As the global economy slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, marketers all over the world are looking to the future. The world has changed drastically, and everyone is trying to figure out what comes next. In a field like marketing, that’s more important than ever. Staying on top of upcoming trends is absolutely vital for coming out ahead in a post-pandemic world, so here are a few trends to look for as we move towards 2022.
Hybrid Events are the Future
During the peak of the pandemic, worldwide lockdowns forced pretty much every event to go virtual. While many consumers are excited at the idea of going back into the world and seeing people again, there are also plenty who enjoyed the convenience of attending events from the comfort of their own homes. In the future, marketers will have to cater to both crowds simultaneously, which means hybrid events that blend in-person gatherings with online components. Look into growing technologies like virtual and augmented reality for cues on how to create immersive and exciting events for the people at home on their couches while also providing the in-person experiences that consumers are used to.
Look to Partner with Non-Profits
Even before the pandemic, more and more consumers have been showing a preference for companies who give back instead of just presenting as ruthless capitalists. This means finding non-profits to partner with is going to be more important than ever. It’s actually a win-win for you – giving back will allow you to both grow your business and appeal to ethically-minded consumers while also allowing you to support causes that are close to your heart. Make sure you’re not just finding a cause that you think will appeal to people; being genuine about your charity will attract more customers than a mercenary approach. Corporate sponsorship, affiliate marketing, or percentage of sales donations are a great place to start.
Influencer Marketing is Here to Stay
While many have been predicting the death of online influencer-focused marketing, the trend has only grown as the years have gone on. These days, most major marketing firms are devoting around 20% of their budget to influencer marketing, and that’s not going away. In fact, the market has gone deeper – micro-influencers with small but highly engaged audiences have become increasingly popular, beating out larger influencers with less enthusiastic audiences. Consider investing in AI technology to help you sift through the masses of would-be influencers to help you find the diamonds in the rough. AI-driven influencer marketing offers a great ROI as well, as you only have to pay for the conversions that each influencer produces.
The widespread changes brought on by the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown have upended the marketing world, but they’ve also leveled the playing field to an extent. As everyone searches for the next big trends in marketing, it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re staying ahead of the curve. Everyone working in marketing is already used to adapting to constantly changing trends and markets, so the upcoming challenges should be ones we’re all ready for.
