Forbes Technology Council — It’s been said that if you are standing still, you are moving backward. This is especially true today.
Consumers are more informed and often make purchases based on their values. Plus, the constantly evolving digital age has ushered in a whole new way to reach consumers. If you aren’t considering recent trends and new technologies, you risk losing customers to your competitors.
As you plan your marketing strategy for 2023, it is worth thinking about innovative approaches and how adding new tools to your marketing toolbox might impact business. Here’s a look at some of the hottest marketing trends right now and how incorporating one or more of them may help you get the attention you’re looking for.
Influencer culture continues to rise.
Social media is here to stay, and those businesses that can harness its power can potentially get an edge on their competitors. One way to do this is by using influencers—people who have a large following on sites like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or TikTok—to use your products or services and build a buzz about them.
You don’t have to partner with a big-name celebrity for your efforts to pay off. Influencers with a smaller reach are often more valuable to a business if they reach the types of consumers likely to buy your products or service.
A reel is worth a thousand words.
The increasing popularity of Instagram, YouTube and TikTok shows that the best way to get consumers’ attention is to give them something to look at. Facebook Reels in particular grew by 220 million users between July and October of 2022, and TikTok’s 732 million users are expected to continue growing.
People may ignore large blocks of text, but they will pause to watch a video. You can provide more information in less time by using moving graphics or short videos in your social media posts and on your website.
Take advantage of user-generated content.
When a customer posts an online review of your business or shares something you’ve posted on social media, that’s user-generated content. When someone outside your business praises it, it can carry more weight with customers as opposed to you blowing your own horn.
Take advantage of this trend by suggesting customers post pictures of themselves enjoying your product/service on their social media feeds and then link to your business’s own social media. Also, encourage satisfied customers to review your business on sites like Google or Yelp.
Email is still an efficient engagement method.
Just because it’s been around for a while doesn’t mean that email is not an important part of your digital marketing toolbox. According to research by marketing software developer HubSpot, the average return on investment for email marketing is $36 for every dollar spent. Projections show that by 2025, there will be 4.6 billion daily email users.
An email is a way to connect directly to current customers. By personalizing the email based on their past purchases, you have an even better chance of keeping them engaged.
Direct mail continues to make an impact.
Your 2023 plan shouldn’t rely totally on digital marketing. One of the earliest forms of business-to-consumer marketing, direct mail, will continue to make an impact in 2023. The latest data from the United States Postal Service show that 73% of all households read their mail daily.
This tried-and-true method of reaching consumers where they live is even more valuable when combined with the technology available today. It allows you to target specific consumers who are likely to patronize your business. For instance, if you run a school or day care, you can target families with children. Local businesses have been very successful using new-mover marketing campaigns to encourage new residents to become their customers.
Combine strategies for an omnichannel approach.
Whatever strategies you decide on for your 2023 marketing plan, remember that they need to all work together to present a consistent brand. The first step to this is making sure your branding, audience and goals are clearly defined. Companies that try to be all things to all people sometimes fail to make an impact.
Next, communicate the specifics to your marketing team. They must understand exactly what you are trying to do so they can in turn get your message out to the public. When you are laying out your marketing plan, don’t compartmentalize it. If it’s to work properly, it needs to be represented by a circular flow.
For instance, your emails and direct mail should send recipients to your social media sites where you’ve shared user-generated content. This way, each campaign reinforces the next, increasing the likelihood that consumers will remember you when it’s time to decide which business to patronize.
The bottom line is that your marketing strategy needs to be reviewed regularly to make sure it is growing and changing along with your business. By staying abreast of the latest trends, you will best position your company to catch the attention of the consumers who may one day become your customers.
Article by Forbes Technology Council Member and President/CEO/CTO of Our Town America, Michael Plummer Jr. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives.
Brittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations.
