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The digital ecosystem has been continually changing and expanding, particularly since the pandemic began in 2019. From the moment consumers wake up in the morning, companies are trying to sell to them.

But marketing is moving away from static, commercial approaches and toward engaging experiences that benefit customers. As a result, businesses and marketers need to be mindful and adaptable if they want to be successful. Although we cannot predict the future, we can brainstorm the top digital marketing trends for 2022. Separating the true trends from the false is what will set you apart from the rest.

So what are the digital marketing trends that will put your company ahead of the competition?

Video production

We’re sure you’ve heard of the “mobile first” trend that has been accelerating for a few years. And today, with 5G and faster mobile data plans, streaming video on smartphones and tablets is easier than ever. You can record your video anywhere and watch it whenever you want, something that was much more expensive when mobile data plans were limited to megabytes of internet instead of gigabytes.

People love to watch videos; this is how TikTok gained so much popularity. Video production will undoubtedly be one of the biggest digital marketing trends in 2022. If you’re not already producing videos, you should think about expanding your digital focus.

Related Article: 9 Marketing Trends You Need To Get On Board In 2022

“Read the room” in social networks

Have you seen a drop in trust from social media influencers? When it comes to promoting a certain product or boosting brand awareness, influencer marketing has long been the go-to method. This started to change a few years ago and peaked at the end of 2021.

However, the struggles of many Instagram superstars have led to a huge confidence issue. When it comes to endorsements from influencers, people are becoming more and more skeptical. However, this does not mean that influencer marketing is ineffective. It just means that people are more selective about who they trust.

If you want to delve into influencer marketing, we suggest you really do your research on the influencer you want to work with. Pay attention to what is being said in your comments section, don’t just look at your number of followers.

Related: Why So Many Entrepreneurs Don’t Know Their Digital Marketing ROI

Voice search (finally?)

You may remember back in 2019 when tons of marketing experts claimed that voice search was going to be the next big thing. However, it did not take off as they had anticipated.

But you may want to rethink your marketing plan this year and add voice search optimization. Don’t worry. It’s not as difficult as you think. Since search engines like Google still use textual information to deliver results for spoken queries, optimizing for voice search is no different. The only downside is that it results in so-called no-click searches, which can be inconvenient for looking back at pay-per-click (PPC) results.

get personal

We leave a huge amount of data on the Internet. Many of us, in turn, seek hyper-targeted personalization. We cannot ignore this marketing tactic as we discuss digital marketing developments.

Consumers want to see the exact material they want at the exact time. That means tailoring your digital marketing message and delivering it the right way is essential.

The good news is that it is very easy to use more customizable messages. Whether it’s advertising with Google Ads or sending welcome emails with Mailchimp, endless marketing platforms allow for automated personalization.

Don’t forget to segment your users while developing your email marketing plan. Using sophisticated systems, you can create multiple subscription popups and separate consumers into categories based on when and where they subscribed.

Also, don’t just target all of your customers when developing social media advertising. Consider the different types of customers who might be interested in your products and create ad sets that target their tastes.

However, be careful when writing personalized messages. Don’t be too personal. People want relevant ads, but they can be scared off if you show how much you know about them.

Related: 5 Marketing Tips to Boost Content and Promote Your Blog in 2022

Metaverse and VR/AR

Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook’s metamorphosis into Meta in October 2021. The company also announced the development of “Metaverse,” a next-generation social media platform. Will it affect the perception of social life on the Internet and how people consume material on social networks? We are still waiting to find out.

Regardless, you can start laying out the Metaverse plans right now. There is a lot of information about what it will look like, and you don’t need to wait for it to be fully realized to investigate the possibilities of virtual reality and augmented reality marketing. Many applications work with augmented reality that you can access with the camera of your smartphone.

VR and AR marketing will take an even bigger hold on marketing in 2022, as mobile devices become more advanced and VR sets become more affordable.

Now is the time to look to the future and refine the strategies that make the most sense for you and your business. Waiting until these emerging trends are completely mainstream is a sure way to fall behind the competition.