Get the edge over your competitors by understanding the significant content marketing trends for 2023.
The content marketing universe is an ever-evolving sphere, where today's trendsetters are tomorrow's standard bearers. In order to maintain a competitive edge, it's vital to stay in sync with current preferences and practices.
In this comprehensive guide, we dissect the top ten content marketing trends of 2023, equipping you with the most recent insights and actionable tasks. We are already in the second quarter of 2023. But there is still time, still two quarters left, and lots to do if you prioritize and do it right.
Let's look at what all you can do:
Brief video content
Compassionate, human-centric content
Tactical SEO
Revenue-driven content
Customer-centric, value-added content
Significance of user experience
Premium, research-backed content
Utilizing data, AI, automation, and the metaverse
The continued relevance of podcasts
The importance of consistency Content marketing statistics How to stay abreast with content marketing trends
Brief video content
In the contemporary media landscape, video content reigns supreme. The average consumer spends 19 hours per week absorbing video content. But the spotlight is no longer just on video content; marketers are well aware of its significance.
For B2B marketing, the rising star is brief video content. Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are becoming the preferred channels for brands, driven by the shrinking attention spans of consumers. In fact, brief video content accounts for 80% of all mobile data traffic.
Just know that you cannot do without videos.
Brief videos are not just beneficial for the audience but also advantageous for your brand. They allow you to create more content in less time, and viewers are more likely to engage with succinct videos that deliver the message promptly.
In 2023, it's advisable to keep video content under 10 minutes. However, given the success of TikTok, aiming for videos of under a minute might be more effective.
You could also consider creating a longer video and then breaking it down into smaller sections for convenience.
Empathetic content
Something that we at DigiWitch have been harping on since 2016. This is NOT a trend but something that you should imbibe in your marketing strategy and communication.
As a founder, you need to know that your brand belongs to the people, to the customer who is paying for it to show that they trust your brand.
This might be a difficult pill to swallow but one that you got to, nonetheless. You need to talk to them in their language. Show them that you understand not just their pain points but the emotions/feelings they are going through.
Your brand is NOT how you see it. It is what your customers see it as.
Emphasize relatability, emotions, and compassion. This approach will help establish authentic connections with your followers.
This goes beyond creating content that simply feels good. Almost 95% of consumers are more loyal to brands that demonstrate transparency and authenticity, and 75% are willing to pay a premium to support such brands. Therefore, human-centric content is imperative if you want to foster substantial support from your customers.
This also suggests moving away from aggressive sales tactics and promotional language. Adopt a more natural tone and use it consistently. If it means modifying your brand guidelines or tone of voice, don't hesitate to make the necessary adjustments.
Aim for a human-to-human conversation. Collaborating with an influencer or brand ambassador can aid in reinforcing this idea. But don't fall for the number of followers or percentage engagement. Find out if they really believe your brand and what it offers to the people. If they are sold on it, they will actually do a good job at selling it to others.
Tactical SEO
SEO has been crucial since the inception of Google. But merely sprinkling keywords in a blog post or optimizing tags doesn't amount to SEO. As search engines become smarter, your SEO strategies need to adapt to 2023.
This shift in content marketing trends might add complexity to your job, but to truly excel in search rankings, a fresh look at your SEO strategy is necessary.
Firstly, prioritize writing for humans over search engines. This might sound counterintuitive, but search engines have evolved to understand user preferences. Many to: ChatGPT.AI.Writer companies are now using artificial intelligence for SEO.
These AI tools can predict what type of content will perform well, understand complex topics, and assist in crafting SEO-friendly content.
Secondly, be aware of changes in Google's algorithms and the new SEO ranking factors. For instance, the Page Experience Update makes it clear that user experience matters when it comes to rankings. Page load times, mobile optimization, and HTTPS security all influence your site's ranking.
Use tools like Semrush, Moz, or Ubersuggest to get ideas as to how you can improve the technical capability of your SEO, too, for example using backlinks, removing broken links, link building, improving page speed, etc.
Revenue-driven content
ROI has always been a crucial consideration in marketing, but in 2023, content marketers are taking this to the next level. Revenue-driven content focuses on creating content that directly drives sales.
