My Predictions
As we approach the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, business owners need to prepare for what might come in 2022. By being early to the party, marketers can take advantage of trends before they become too populated. As nobody truly knows exactly what 2022 will bring, I have 5 key trends that I believe will follow true.
My prediction for the Digital Marketing Trends in 2022 are as follows:
1. Digital Marketing Budgets Will Continue To Grow
In 2021 alone, digital advertising spend grew about 25.5% from 2020. In 2020 that growth was only 14.9% (Source). Experts predict this growth will not be slowing down anytime soon. For 2022, experts predict digital ad spend will grow another 16% and account for 60% of the total global ad spend in 2022 (Source).
Digital advertising has proven to be one of the most effective forms of advertising, and often times the cheapest. From social media ads, to Google PPC ads, to YouTube preroll ads, marketers need to prepare for the same story in 2022. Marketing budgets are far better allocated to Pay-Per-Click ads like Google Search Ads or Facebook ads due to their precise targeting capabilities, and the simple fact that you only pay when someone actually clicks on your ad.
As 2022 approaches, be sure to allocate more than half of your marketing budget for digital marketing, I personally would recommend even more. Personally, Murray Marketing Services LLC will use 100% of our marketing budget through digital.
2. Video Will Take Over As The Cornerstone Of Content
If it isn't already, video will take its throne as the cornerstone of content in 2022. Wherever you look, you can see the same pattern with video:
79% of people say they've been convinced to buy or download a piece of software or app after watching a video (Wyzowl).
YouTube is the second-most visited website in the U.S. by organic traffic, and is the second largest search engine on the internet (Ahrefs).
91% of marketers feel the pandemic has made video more important for brands (Wyzowl).
Video was the primary form of marketing media created in 2021, followed by blogs (blogs were used by more than half of marketing teams), then followed by infographics (Hubspot).
Users do not have the attention span they used to. Video is a great form of content that keeps the consumer engaged, and prevents them from swiping right past your content. When looking at the pros and cons of video, there really is not a solid reason not to invest in video marketing. This especially applies to businesses with products that are more easily shown in video rather than explained in written form.
New to video content? Or simply don't have the time? Contact us today, we'll help you out!
3. LinkedIn Will Continue To Grow: You Need To Go All-In On LinkedIn
LinkedIn was the platform to be on in 2021, and I predict it will continue its reign in 2022. The platform continues to be a rising star in the digital space. Each quarter of 2021 they showed considerable gains in monthly active users and engagements on the social platform. Marketers need to go all-in on LinkedIn in 2022.
LinkedIn's executive team are continuously launching new features that are driving better results for businesses and their pages. The organic reach is still incredible on the platform, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Take advantage of polls, long form written content, and infographics in the form of PDFs to get the most out of LinkedIn.
Check out our blog post covering The Best Social Media Platforms for B2B Marketing for examples of effective LinkedIn content!
4. WOM (Word-Of-Mouth) Marketing Isn't Going Anywhere In 2022
WOM (Word-Of-Mouth) Marketing is the holy grail of marketing for businesses. One, it's free. Two, how likely are you to go through a company that was recommended to you by a trusted friend? Very likely. WOM Marketing is the so-called "invisible force" behind the success of many large businesses. Check the data:
83% of respondents from 60 countries trust recommendations from friends and family, and 66% trust online recommendations (Nielsen).
74% of purchasers (auto, beauty, and smartphone categories) identify word of mouth as the main point of influence for purchasing decisions (Google, TNS, & Ogilvy)
How do you measure WOM?
Social Media - WOM is measured in both conversions, and "shares" of your posted content. A share on Facebook and LinkedIn, repost on Instagram, retweet on Twitter.
User-Generated Content - Customer reviews, social media posts about your product, social media posts using your product, unboxing videos on YouTube, etc. Always encourage your followers to share content with your product. If they do share content, be sure to repost their content onto your page!
Influencer Marketing - Influencer marketing has gotten HUGE! There is no easier way to spread positive word-of-mouth than to have a beloved influencer share your product onto their page. Consumers trust their influencers!
5. The World Of NFTs Might Shake Up The Digital World In A Major Way
If you are not familiar with NFTs, I recommend you get accommodated, quickly! NFTs are (Non-Fungible Tokens) and are quickly becoming one of the biggest trends in the marketing industry right now, setting them up to become a major player in 2022. NFTs very well could evolved the entire way we do things in the digital world, but only time will tell. There are many YouTube videos online explaining NFTs, as well as the concept of the Blockchain & Ethereum. Below are two major trends brands could expect with NFTs in 2022:
Brand Partnerships - Coca-Cola, Campbell's Dolce & Gabbana and Charmin released NFT collectibles in 2021. This concept opens the door for brands to develop a true brand experience, for example giving fans access to special offers and promotions outside of the traditional rewards systems. If you own a company NFT, you get special access to a yearly event, exclusive apparel, etc.
NFTs could change contracts and payments forever - again, this concept is extremely confusing to explain on this blog post. Please YouTube it!
Recap
Nobody knows for sure what will happen in 2022, but there are signs pointing in a certain directly. One thing for certain, digital marketing is not going anywhere, and is only going to continue to get bigger and bigger. If your business is not engaging in digital marketing strategies, you will get passed up by your competitors.
To kick off the 2022 year, I am offering a FREE PERSONALIZED AD PLAN! All you need to do is fill out the contact form, here. Mention this blog!
My prediction for the Digital Marketing Trends in 2022 are as follows:
Thank you for making it this far; I hope this helps! If you have any questions, or are interested in working with us, please reach out via contact form or info@murraymarketingservices.com.
If you found this interesting or helpful, don't forget to share! Cheers!
- Nathan Murray, Founder, Murray Marketing Services
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