The Top Marketing Trends of 2023 and their evolution since 2022.

Staying on top of the current trends is essential for any marketer, regardless of experience level. However, I t is not always easy to keep up with the latest changes. To help businesses in developing cutting-edge and competitive marketing strategies in 2023, the HubSpot Blog polled over 1,000 global marketing professionals and industry experts to identify some of the marketing trends to watch in the coming year.

1. Influencer marketing is going to become a common marketing tactic.

Influencer marketing gained traction in 2022, with 89% of marketers who currently use it planning to increase or maintain their investment the following year. Furthermore, 17% of marketers intend to start investing in it next year. Influencer marketing helps in brand awareness and fan acquisition from the influencer’s own audience.

There is no need to invest in collaboration with well-known bloggers. In fact, over 56% of marketers cooperate with micro-influencers who have no more than tens of thousands of followers. Because of the higher level of engagement, their posts are often more effective. Because micro-influencers are considered “average people,” their audience is more likely to trust their recommendations.

2. The rise of short-form videos.

Short-form video has taken over the marketing world and is expected to continue in 2023. 90% of marketers who use short-form video plan to increase or maintain their investment next year, and 1 in 5 plan to use short-form video for the first time in 2023.

While long-form videos can provide audiences with in-depth information about a product, brand, or service, both B2C and B2B marketers have discovered that getting to the point with short-form videos can be much more effective.

It takes less bandwidth to create such video, and its format corresponds well with the fast-paced attention spans of online audiences across a wide range of demographics. Have you ever wondered why Reels and TikTok are so popular? That is the answer.

3. Social media is becoming a new customer service tool.

Utilizing social media as a customer service tool is a relatively new trend, but it is quickly gaining traction. Direct messages are used by more than a quarter of marketers to provide customer support.This trend is emerging as many social media platforms expand their e-commerce capabilities. As a result, customer service on these platforms will become even more important. It is also worth noting that clients, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, prefer to communicate with brands through DM. According to HubSpot’s 2022 Consumer Trends Survey, 20% of Gen Z and nearly 25% of Millennials have contacted a brand for customer service on social media in the last three months.

4. Mobile optimization becomes crucial.

As millennial and Gen Z audiences’ purchasing power grows, mobile-optimized digital experiences will become even more important to consider.

At the moment, 33% of global marketers invest in mobile web design, while 64% of SEO marketers consider mobile optimization to be an effective investment.

Mobile experiences are important not only on brand websites, but also in other key marketing strategies. For example, 56% of email marketers are focused on providing subscribers with mobile email experiences.

5. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) will slow down in making their way into marketing.

In 2021, 35% of marketers were incorporating AR or VR into their strategies, and nearly half of those marketers planned to increase their investment in 2022.

However, it may fall lower on the list in 2023 as fewer marketers plan to invest in it. More than a quarter (27%) of marketers intend to abandon VR and AR in the coming year.

In general, marketers have been slow to adopt this trend due to the high cost of equipment and bulky headsets. However, as VR glasses and AR apps become more widely available, this could change.

6. More brands will experiment with native ads.

This year, nearly a quarter of marketers planned to use native ads for the first time, and this figure is expected to rise further in 2023. This strategy works: more than 36% of marketers who use native ads believe it is effective, and nearly 50% consider it as their top ROI-generating tactic. When your company pays to have its content featured on a third-party website, you are investing in native ads. Unlike traditional advertising, which is intended to interrupt and stand out, native advertising is intended to blend in and promote your brand to a new audience who would not otherwise be aware of it. Consumers are more likely to look at native ads because they do not “feel” like traditional ads.

7. Case studies will continue to generate leads and establish brand credibility.

Case studies provide prospects with an in-depth and exclusive look at how people or brands benefit from a product or service. Although many marketers, particularly those in B2C industries, do not use case studies, those who do find them useful. Furthermore, the use of case studies in content marketing is increasing: 37% of marketers planned to use case studies in their marketing strategy for the first time this year.

8. Marketers will embrace data visualization through infographics.

45% of marketers who leverage content marketing currently use infographics. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then infographics are even more valuable. They have the shareability and visual appeal of a good photograph, but they also contain a wealth of useful data and information. As a result, they are extremely appealing to both website visitors and social media audiences. According to 56% of marketers who regularly use infographics in their content strategy, they are the most effective type of content.

So, you have some ideas… for now. However, if the thought of keeping up with all of marketing trends and insights overwhelms you, outsourcing your digital marketing to professionals is a good option for you. Klik Digital is here to help. Simply contact us and leave the rest to us.