As a new year begins, we must stay updated with current and upcoming digital marketing trends. If you own a small business, you must adapt to new technologies and strategies to stay ahead in today’s competitive market.
Here are the digital marketing trends you need to know for this 2023:
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is not new, but it will keep playing a substantial role in digital marketing this 2023. For example, 93% of digital marketers use influencer marketing to increase brand awareness, reach their target audience, build trust, drive conversions, connect with a broader audience, and more.
Building long-term influencer relationships with brand ambassadors can be essential to reach and connecting with your target audience. These relationships are mutually beneficial for both parties. They allow your business to develop long-term relationships with its favorite influencers. In return, they may maintain trust with their followers by advocating for the same brand over time.
User Generated Content
Many small businesses struggle to produce content that engages their target audience. Here is where user-generated content comes in.
User-generated content refers to unique and brand-specific content created by customers rather than brands. Anyone can be a content creator, including customers, employees, or even experts in your industry.
30% of people aged 18 to 24 and 40% of those aged 25 to 34 consider themselves content creators. Because anyone can contribute user-generated content, including it in your marketing strategy can boost your brand’s legitimacy to new heights.
Consumers trust user-generated content 2.4 times more than brand-created content, demonstrating that 2023 should be the year to promote authenticity in your marketing strategy.
Video Marketing
Short-form video content is becoming an integral part of social media marketing. Small businesses should include short videos in their content strategy because they can attract the attention of their target audience for more extended periods than regular static posts.
90% of digital marketers using short-form video content aim to raise or maintain their investment next year, while 1 in 5 plan to use it for the first time this 2023.
Digital marketers will continue to use bite-sized videos, such as TikToks or Instagram Reels, to boost engagement and increase brand recognition among millennials and Gen Z.
Customer Experience
Every year businesses must work towards meeting increasing customer expectations. Nowadays, customers expect a seamless experience, from being interested in your product or service to deal with customer service post-purchase.
As a small business, it is essential to understand the user experience of your clients. Developing a customer journey map can be a great way of helping you achieve this.
A customer journey map illustrates how consumers act, think and feel during their purchasing process. It can be a valuable tool to help you develop a unified experience.
Although 73% of US consumers believe that customer experience is a significant factor in their purchasing decisions, only 49% of individuals believe that today’s businesses deliver a positive experience.
Many of today’s consumers consider efficiency, convenience, friendly and knowledgeable service, and simple payment methods essential to their customer experience.
However, to offer the best customer experience in our current digital environment, you must step it up. Consider personalization, technology trends, brand design, and a simple mobile experience to stay ahead of the competition and deliver your clients the best customer experience possible.
Conversational Marketing
Conversational marketing continues to grow this 2023.
Customers want to refrain from speaking with someone reading from a script. Instead, they want assistance tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. They also want quick responses. Therefore, more and less formal communication channels, like DMs and chatboxes, are required.
Conversational marketing uses targeted messages and AI automation, such as chatbots, to engage with customers on your website. This digital marketing tool helps eliminate the waiting time for a response and allows prompt solutions for your customers through instant messaging.
Conversational marketing employs artificially intelligent chatbots that use natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms that enable a two-way conversation between your business and website visitors.
Corporate Social Responsibility
In 2023, it has become clear that modern customers value transparency, ethics, and social responsibility.
89% of digital marketers who develop social responsibility content intend to raise or maintain their spending in 2023, nearly doubling from the previous year.
Additionally, 40% of Millennials and 50% of Generation Z want businesses to take a stand on social problems such as racial justice, gender inequity, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change.
When businesses fight for these concerns, it significantly impacts customer purchasing decisions. Therefore, for small businesses, it is essential to start integrating more inclusive initiatives, offers, and promotions into their digital marketing strategy.
Conclusion: 2023 Digital Marketing Trends
Even if you know some of the current digital marketing trends for this upcoming year, staying up-to-date with emerging tools and strategies is essential.
Influencer marketing, user-generated content, video marketing, customer experience, conversational marketing, and social responsibility are our top picks for 2023 digital marketing trends. How will you implement these trends into your digital marketing plan this year?
