Every year, out of the mouth of marketers, there’s a popular recurring phrase, “Next year marketing is going to matter”.  The year 2021 has caused those words to be said with greater conviction and belief.  Why is this?  So much has changed since the pandemic which has caused many of us to pivot and rethink how we do marketing.  We’ve had to reimagine every aspect of the process. Whether that’s how we execute the strategies, how we sell, and even in determining who our target customers are.  For marketers who want to achieve success this year or if you are looking for ways to market your business in 2022, this is for you!

During the past decade, it may have been easy to get by with standard or subpar marking methods.  Some of those “no brainers” may have been making ads on social media, blasting your email list with your latest package offering, or awaiting those clicks to possibly yield a harvest.  However, when the Global Pandemic hit hard in 2019, the entire marketing world shifted right in front of our eyes.  It was fast and furious which left many of us scrambling to get things back in monetizing order.

Now that the dust has settled and 2022 is here, there’s a bit more clarity.  With that clarity came a clear vision that everything has changed.  In this article, I’m going to tell you what marketing will be like for your business in the next years to come.  Get ready to understand why I firmly believe that 2022 will be the Year of Marketing.  Keep your eyes glued until the end because I’m serving you tips that will help you bring that ever so popular phrase to life that we heard at the beginning….Next Year Marketing is going to Matter. After all, 2022 is the year for it!

What is Branding?

Simply put, branding is the identity of your business. It distinguishes you from your competitors in terms of name, brand colors, and even vision. Branding creates a positive and strong perception in the mind of your customers.

Here are the main things to look out for in 2022 as well as some tips.

Here are the Tips for 2022:

How to Up Your Personal Branding Game.

Since the world shut down, businesses have started shifting their focus to personal branding rather than just on their business specifically. Why? It’s important to know that people buy people not products or services. People want to know WHO they are buying from. In fact, we can go as far to say that people care less about the “what” and care more about the “who”. The old saying "people do business with who they know, like, and trust" couldn’t be more true as we enter 2022.

‍Here are the Tips for 2022.

It’s time to take your personal brand seriously. Don’t just throw content on your social media wall platforms and see what sticks. You have something to say so don’t half-ass it! One way to make it impactful and intentional is by investing in yourself. Take time to develop a clear vision statement or revisit the one you currently have. Make sure it fits the direction you desire to go. It’s also a good idea to separate your brand guidelines from your company and then create a content strategy.

Sensationalize & Monetize Your Social Media.

Social Media is on everyone's lips and always accessible to their fingertips!  It’s everywhere you go because people continue to join in masses across all social media websites.  With all the buzz and popularity, many still don’t know how to maximize and leverage social media in an effort to monetize their business.  In 2022, expect to see a lot of video and live streaming from social media.  In addition, bigger brands will continue to invest in paid advertising to gain the numbers they need to attract advertisers.  Also, post engagement with prospects will become just as if not more important than post reach for influencers desiring to make money off of sponsored content and youtube videos.  To sum it up, creating engagement and great content will be a huge task for all wanting to soar in 2022.

‍Here are the Tips for 2022.

If you are stuck on posting quotes and just wording, you’re going to have to challenge yourself and get in front of the camera.  You don’t have to be “great” just focus on being “you”.  In today’s climate, people want authenticity and they don’t care how polished you are.  Next, you have to have what I call the three key C’s.  First, it’s your Content that matters, so focus on building good solid information. It needs to be current and something people can put into practice immediately.  Secondly, Confidence is a game changer when it comes to making your content stick.  Practice your delivery and make sure you’re coming across as compelling and as the expert.  Thirdly, schedule to execute Consistently.  Whether you’re doing Instagram reels, TikTok videos, or YouTube shorts, the 3 C’s are sure to help you dominate.

Target Your Advertising.

Over the last year, the digital advertising world has completely changed due to privacy laws and many organizational changes, making it more difficult to monetize in this arena.  This is not going to stop anytime in the future.  In fact, it will continue to change and likely get worse.  With the skyrocketing of CPC (Cost Per Click) , CPL (Cost Per Lead)  and CPA (Cost Per Action),  more and more brands will navigate away from digital marketing and have to find new and unique ways to market. Not to mention, with the "Big Resignation", more people are quitting their jobs to start their own agencies.  That alone will drive more competition in the marketing world.

‍Here are the Tips for 2022:

‍Marketing has held a powerful presence in the digital space. However, we are seeing a transition with a larger focus shifting to arenas like Amazon which causes the demand for quality marketing agencies to go up. Many are vigorously looking for the best ways to utilize their marketing dollars and they simply need help. With that said, make sure to find an agency that will deliver high-quality services while also matching your marketing budget. It’s easy to get caught up with the need to advertise. However, just be sure not to fall into the trap of choosing quantity over quality! Take time to choose the best route. If a company does get you excited about a new 'hot' strategy, just remember that you could sacrifice some of your desires for it. It’s important to know if they are truly trying to help you achieve your goals or are they attempting to just sell you something. The best way to make your decision is to do your research and ask for testimonials.

Do Podcasts but be Intentional and Selective.

In my eyes, the jury is still out on podcasts. In 2021, thousands of people jumped on the podcast bandwagon with little to no results. There was a lot of work being done but not a lot of tangible rewards. Let’s be clear, I am not saying there is no marketing success with the effort put forth in podcasts. What I will caution you to do is ask yourself if you are marketing your business or marketing your podcast? If it's the latter, it’s important to know who you are marketing to. You must be specific and target your avatar accordingly. You might have to be patient and realize there’s a chance you won’t see significant results in your business right away.

‍Here are the Tips for 2022:

‍If your thought is “I have to do something and a podcast seems like my best route”. My advice would be that you consider if it’s the best for your business, time, and energy. Ask an expert to help you determine the right course of action. Before you do, again, know your target audience and have a scheduled plan with great content.

So what does this mean for the future?

It’s inevitable that the world of advertising and marketing will continue to evolve.  With the changes happening at a more rapid speed, having a strategy is key.   If marketing your business is a priority, it’s important to go into 2022 knowing that marketing to your focused audience will need to be drastically different than how it was in years past.  What do I mean?  Future marketing strategies will depend heavily on what's called “meaningful” marketing.  This focuses on providing real value for your audiences.  It’s void of interrupting your potential customers with ads or promoting products.

We are entering into an exciting year and having to pivot from all the changes in 2021.  Widely due to the explosive growth in the digital marketing channels.  Don’t expect to see things slow down any time soon.  With more innovations, 2022 is going to change everything.   Don’t be alarmed, but brace yourself, be proactive, and get ready to face the trends that the marketing sectors are predicting as we even journey into 2025.