What does content marketing look like this year? What trends will continue to dominate? We break down the major trends that will shape content marketing in the next decade.

So what does content marketing look like this year? Let's explore the 9 biggest content marketing trends of 2022.

1. Marketers are using a wider range of content types.  In the past, marketers were mostly focused on text-based content such as text-only ads and e-mail marketing. But now, marketers are using a wider range of content types including video, images, social media, and so forth. These new content types help you to engage your target audience better.

2. Brands are leveraging AI and machine learning. This means that they are using technology to automate their business process and make the whole process more efficient. AI and machine learning technology have the ability to analyze large volumes of data and find patterns. This is how brands can identify consumers' habits, preferences, trends, and even purchase intentions. Brands use this information to develop better content marketing strategies and product offerings. It is not enough for them to have a beautiful website. People nowadays look for information on the Internet. If they can't find something on their mobile phone, they will ask a friend to find the answer for them. Brands that provide great content are the ones that will win the hearts of their customers.

3. The Rise of Live Video Streams. It was always difficult to find an audience for your live stream. In fact, even though live streams were becoming popular, there was no way to ensure that you would have an audience while streaming. Now, that is changing. More and more people are starting to use live video streams to share their moments anywhere even just by using their smartphones.

4. Online Shopping becomes a Part of Our Daily Lives. In the past, people used to shop online only for books. Nowadays, online shopping has become a way of life. The convenience of doing your shopping online is unparalleled. You can buy a book, clothes, groceries, furniture, and more in one place. With online shopping, you can save time. You don't have to travel around to various stores. Instead, you can do your online shopping in the comfort of your own home. Just imagine, you don't have to wait for hours in a long line to buy a book, and you don't have to travel from store to store. All you need to do is to visit the website and click on the items that you want to buy. As soon as you click on the purchase button, your order will be sent to the website, and the products will be delivered right to your door. 

5. Brands focus on the Stories of Their Consumers. Brands often make commercials or advertisements with stories of their consumers. For instance, if you want to buy a specific type of product, you may watch a video testimonial that tells you how much people love that product and that product helps them to solve their problems. In this way, brands tell you about their products and what their products can do. There are many ways that brands can communicate with their consumers. This is one of the most popular methods nowadays.

6. The World of AR and VR is Taking Off. Augmented reality (AR) is the technology that combines virtual objects with the real world. While Virtual reality (VR) is a totally immersive experience that puts you inside a simulated reality. Good examples of VR being applied are in 3D movies, video games, virtual meetings, and medical training. Meanwhile, Augmented Reality has been around for a long time. But the technology to use it has only been available to very few people. Now, that is changing. Augmented Reality has made it possible to enhance the world with digital information. You can now wear devices such as the Oculus Rift and see virtual images in the real world. But some AR uses are quite easy. A very simple example would be placing a picture of a restaurant on Google maps so that you could look at that restaurant from anywhere in the world.

As you look toward the year 2023, you’ll find these 5 trends will continue to play a pivotal role in content marketing.

1. Online video content will continue to play a huge role in content marketing. And for good reason. Consumers are consuming more video content than ever before, and marketers who are not embracing it risk being left behind. In fact, according to a recent report from the Digital Content NewFronts, online video is now the second most popular form of content consumed by US consumers (behind only text). This is a huge opportunity for marketers.

Video content is also a great way to get your customers engaged with your brand and develop brand loyalty.

2. The rise of the conversational interface will bring new relevance to the content. The rise of conversational interfaces like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant will create a new relevance for the content. People will start creating their own content. They'll talk about what they want to buy, what they think, and how they feel. Influencer marketing will be a major force in the new digital age. Conversational interfaces are a big opportunity for marketers.

3. Content marketing will be more customer-centric, and less focused on the brand. The best marketers of the future will be the ones who learn to adapt their content to different customer needs. The digital era is all about the customer experience. Marketers are increasingly being judged on the performance of the products and services they create for customers, not on how much they spend on advertising and PR. As a result, the emphasis is shifting from traditional advertising towards creating high-quality, relevant content that customers find useful and enjoyable.

4. Social media will move to the forefront of content marketing efforts in the years to come. All because social media is free, easy to use, and engaging.

5. The shift to mobile will continue. There’s no doubt that smartphones are rapidly becoming the primary way people access the Internet. The growth of smartphone usage has been incredible, and it continues to accelerate as users get more comfortable with their devices and less concerned with the limitations of laptops and PCs. And while smartphones are now used for almost everything, they have a lot of room to grow in terms of the types of things they can do.

Takeaway

From SEO to automation and personalization, content marketing is in the midst of an incredible evolution, and we expect it to continue to change. Content marketing, and content strategy more broadly, are also becoming increasingly critical in our day-to-day lives. With the rise of content consumption on mobile devices and on the web, the importance of high-quality content is growing exponentially. And as consumers become increasingly comfortable sharing their opinions on social media, companies are taking notice. This shift means that companies must embrace digital content and content strategy as critical tools in their overall marketing strategies.