users share short videos – some as short as 15 seconds and the longest videos lasting only a few minutes.
What this means for business: Look at what you can do to make your presence known on TikTok. Examples of professionals on the platform include therapists offering up affirmations in short videos, podcasts sharing clips, and financial experts sharing tips. However, if you're not sure that your brand works for a short video, you could consider partnering with influencers. By partnering with an existing influencer on the platform, you can promote your product and services through content that fits with the platform and feels less like a commercial. Examples of successful promotional content include influencers playing games or using products, often with an amusing or comical take.
Influencers Continue to Rise in 2022
Influencer marketing was huge in 2021 and all signs show that trend continuing upward. Influencers focus on a niche and build their platforms around it – whether that is beauty and fashion, food and cooking, or gaming and video reviews. If there’s an interest, there’s an influencer who has followers who want to know what they think about it or do with it.
What this means for business: It’s time to look for influencers to partner with on your marketing efforts. While an influencer lacks the broad name recognition of a celebrity, their followers tend to be loyal. More importantly, though, their followers follow because they’re interested in the influencer’s niche. If you find an influencer whose platform matches your brand, your product is going to hit eyes that are more likely to convert to sales.
The World is Getting Meta
Facebook as a company has changed its name to better position itself for the fast-approaching digital future. While some of the things Zuckerberg is looking forward to are still a way off, they’re not as far as you might think. After all, we have already seen what Augmented Reality can do with a familiar brand (Pokémon Go anyone?). Our smartphones have already connected us to the world 24/7 and more and more people are integrating technology into their homes with services like Alexa and Google.
What this means for business: Follow what Facebook/Meta is doing and don’t lose sight of changes. While still new, Zuckerberg is looking in the right direction, as both virtual reality and augmented reality become more popular over the past few years as we become more reliant on our smartphones and adopt more smart-home features. As Meta continues to develop, they look to bring work and shopping into virtual reality.
To be ready for the next steps for Meta, look at ways that you can bring your brand into virtual and augmented reality. As you shape your marketing campaigns, ask yourself how it will translate into a 3D experience. Consider not just how you want to present your product or service, but how you would want consumers to try your service in virtual reality.
NFTs
No discussion of digital marketing trends would be complete without looking at NFTs. They’ve become a part of our lives now, with more and more brands attaching their names and reputations to them. NFTs continue to generate hype when they’re mentioned and many of their proponents are also trendsetters in technology, marketing, and finance.
What this means for business: Treat NFTs and cryptocurrency the same way that you would treat an influencer – that’s basically what they are. While they’re still extremely niche, their followers are loyal. If you want to take the leap into NFTs, make sure that they match your brand and your message. NFTs can be a great way to build a loyal consumer base as you make NFTs of brand-related images. Be sure to research the NFT and cryptocurrency partners you pair with to ensure that you have a successful promotion.
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