Can you believe it’s been seven whole months since we shared our predictions for 2022 marketing trends with you?!
If you’re anything like us, you might feel like the first half of the year has flown by — but we want to make sure these top trends for 2022 don’t do the same! Although each of the 25 trends we talked about in December have made an impact in nearly every successful marketing strategy out there, we want to take a closer look at the top FIVE trends for you to focus on for the second half of the year.
Instagram Reels are REEL-y important!
We’ve been saying it for years, but it’s still true: video, by far, gets more exposure and engagement across all social media platforms. This is because users love video, so all video content typically performs best with most algorithms – after all, it captures a viewer’s attention for longer, which keeps people on the platform longer.
Instagram Reels are the latest hot trend for businesses, brands, and influencers. By posting Reels consistently, Instagram’s algorithm will prioritize ALL of your content, which will increase your account’s visibility and lead to more engagement. As long as your content is relevant to your business and appropriate for your unique brand, the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing the right topic.
We did a deep dive on this trend in a recent blog – if you’re ready to add Instagram Reels into your social media strategy for the second half of the year, we’ve got you covered!!
Inclusiveness is here to stay
A lot of strategic elements for your business fall under the category of inclusiveness. To make sure you can make the most out of this key trend, we’ve taken a close look at what we see as the top three sides of inclusivity:
Representative language & graphics: This trend has been on our radar for several years, as the global awareness of the importance of representation in images, icons, video, and voiceover has increased. We’re thrilled that this trend is only growing in strength and popularity! Inclusiveness in design is a great place to start – connect with your customers by choosing graphics that represent the diversity of your audience.
Digital Accessibility: We saw this incredibly fast shift to go digital at the start of the pandemic. Many retailers and restaurants, for example, rushed to create websites so they could offer expanded services online. But now they need to circle back — and make sure their digital space is just as accessible as their brick and mortar. Not only is this the right thing to do, it’s also legally required for businesses to be accessible, including virtual spaces. Ensuring your digital spaces are accessible to all customers includes paying attention to elements like level of contrast, readability, alt-text for images, accessibility to the voice-over systems, and the ever-increasing use of voice search.
Social Responsibility: Over the last few years, social responsibility moved from trend to necessity — because it’s what customers want! Consumers and employees now expect brands to take a stand on doing good things in this world. Bringing awareness to the causes you support will help you become more marketable and stand out in the marketplace.
Meet your buyers where they are
Diversifying your resources into a multichannel marketing strategy maximizes opportunities to recruit and retain clients, spread your brand awareness, and reach a broader audience. Everyone has their preference for where they go for purchasing, so use your insider knowledge of your audience to determine what channels you should be utilizing in your marketing efforts. If you’re not sure exactly where to find your audience, developing a buyer persona is a great place to start!
Hybrid events are here to stay
Speaking of meeting your audience where they are, if you’re planning an event for 2022, your audience is likely in person AND online! Hybrid events are particularly important when planning large-scale activities, for safety, inclusion and accessibility, expanded outreach, selection of speakers, and return on investment. Wondering how to network in a hybrid environment? Check out this webinar so that you can meet-and-greet with confidence.
Bold is (still) back
Bold, bright colors and backgrounds that pop off the page have made a strong showing in 2022. For quite a while, minimalist styles and muted colors have been dominating the graphic design sphere, but eye-catching shades are making a push to center stage. Remember the look of a classic 90’s website, with pops of neon green, orange, and purple? The nostalgia of that classic mood is driving the desire for bold colors in our design palettes. If you’re looking for a way to infuse your Instagram feed or marketing material with a burst of energy, incorporating some vivid shades into your visual aesthetic is a sure-fire way to get noticed.
Whether you add one, two, or all five of these powerful marketing trends into your plans for the rest of 2022, we can’t wait to see how your marketing strategy grows!
Looking for even more future-focused intel? Our exciting summer webinar series is underway, covering all the key topics you need to know to implement a powerful marketing strategy for the remainder of 2022 – and beyond! Register today to add all the upcoming sessions to your calendar, and head here to catch any you might have missed! And if you need more immediate help with these or any other marketing trends, reach out today to connect with our team.