Keeping up with the dynamic nature of digital marketing may sometimes seem challenging, but it is crucial to keep up with the fierce competition in the industry. Especially with the advent of a new normal in the context of remote working, there has been a significant increase in social media usage, making it rather impossible to escape from the digital marketing space. 

As we look ahead at what is to come in the new year, we asked a pioneer Google Ads Agency in Dubai, about the upcoming trends in digital marketing in 2022, and here are their insights. 

The Metaverse

The metaverse as you know is simply a virtual world of augmented reality, virtual reality, 3D, holographic avatars, and videos, which is not just a one-off experience like with gaming, but a digital environment where users can work, play and socialize. 

This space is believed to have the potential to offer an entirely new set of performance metrics, where marketers will be able to experiment with how long virtual objects are held, how much space they take up in the user’s peripheral vision, and even where users are looking when experiencing an ad. 

Having the ability to get these insights can completely re-map what a company or brand thinks about their audience, providing invaluable direction going forward. Brands can also benefit from a first-mover advantage by thinking about this virtual space as part of their 2022 marketing strategies.

 Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)

Another marketing trend to watch out for following the metaverse is the need to experiment more with blockchain technology in order to prepare for Web 3.0- a decentralized next evolution of the web. Although this trend is not progressing actively now, preparing for it is expected to pay off in the near future when the web turns more into this nature after 2022. 

One trending aspect of this blockchain is non-fungible tokens (NFT’s), which essentially means it cannot be exchanged for something of equal value because it doesn’t have anything that is closer to its value. This includes digital assets like animation, graphic design, GIF, audio/video file, or meme—that exist on a blockchain.

Especially with brands like Campbell’s, Charmin, and Coca-Cola issuing NFT collectables last year, social media management and advertising firms are urged to figure out how their client brands can tap into these digital assets so they aren’t left behind.

 Cryptocurrency

In a similar pattern, 2022 digital marketing trends are also seen to proliferate cryptocurrencies and savvy marketers are also hoping to apply this trend toward decentralized finance. While cryptocurrency is still only widely used by a niche US audience, accepting cryptocurrency can help brands to attract new customers, if the demographics prove to be the right fit. 

In relation to payment, cryptocurrencies are driving a massive change in line with the biggest processors like Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. This trend is expected to have a big implication on digital and social media marketing where it will alter how the products and services engage with customers. On the other hand, marketers will be eager to align themselves with the potential for this increased demographic reach.

Livestream Commerce 

It is noted that consumers spend three times longer watching live videos than pre-recorded visual content. This trend is partly the reason why many platforms are making a push into what is estimated to be a $70-billion space with speculation to double in 2023. This trend uprooted or rather got a boost from the pandemic which allowed a safe alternative to in-store shopping. The live video format has become an attractive means of digital marketing, specifically when collaborating with influencers who can leverage their following to involve and engage in brand campaigns.