The strategy is to generate content that can lead your customers down the sales funnel, from awareness to conversion. This involves understanding your audience's pain points and how your product or service can solve them.
Just because you cannot see it does not mean it's not there.
Just like air and microbes, content marketing's contribution to revenue is present even if it can't be seen. Just because attribution picks up on the last point of touch as the point responsible for revenue attribution most of the time being paid ads or a CTA on the landing page, does not mean that content marketing had ZERO roles to play.
Nobody will buy from you if they don't trust you or believe in the competence of your product. People can't even buy from you if they don't know that you exist. Let that sink in for a while.
This is what content marketing does. It makes you visible, dependable, and trustworthy so when they are ready to spend, they spend the money on you and not your competitor.
That's how powerful content marketing is.
A well-created content strategy will help your brand churn out content that is meaningful, helpful, and relatable to your end audience. This is the kind of content that will have them flow down the funnel, well-nurtured and ready for conversion.
Premium, research-backed content
In a sea of content, quality matters. Consumers are looking for content that is credible, reliable, and backed by research.
Creating premium, research-backed content shows that you're an expert in your field. It also builds trust with your audience and sets you apart from your competitors.
Just ask yourself how much you believe a piece of some statistic over a random declaration from Whatsapp University.
You do not need to have access to extensive research papers like Gartner that cost a bomb. You can even conduct primary research through Google Forms, and polls on Twitter and LinkedIn and still get a lot of valuable insights. Just make sure your questions are not biased and the sample set is right.
Utilizing data, AI, automation, and the metaverse
The digital revolution has opened up new opportunities for content marketing. Data analytics, artificial intelligence, automation, and the emerging trend of the metaverse are all reshaping the landscape.
Data analytics allows you to understand your audience's behavior and preferences, enabling you to create personalized content. AI and automation can help streamline your content creation and distribution process. And the metaverse – a virtual reality space where users can interact with each other in real time – offers a whole new platform for content marketing.
The continued relevance of podcasts
Podcasts continue to grow in popularity, and they're a valuable tool for content marketing. They offer a unique way to connect with your audience, tell your brand's story, and share expert insights.
It is personable, creates an instant connection as if you are listening to someone sitting right across you, and is an incredible tool to boost authority. You do not need a ton to spend on podcast production at the get-go. Give it a shot, see how's it growing, and invest when you see you are on that upward curve where you need to improve production quality.
Apart from a good quality mic, you will need a content strategy and calendar that can do justice to the strategy.
Consistency is crucial in content marketing. Especially since it is not exactly attributable to revenue, you might feel frustrated with your efforts. The best way to fight this is by doing your bit every passing day. Be consistent in your efforts, no matter what the algorithm says or how it changes. You just pivot and keep doing your thing.
Importance of consistency in content marketing
Consistency in content marketing means regularly producing content and maintaining a consistent brand voice and style. This builds familiarity and trust with your audience, and it also helps with SEO.
Keeping up with these content marketing trends in 2023 will help you stay ahead of the curve and connect with your audience in meaningful ways. Remember that content marketing is not about selling; it's about building relationships and providing value. Keep your audience at the center of your strategy, and you'll be on the right track.
Wrapping up!
In conclusion, staying updated with the latest trends in content marketing is essential for any brand looking to establish a strong online presence and connect with its audience. From exploring new technological advances like AI and the metaverse to focusing on creating high-quality, user-centered content, the possibilities are endless.
Now, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed, and that's okay. Keeping up with these trends, implementing them into your strategy, and measuring their impact is a lot of work. But you're not alone, and you don't have to do it all by yourself.
At DigiWitch, we specialize in helping businesses just like yours navigate the rapidly evolving world of content marketing. We're offering a free marketing strategy consultation where we'll discuss your goals, analyze your current approach, and provide insights on how you can leverage the latest trends to your advantage.
There's never been a better time to revolutionize your content marketing strategy and stand out from the competition. Let's work together to create content that connects, engages, and converts.
Click here to schedule your free consultation today. We look forward to helping you achieve your content marketing goals in 2023 and beyond!