Content marketing is not as easy as it seems, especially when trends keep shifting and there are plenty of marketing updates that could drastically affect both strategy and ROI. If you thought you had it all figured out, you might need to do a double-take on your marketing game plan.

Check out the latest trends in content marketing and explore practices that engage your audience and drive loyalty.

Metaverse Marketing

The metaverse is not an entirely new concept. The term was specifically first coined in Snow Crash, a novel written by Neil Stevenson in 1982. And it wasn’t until recently when Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook would become Meta that its popularity skyrocketed.

Initially, The Metaverse was valued at $47.69 billion in 2020 and is expected to increase, becoming worth more than $800 billion by 2028. Not only is Facebook investing $10 billion dollars in it, but even Sony and Microsoft are investing millions and billions of dollars as well, respectively.

It has also become one of the major marketing trends for 2022.

This network of three-dimensional worlds is focusing on innovating how we create social connections, making it even much easier for people to engage with people online — virtual events, games, and potentially, even retail. To take advantage of this marketing trend, you have to keep in mind that your most valuable target audiences are millennials and Gen Zers. In an article for Forbes, Cathy Hackl, CEO, and chief metaverse officer of Futures Intelligence Group, explained how going direct to avatar (D2A) could be a strategic way to access a secondary market.

Increasing Demand for Hybrid Virtual and Live Events

During the pandemic, most businesses heavily relied on online interactions, especially after getting used to a virtual world to adapt to the global health crisis. But now, as the world is slowly trying to recover from COVID-19, companies worldwide are starting to find a balance between virtual and face-to-face interactions.

As more and more companies are switching to a hybrid setup, content marketers should also be prepared to cater to both the online and virtual needs of their audience. This means your content marketing strategies should be tweaked to respond to this increasing demand. In a report published vfairs, 76.4% planned to host one or more hybrid events in 2022, while 57% also agreed that hybrid event tools are set to dominate the future.

Creating hybrid strategic solutions as part of your content marketing plan lets you reap the benefits of both worlds. Yes, you may have to learn how to balance your tactics and budget  — instead of only focusing on one — but once done correctly, you’ll have access to a wider audience reach.

Reels (and Videos) Everywhere

We’ve seen a rise in video marketing over the last few years. The popularity of Snapchat and TikTok has paved way for more short-form video-based content creation on other social media platforms, such as Reels for Instagram and even Facebook.  

There are two good things about using Reels for content marketing instead of Stories. First, its editing features offer more creative options compared to Stories, and you don’t have to use external video-editing software to design your posts. Second, your Stories are only limited to your followers or at least to those who tap your profile to specifically view your Stories. On the other hand, your Reels are available to other people, even if they don’t follow you, so you have a potentially wider audience reach.

Strategically using videos is an excellent practice for your content marketing strategies, especially since, on average, a person spends 100 minutes daily watching videos online.

User-Generated Content

Recent figures show that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, which makes user-generated content even more relevant as part of your content marketing strategies. This generally includes content, feedback, and reviews from previous customers. By letting your audience and potential buyers access content that they trust, you can attract even more customers to purchase your products or services.

By leveraging user-generated content, you can:

• Impress new customers with positive reviews
• By listening to their feedback, help users feel more engaged with your brand
• Create a loyal community anchored to your brand
• Have access to free content

Craft Engaging, Unique Content that Speaks to Your Audience

Scripted helps you publish top-quality content so you can easily promote your brand’s authenticity and credibility, at the same encouraging customer loyalty. Start your 30-day trial today to level up your content marketing game!