You’ve heard it so many times before: fail to plan, plan to fail. And never is that statement more true than when it comes to your marketing.
As we prepare to say goodbye to 2021, it’s time to look at your marketing strategy for 2022. But, as with all
things in life, marketing doesn’t stand still and is ever-changing. For our final blog of the year, we thought
we’d have a scout round and find out what you can expect next year in terms of marketing trends. So, grab a cuppa and mute your phone – here’s our Top Ten Marketing Trends for 2022.
Influencer Marketing
Whilst we all strive to be on the radar of our industry gods, why aim so high at almost unreachable targets? The current trend is to attract the attention of micro-influencers: social media users and bloggers whose
audiences run into the thousands rather than the millions. Many people make the mistake of measuring
influencer power by the number of followers they have. Ditch that thought right now! The power of an influencer lies in the amount of engagement they garner: likes, comments and shares. It’s these things that will ultimately brig new customers to your door.
Video – Short Form Content
We’ve said it before and no doubt we’ll say it again: work on the assumption that your audience is very time poor with the attention span of the average goldfish. They want you to get to the point – not sit through a cinematic production with an Oscar-winning script. Make use of platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram Reels to get your point across. Not sure how? Head over to Tik Tok and take a look at Canva’s feed – you won’t be disappointed! Click here to head to Canva’s Tik Tok.
Mobile Optimisation
It’s no secret that more than half of annual web traffic comes from mobile devices or tablets. Making sure that your website is optimised for mobile devices will enhance the user-experience of all those people who live life on their device, on the go. On the subject of your website, when did you last look at your SEO? 64% of markers believe in the benefits of SEO. For all things web site and SEO, get in touch with the fab team at inLIFE Design.
Permanent Social Media Content
Research has revealed that more marketers are steering away from Instagram and Facebook Stories in favour of good old-fashioned permanent social media content. It’s widely thought that permanent posts on your social media channels give your audience a better opportunity to follow campaigns and promotions.
Think videos, posts that engage and if you’re feeling brave enough, go live every so often!
Social Responsibility
The pandemic has changed the way we all think. Consumers are now, more than ever before, concerned about ethical issues and transparency. Does your business support any causes or charities? Do you have an environmental policy that you can build into your marketing? It’s time to stop blatantly selling and take a thoughtful and effective approach to your audience.
Audio Content
The summer of 2021 saw everyone in marketing waxing lyrical about Clubhouse, the audio-only social media platform. Twitter has also recently launched its ‘Spaces’ platform, which again, is an audio channel. Add into the mix the thousands of podcasts and we think you’’’ get the message! Why not set up your own podcast and invite guests to feature. Take a look at this great ‘Getting Started’ article from Emotive
Eye’s Stuart James – someone who launched his podcast just as lockdown began back in 2020.
Inbound Marketing
Creating a sales funnel to convert leads to sales by offering value is still one of the most effective ways to market your business. Inbound marketing, if done right, will grow your database so that you have a pool of potential clients to engage and interact with, via a series of marketing emails. If you really want to stand
out from the crowd, turn those thoughts towards physically sending something out to grab attention.
The new kid on the inbound marketing block is the Fly Wheel. The core value of the flywheel is excellent
customer service, generated through word of mouth marketing and resolving problems that your clients face every day.
Blogging
Blogging has been around for years, and it’s still the content type that generates the biggest ROI for many
marketers. When writing your blogs remember to be yourself – your audience will love you for your authenticity. Bear in mind that a blog is not a sales letter – it’s a chance to show your authority on subjects within your sector and offer advice and value to your readers. Also, think about SEO when writing your blogs – new content on your website on a regular basis will keep Google happy and help with your organic search rankings too. If you’re not sure where to begin, we’re sure that Wordy Bird Cheryl Turner of Tao Business Solutions would love to find your voice for you!
Case Studies
Have you done something so utterly amazing that you can shout it from the rooftops as a case study? Again, as with blogging, be authentic. If a project had problems talk about them and how you overcame them for your client. Ask the client for a testimonial to include in the article too. Building a library
of case studies on your website and socials will eventually give you an amazing collection of articles for your potential clients to look through before they decide to purchase from you.
Infographics
As we’ve already established, we’re all incredibly time-poor. If you’re looking for an effective way to get
your stats across to an audience, use an infographic to give an instant, easy to read snapshot – so much more preferable than wading through dozens of paragraphs of jargon to find an answer!
Most Marketers Will Focus On 3 – 5 Social Channels
You don’t need to be everywhere, and slowly, marketers are beginning to realise this! Find your sweet spot in terms of where your audience primarily hangs out online, consider how much time your have available to create content – and don’t forget that all-important engagement.
There’s a lot to take in there! We’re guessing you’re a little bit overwhelmed and just about ready to run for the hills. Take a deep breath and get in touch with Golddust Marketing. We have oodles of experience to help you find the right marketing strategy for your business, as well as an army of associates we can put you in touch with to help you reach those goals.
Now let’s go and smash the stuffing out of 2022!