The world of marketing is always changing, but if you have an understanding about where things are headed, then you’ll have a much better chance of success as you plan out this year’s marketing strategy.
From positive customer experiences to the nuts and bolts of SEO and email, we’re diving deep into seven of the top digital marketing trends for 2023.
Seven Digital Marketing Trends You’ll See in 2023
1. SEO will be a key tool to boost traffic.
We’ve preached this from the rooftops, but it bears repeating. You can have the best website and content out there, but if your customers can’t find it, it does you no good. Making sure your content is discoverable is crucial to your traffic ROI. That’s where SEO comes in.
Research by Hubspot, shows that “88% of marketers who have an SEO strategy will increase or maintain their investment in 2023.” And it’s about much more than just making sure you show up on Google, which is still super important by the way!
Businesses are now looking to make sure they are found on sites like YouTube, on in-home voice devices like Alexa and Google Play, in-app stores, on social platforms, and even in various mapping platforms like Google Maps, Apple apps, and Waze. And SEO is the way to make that happen.
2. Email marketing does the heavy lifting for small businesses.
Email marketing is, by far, one of the best marketing methods out there for small businesses, especially when it comes to lead generation. Unfortunately, it’s often an overlooked and underutilized strategy. Almost everybody has an email address, making this digital marketing trend an easy and simple way to connect with your target audience.
From powerful subject lines and leveraging your list segmentation to tracking your open and click-through rates, if email marketing is done right, the return on your investment will be well worth the effort this year.
3. Influencer & content creator marketing will become even more common.
Influencer marketing had a big boon last year and is on track to be one of the hottest digital marketing trends of 2023 as well. Growing brand awareness by getting exposure to the influencer’s audience is huge, and that doesn’t always mean celebrities. Smaller micro-influencers (folks with anywhere from thousands to tens of thousands of followers) can pack just as big of a punch with high engagement.
There’s also the “creator economy,” a space filled with content creators who have a strong voice. As opposed to high-level influencers, these are people like subject matter experts, your employees, or even your own customers. Hubspot found that, “30% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 40% of 25 to 34-year-olds consider themselves content creators.” And with content creator funds popping up on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, this could be worth adding to the marketing budget.
4. Positive customer experiences will be a necessity.
All of the planning and strategizing in the world won’t matter unless the customer has a positive experience. One bad online review, and your business could take a hit. Customer satisfaction should always be at the top of your list because when you get it right, the marketing basically takes care of itself.
With access to information at their fingertips, customers have more power. They can do their own research into the types of products or services you offer. So, you have to give them something more than just info or data. In addition to convenience and a friendly smile, great customer service may include easy payment options, up-to-date technology, a seamless mobile experience, and even images and design that reflect your brand personality.
In addition to being a decent and human thing to do, providing positive customer experiences also makes a lot of sense for your bottom line. Good experiences lead to loyal return customers. According to the management experts at Bain and Company, even a 5% boost in customer retention can increase profits by 23%.
5. Social responsibility will be important to customers.
The buying habits of many consumers today are strongly influenced by their values, and they choose companies that demonstrate a commitment to similar priorities. Marketers must highlight the organization’s social responsibility in their campaigns in order to attract customers who are making discerning and thoughtful choices with their shopping. Some examples may include things like giving portions of your profits to charity, promoting fair trade, or providing recyclable packaging.
6. Representation and inclusivity are a priority.
According to a survey by Facebook, 71% of consumers expect brands to promote diversity and inclusion in their digital marketing strategies. While great strides have been made in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, marketing professionals can always improve.
When you prioritize DEI in your marketing, not only will you be helping to promote the overall diversity and inclusion efforts, but you’ll also reach a wider audience who will hopefully resonate with what you’re doing and want to buy from you.
7. More companies will outsource to digital marketing agencies.
Whether you’re a small local business or a major corporation, outsourcing is a great way to get things done when you don’t have enough in-house resources. A little extra help from trusted experts could be the difference between a lackluster first quarter or an amazing start to the new year.
Digital agencies (like Fly Pages!) make it their business to stay plugged into the world of marketing. They have plenty of insight and knowledge about what works, what doesn’t, and how you can take advantage of the growing digital marketing trends.
If you need help keeping up with the fast-paced, ever-changing world of digital marketing, reach out to speak with one of our Fly Pages experts today!
