Everything evolves: humans, the internet, and the way marketing works. It’s important for business owners to always stay up to date with the digital marketing landscape to stay ahead. 

To help you get through the second half of 2023, we’ve researched some of the latest digital marketing trends that can help you connect with your target audience, boost brand visibility, and drive business growth.

In this article, we’ll explore the top digital marketing trends you should keep an eye on. 

10+ Top Digital Marketing Trends for Business Owners

Here are some of the trends that will be turning things around for your business in 2023:

1. Voice Search Optimization:

Many consumers now use voice search with the aid of smart speakers and virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. 

How does this have to deal with small business owners? 

You have the opportunity to optimise your website and content for voice search to improve your chances of appearing in voice search results. Find the keywords/phrases people are likely to use when speaking and incorporate them into your website. 

For example, someone who wants Pizza might say, “Hey Siri, find me the best pizza place near me.” In this case, “best Pizza places near me” is a great keyword to incorporate into your website. 

2: Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is a great strategy to reach your target audience through trusted individuals in your industry or niche. Small businesses need to collaborate with creators with a fanbase to build brand awareness, increase credibility, and generate authentic engagement. 

3: Social Media Marketing: TikTok

TikTok is currently one of the top players in social media marketing, and it’s forecasted to see an increase in active users and revenue. The platform is valuable for creating relatable and relevant content, running targeted ads, and engaging with followers. In addition, TikTok launched a Creator Marketplace where brands can find influencers who can represent their brand and boost awareness. 

4. Video, Video, Video

Video content continues to dominate the digital landscape making it a great strategy to inform, connect, and capture the attention of online users. In 2022, Cisco reported that 82% of its website traffic was from videos. Keep incorporating video into your marketing campaigns in different forms, like live streaming, product demos, customer testimonials, or behind-the-scenes footage. 

Videos are very engaging and can enhance brand storytelling which explains why 86% of businesses use them as part of their strategy. 

5. Personalisation and Customer Experience:

A study by McKinsey & Company revealed that 71% of consumers expect companies to deliver personalised messages from brands they like. Tailoring your marketing messages to individual customers will impact their engagement and loyalty. A good way to achieve personalised content and recommendations is by leveraging customer data and segmentation. You can also take advantage of marketing automation tools to create personalised email campaigns based on customer behaviour and preferences.

6. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning 

The popularity of ChatGPT is enough proof that AI and Machine Learning have great potential to improve the tasks of business owners. AI will continue to evolve, and more tools will be launched to enhance the marketing strategies of companies. Taking advantage of these tools is important as they can help businesses automate tasks, improve content, and personalise customer’s experience. 

7. Augmented Reality (AR) Marketing:

With online businesses becoming more mainstream, companies are using  AR technology to provide interactive and immersive experiences to their audience. 

AR technology allows businesses to offer virtual try-on experiences, showcase products in 3D, or create gamified experiences to engage and entertain customers. For example, if you own a furniture store, you can develop an AR app that allows customers to view how different pieces of furniture would look in their homes before making a purchase.

8. Chatbots and AI-Powered Customer Support:

A lot of companies now have Chatbots incorporated into their website to provide efficient and personalised customer support. 

Implement chatbots on your website and social media platforms so customers can easily receive instant support, product recommendations, and order tracking. 

9. Social Commerce:

Social media like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook has evolved from just a place to catch up with friends to a mini e-commerce space. 

Business owners can now incorporate their stores on social media platforms so that customers can browse and purchase products without leaving the app. You can also take advantage of social commerce features like shoppable posts, product tags, and integrated payment options for effectiveness. 

10. Interactive Content:

Many customers enjoy and engage more with interactive content such as quizzes, polls, games, surveys, and videos. This type of content allows people to participate with your brand. More and more businesses are integrating interactive content into their strategy to increase engagement, improve search rankings, and create memorable customer experiences. This trend is a great strategy for brands to become more relevant and won’t disappear anytime soon. 

For example, as a skincare brand, you can create an interactive quiz to help customers identify their skin type and recommends suitable products based on the results.

11. Social Media Stories:

Stories on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat provide temporary but immersive content that resonates with users. Incorporate stories into your social media strategy to showcase behind-the-scenes moments, product launches, and promotions, and engage with your audience in real-time. You can also share your social media content on stories to increase visibility. 

12. User-Generated Content (UGC):

UGC has become a powerful marketing tool, building trust and authenticity and encouraging engagement. Encourage your customers to create and share content related to your brand, products, or services. Repost and showcase UGC on your website and social media platforms, creating a sense of community around your brand.

13. Automation Tools

According to Gartner, companies with IT teams that understand customer needs and rely on automation tools will outperform other companies’ customer experience metrics by 20%. 

One of the biggest trends for the rest of the year is using automation and marketing tools to manage customer relations, social media, email marketing, advertising, etc. 

Conclusion:

There you have it! With these 13 digital marketing trends, small business owners can gain a competitive edge and effectively reach their target audience. 

Note that not every trend will suit your business, so start with those that align with your brand values, goals, and target market. Experiment, track results, and refine your digital marketing strategy for the rest of 2023.