2021 Digital Marketing Trends in Review and What’s in Store for 2022 - a podcast by Dan Nedelko

Is it just us, or did 2021 go by really fast?

We are excited to share new digital trends that alter how we market our products and services each year.That excitement didn't stop because 2021 was no exception to just how quickly the industry could evolve.

With 2022 right around the corner, we will count down new trends to help businesses build competitive strategies.We will also look back at 2021 and the trends that occurred.

Let's get started!


2021 PredictionsHere's what we predicted for 2021:

Shoppable Social MediaLead Generation
BootcampsCalculators
Brand Awareness (Snackable Video)Email
Facebook Groups for EngagementChatbots&Messaging
GamificationVoice Search



 What Trends Occurred?
The effects of the pandemic will continue to impact marketers in 2022.Pandemic-Based Shift in Consumer Behavior
Continued Digital TransformationMore Live Videos and Webinars
Digital Ad Spend Spike ContinuesDoubling Down on SEO



 What's in store for 2022!
Augmented RealityAR uses digital technology to overlay information in video, text or image format onto everyday objects in the real world. 



Benefits of AR for Digital MarketingBrand Awareness
Rise in EngagementImproved Customer Experience
Bringing Digital into Real WorldHeadless Commerce
Headless commerce separates the back-end infrastructure from the front-end of an e-commerce application.You can build new selling opportunities anywhere; all managed from a central location.



Benefits include: Helps build better customer experiences
Saves time on user interface changesOffers simplicity to access and updates
React to marketing trends quickerHybrid Events  
Hybrid events will be the new normal. Such hybrid events are also handy solutions when many of your attendees typically attend in person can’t.



Benefits of Hybrid Events:Increased Attendance
Enhanced Content EngagementIncreased Sponsorship Value

Rise of Short-Form ContentShort-form content is often more shareable. It stands out from long-form content because it promises value with a smaller investment in time. That’s appealing to readers.



Benefits of Short-form content -Increased Shareability
Mobile friendlyImproved readability
Better engagementGrowth of First-Party Data 
First-party data is at the top of the agenda for marketers in 2021 and 2022.Marketers know that first-party data garner the highest return on investment of any data type.



Benefits of First-Party DataImprove performance/ROI
Accuracy and data qualityLends to more precise targeting
Improved measurement and attributionVisual Search
Google Lens&Pinterest lets users recognize objects and landmarks through a camera app.



Here’s what you can do when you take a photo of the following items:Apparel and home goods: Find similar products and where to buy them.
QR Code: Use a barcode to find info about a product, like where to buy it.Business card: Save the phone number or address to a contact.
Event flyer or billboard: Add the event to your calendar.Content Creation and Repurposing
We believe that content repurposing will increase in importance across various channels.Short-form videos content is increasing in popularity; with the rise of TikTok and the introduction to YouTube Shorts in 2021,  

Not only does repurposing reach new audiences, but it is also beneficial for people who absorb information in different ways: videos, podcasts, infographics, etc.Storytelling>Advertising
Advertising will continue to shift to a more personal approach where companies become increasingly transparent and authentic with their audiences (rather than a BUY NOW approach). 



 How might companies do this?

Offer behind-the-scenes content, demonstrate their values,

Further episodes of Digital Marketing from the Trenches Live at the Hive

Further podcasts by Dan Nedelko

Website of Dan Nedelko