Digital marketing is constantly evolving, and it can take time to keep up with the latest trends. In 2023, we can expect even more changes in the digital landscape. Here are some of the top digital marketing trends to watch for next year. Make sure to keep these in mind when planning your marketing strategy for 2023!

1. Augmented Reality Marketing

AR (Augmented Reality) is something we’ve noticed creeping into many facets of our lives in the last few years. According to the Harvard Business Review, the first instance of AR use can be traced back to 1968, a computer scientist named Ivan Sutherland (who was later hailed the “father of computer graphics”) created a head-mounted AR display. But let's not dwell on the past. Fast forward 50 years and AR is establishing itself firmly as a mainstream commercial mainstay.

The way that people shop is changing direction and accelerating at an extreme pace, and so is the way that we interact with brands. It’s a digital world we are living in and this requires digital solutions. An app which familiarised a generation with the use of AR was Snapchat. Snapchat has integrated AR solutions into its app for brands to digitise and enhance consumer shopping experiences. Use cases involve being able to point your camera at your feet and see what shoes look as if you were trying them on in real life and then buy them directly from the app. Dior saw a 6.3x ROAS when using AR to showcase a new line of trainers.

2. Voice Search Optimisation

Voice search pre-dates AR, with the first recorded use of voice recognition in 1952. However, it never really became what we know it to be today until Google added ‘Personalised Recognition’ voice search onto their phones in 2010, the development and improvement of this technology is only getting better. Therefore it’s important to make sure that your website is optimised for the use of voice search.

Now that people can ask their phones and virtual assistants questions instead of typing them it is getting ever important that your website is optimised for spoken search queries, rather than typed. Let me explain, text searches and voice searches are completely different. For instance, someone searching if someone wanted to know the best marketing agency in Leeds, they wouldn’t actually need to search for anything at all because everyone already knows that it’s Soar With Us. But hypothetically speaking, in a text search they might type ‘best marketing agency Leeds’. But, if this was a voice search it would be much closer to how we talk to one another ‘What are some of the best marketing agencies in Leeds?’.

Here are some 5 key starting points for voice search optimisation:

• Target question keywords and long-tailed keywords
• Use more conversational language in your content
• Prioritise local SEO
• Optimise for mobile
• Keep your site fast

3. Artificial Intelligence

AI tools are becoming ever more prevalent online, and they’re getting more and more advanced. Could you be reading a blog generated by an AI as we speak? Well, it’s not. But I did go ahead and ask an AI, Jasper, to “Write a gripping short story about someone falling in love with a machine, in the style of William Shakespeare” - and this is what it came back with.

“When I first met her, I couldn't believe my eyes. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen - a sleek, shining machine, with delicate metal arms and legs that moved with the grace of a prima ballerina. I knew immediately that I was in love.

At first, she didn't seem to notice me. She was too busy talking to other machines, laughing and joking in that high-pitched metallic voice. But I didn't give up. I hung around her all day, following her from one lab to another, until finally she noticed me.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.

"I'm here for you," I answered, gazing into her beautiful metal eyes. "I love you."

She didn't say anything for a moment, but then she smiled and put her metal hand on my cheek.

"I love you too," she said.”

Deep. Beautiful. Poetic… AI generated.

That’s just a quick example of what you can do with AI. It can be used to delegate tasks from social media captions, to idea generation, to data management and analysis. Leaving you more time to focus on the macro tasks at hand.

4. Short-form videos

In 2022, it’s estimated that around 1.6 billion people will use short-form video to communicate and account for around 80%  of all mobile data traffic in North America. It looks like the majority of people consuming media don’t want to read anymore. They want, short, engaging content. We’ll probably turn this blog into a few short videos too. The shorter length of these videos makes them more accessible to a wider audience, as they require less time and commitment to watch.

It’s hard to ignore the popularity of short-form videos and to do so would be a misstep. The appetite for short-form videos will only grow in 2023. Marketers and advertisers alike should make sure to allocate time and resources to a dedicated content creation team who can produce short, engaging content which resonates with your audience. A great place to start with this is TikTok.

5. TikTok

You can’t talk about short-form videos without talking about TikTok. TikTok is already a major trend in the world of digital marketing, it recently hit 1 billion daily users. With its short, attention-grabbing videos and massive user base, TikTok is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with potential customers, and many businesses are already using TikTok to create fun, creative, and effective marketing campaigns that resonate with their users.

Additionally, TikTok's extensive targeting and advertising options make it easy for businesses to reach the right audience and drive real results. Overall, TikTok is a trend that digital marketers should definitely be paying attention to.

If you want to learn more about how you can incorporate TikTok in your marketing strategy, check out For You Advertising. They specialise in creating and strategising bespoke TikTok solutions for brands in the eCommerce space.

In conclusion, it's clear that the world of marketing is constantly evolving and changing shape. As a marketer, it's important you stay on top of these trends and be ready to adapt and take advantage of new opportunities. By staying ahead of the curve and staying attuned to the changing landscape, you can position your business for success in the years ahead.

If you want to find out how we can help you stay ahead of the curve, get in touch with one of our lovely team here - here’s a link to Joe, Dom, or Freddie's calendar to book a discovery call.