What internet marketing trend are you expecting to impact small businesses in 2022?
To help you gain insight into which marketing trends will affect small businesses this year, we asked business consultants and marketing professionals this question for their best insights. From an increase in social media usage to the use of live videos, there are several marketing trends that may help your small business prepare for the new year.
Here are 13 marketing trends for small businesses in 2022:
- Increase in Social Media Usage
- AI Chatbots
- Big Data
- Expect More Influencer Marketing
- Hyper-Personalization
- NFTs Will Gain Popularity
- Use Values to Attract Customers
- Invest in SEO
- Blogging for Business
- HR and Marketing Teaming Up
- Niche Newsletters
- Virtual Events
- Live Videos Will Continue to Dominate
Increase in Social Media Usage
It’s hard to overstate just how influential social media influencers are already, and it is reasonable to expect their impact to stay strong throughout 2022. In 2021, influencer marketing proved quite lucrative for the industry, with $13.8 billion spent by companies getting their products to the masses. For those in the travel sector, having bloggers or vloggers working with you in 2022 would be a wise investment.
Randall Smalley, Cruise America
AI Chatbots
One internet marketing trend that we expect to impact small businesses in 2022 is the use of AI chatbots. AI chatbots are a marketing trend that is being used to create a better user experience for customers visiting your website. They can help answer questions about products, provide guidance, and help generate leads for your sales team. This is just one of the aspects of internet marketing that is evolving and using AI to enhance the user experience for your customers. AI chatbots are a great addition to your website and will help you grow your business in 2022.
Chris Gadek, AdQuick
Big Data
In 2022, I expect that the internet marketing trend of big data will have a significant impact on small businesses. Big data is a branch of computer science which deals with large sets of data and predictive analytics. Companies had faced ethical dilemmas as they had to make difficult decisions about how to use their customers’ personal information. With continual advances in technology, society is more comfortable with the idea of having more personal data collected from them for business purposes. The biggest trend impacting small businesses in 2022 will be that of Big Data. Smaller businesses are unlikely to have the resources of bigger ones and hence prone to cyber-attacks. However, the use of Big Data will increase the protection of smaller firms and a better defense against cyberattacks.
Chris Panteli, LifeUpswing
Expect More Influencer Marketing
I expect influencer marketing to have a major impact in 2022. TikTok and Instagram are some of the most popular platforms on which people spend most of their time, and the influencers who dominate them have a lot of say. They are the trendsetters, and they are some of the most effective marketers for products just by using them. Even if you don’t have relationships with influencers, they’re going to impact your business in 2022.
Vanessa Molica, The Lash Professional
Hyper-Personalization
Personalization in marketing has become standard for internet promotions, however, as new tools have become available at affordable rates, hyper-personalization will become a common method for small businesses. Unlike traditional personalization methods which gather information from search engines and previous purchases, hyper-personalization takes data collected from a company’s website to create a potential customer profile.
By examining inter-web site searches, chatbot interaction, or help questions, small businesses can more specifically identify a customer’s interests and then tailor their promotions to them. In doing so, they can reduce costs, increase conversion rates, and increase customer engagement and satisfaction. As digital promotion costs rise, small businesses will turn to hyper-personalization for more targeted and interactive marketing.
Jeff Meeks, EnergyFit
NFTs Will Gain Popularity
I think 2022 will see small businesses start to do more with NFTs to help their marketing – the technology is not widespread yet but we’re seeing some cool applications with small businesses using NFTs to sell unique items, reward customers, and help with building a community. Depending on your industry, NFTs could be worth getting into before your competitors!
Sylvia Kang, Mira
Use Values to Attract Customers
Highlighting what sets your business apart is not new. But more and more consumers are drawn to brands that align with their own values, whether companies have sustainable practices or partner with non-profit organizations. We share our story and company values openly, like our commitment to leading a vegan business with unique jewelry that is ethically crafted. More businesses will call out their values to attract customers to their brands to build more loyal followings.
Nataly Vanunu, Boho Magic
Invest in SEO
In 2022, SEO will continue to be one of the most valuable internet marketing trends. Help your pages reach that first position on search engine results pages by making SEO your yearly focus. Start with on-page SEO then strategize for off-page backlink opportunities to boost your website. We know from experience, SEO makes a world of difference in online visibility. Don’t let another year go by ignoring the benefits of SEO!
Sophia Orlando, Markitors
Blogging for Business
Small businesses will see a positive impact on sales through blogs that will build their digital marketing strategy and grow brand awareness. In this digital world, customers are consumed by media, so producing content that’s timely and relevant will create brand recognition and drive revenue to your business. Companies should consider generating newsletters and blogs to keep up with the trends. Building digital awareness will increase word-of-mouth referrals and reach a larger audience than mainstream advertising strategies.
Dino Ha, Kaja Cosmetics
HR and Marketing Teaming Up
I expect a growing number of HR departments will team up with marketing as it becomes increasingly harder to find qualified applicants. With the tables turned, it’s now a company’s job to market itself to prospective employees. I anticipate HR and Marketing Execs to coalesce around enhancing the employer’s brand and culture in an effort to attract top talent.
Dave Rietsema, Matchr
Niche Newsletters
Niche newsletters allow small businesses to showcase their expertise and value while helping out potential customers. Newsletters can provide how-tos and tips, which are great for open rates on emails. Providing how-tos and tips won’t prevent your customers from calling you for help. Instead, it creates a sense of trust, comfort, and preference in their mind. Your product or service is amazing, customers will like it better than any how-to or tips because your product/service will always save them time and money.
Tyler Vallely, OUTREC
Virtual Events
In 2022, marketers will continue to reach the world online. In response to changing business needs stemming from a changing physical environment, marketers will create virtual events for businesses to reach their target audiences and maintain communication with clients. Major brands have presented new collections and products in recent years through online-only events. As virtual events are more accessible than in-person events, there will still be a place for them in the future, even after we resume traditional types of events. Virtual events are defined as any gathering of people held entirely online. Virtual events can be live or recorded, and they can be as simple as an online presentation or as complex as a thousand user conference. These new technologies are here to stay, and they will undoubtedly grow in our collective consciousness.
Muskan Rai, Web Hosting Advices
Live Videos Will Continue to Dominate
The latest figures from Facebook show that people spend three times longer watching live videos than pre-recorded ones so expect the live video industry to thrive even more in 2022. By itself, video is the most popular way to educate consumers about new products, and adding a live element to it makes the medium more engaging. When watching live videos, people feel they are part of the event or product itself. Going live is also a great way to grab the attention of users on Instagram and Facebook, as it taps into the fear of missing out or FOMO. It’s human nature to want to be the first to know about the latest “in” thing and live videos fulfill that precisely.
Kris Lippi, I Sold My House
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