Digital marketing trends can offer ideas and inspiration for connecting with new audiences, building trust, and expanding your brand’s reach. By exploring and testing new trends, you can help your brand stay relevant and deliver great user experiences.
In your search for the latest digital marketing trends and techniques, you may have noticed this recurring theme: Technology is changing consumer behavior and expectations.
A quick glance at the online presence of your competitors and industry leaders is enough to tell you that aligning with developments in marketing technology is essential to survive.
That’s why businesses are always looking for new ways to engage online audiences and encourage sales. This steady evolution is shaping the digital marketing trends we see today.
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Either through studying the trends or your own personal experiences online, it’s likely that you’ve picked up on some interesting new choices being made in digital marketing today.
Have you noticed the 5 developments below?
5 digital marketing trends to explore in 2023
1. More businesses are writing the way people talk rather than how they type.
When companies update their websites, one of their priorities now is making the copy more engaging. Being more conversational in their approach is one way they do this.
Why is this happening?
Because voice search is on the rise. The select few results that show up through a voice search are more likely to have a conversational tone than they are to simply include basic key phrases.
What can you do?
Choose your long-tail keywords carefully. As often as possible, phrase things the way a person would say them in conversation. The objective is to create content that voice search would prefer.
2. You’ve been meeting more chatbots lately.
Users are getting increasingly comfortable with chatbots. This is encouraging more businesses to get onboard and invest in this digital marketing trend.
Why is this happening?
Because Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and because chatbots are great for budgets. They can take a huge load off of human representatives when it comes to answering data-related queries.
With basic queries handled by chatbots, customer service teams can focus on more complex queries and improve customer satisfaction. In fact, many users would prefer a quick response from a bot to waiting 24 hours or more to hear back from a human customer service representative.
What can you do?
Research. As mentioned, chatbots can serve as a great way to strengthen your customer service, but it is advisable to look into whether or not you really need them. Find out what they can to do improve—rather than replace—your current efforts.
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3. AR is becoming every day.
In 2016, many of us tried to “Catch ‘Em All” with Pokémon Go. Since this Augmented Reality (AR) mobile game took the world by storm, we’ve seen many more AR apps and features released. AR mode on Google Maps is one you may be familiar with.
In advertising as well, AR is gaining popularity. Here’s how Burger King put this into practice.
Why is this happening?
Because it enhances the user experience and engages users. Consequentially, it can boost your online sales, especially when the user can get a feel for your product virtually while they’re making a purchase decision.
What can you do?
Overall results from AR ads are improving and the AR market is projected to grow from USD 6.12 billion in 2021 to USD 97.76 billion in 2028.
With social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube investing in AR, it’s clear that integrating such experiences into your online activities is worth exploring, especially with the metaverse gaining interest and popularity. Keep reading to learn why it’s time to start exploring the metaverse.
Whether you want to start small by trying out existing features on social media, or go big with a full-blown AR campaign, there are plenty of ways to use AR to connect better with existing and potential customers.
4. You’re hearing a lot about the metaverse
The metaverse is set change how we interact with technology. It can be viewed as an extension of the internet—an immersive one, i.e., something we are in, rather than something we view.
Why is this happening?
Because, as technology evolves, businesses are exploring innovative ways to stay relevant. In terms of digital marketing trends, the metaverse is opening up new possibilities for delivering memorable customer experiences, promoting products and services, building more effective teams, and growing brands.
What can you do?
While experts say that widespread adoption may take time, brands have started experimenting to engage consumers in new and exciting ways. Here are a few things brands can do in the metaverse:
- Open virtual stores and showrooms, in which users can explore products virtually
- Host or sponsor virtual events
- Offer enhanced customer service
- Sell NFTs, for example selling collectibles the way Nike and Coca-Cola have done
Businesses in your industry may already be investing in the metaverse, so it’s a good time to start exploring the possibilities for your brand!
5. People across your network are sharing more short-form videos
Short-form video content is growing in popularity rapidly, making it a digital marketing trend that brands won’t want to overlook.
Why is this happening?
Because, as attention spans get shorter and the volume of content available across platforms grows, people are choosing content that delivers what they’re looking for in an engaging, efficient way.
Whether it’s casually scrolling on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, or looking for specific information, people like short videos that entertain and inform. Such content gets shared easily and widely across personal and professional networks, too.
What can you do?
When you create videos to promote your products, services, and brand, remember that both long- and short-form videos have a place in your strategy. For example, engaging, information-rich long-form videos—such as explainers, sales videos, and product demos—can deliver valuable information, while short-form videos can engage and offer quick insights.
Keep an eye on technology, but don’t forget the basics
Digital marketing is constantly changing and evolving. It’s important to stay up-to-date on current digital marketing trends, so you can keep up with your competitors.
That said, as you explore new digital marketing trends, continue to maintain and grow the foundational, essential components of a successful strategy, such as:
- An impactful website with state-of-the-art UI/UX features
- Up-to-date social media channels that grow community engagement and build your brand
- SEO optimization
- High quality sales & marketing collateral to inform and engage potential customers
Technology can offer you a myriad of ways to surprise and delight your target audience. Before you dive in and invest, however, be sure to do your research and identify the options most relevant to you and your audience, keeping ROI in mind.
Our creative experts can help you connect with your target audience effectively, through content and visuals that will appeal to them, in line with today’s digital marketing trends. Let’s discuss your digital marketing goals for 2023!
Blog updated on March 17, 2023.
