Did you miss my LinkedIn article about ‘Marketing Trends for 2023’? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The trends haven’t changed much from 2022. The only thing that has changed is the weather. It’s colder, wetter and windier here in the UK, so bundle up, grab a cuppa and catch up on my top three take-aways on how we can use digital to connect with our audience.

Put humanity at the heart of your digital strategy

“If you don’t take the reins, it’s going to stay the same. Nothin’s gonna change if you don’t change it.” – Dolly Parton

Change is the one thing we can all depend on. As entrepreneurs, marketers, fundraisers, communicators, founders, advocates for small business — no matter what industry you’re in, or what role you have — we all must adapt to market forces in order to grow and thrive. I particularly admire those who have the vision to innovate; to bring people together around a common purpose, and galvanise their community or team around a shared vision in order to make things better for everyone.

We have all seen the massive impact that digital has had on our lives. We’ve been working with business improvement districts (BIDs), councils, nonprofits and businesses to help them be more competitive in this arena. I’ve just read an excellent piece — The Drum’s 2023 digital strategy drivers — which provides a nice summary of how to approach customer loyalty based upon 2022 trends. If you were one of the 600 businesses or nonprofits in attendance at our DigiKind training over the past few years, you may be familiar with some of these recommendations.

Here are three notable take-aways from The Drum article:

  1. Mobile First. As of November 2022, 60.28% of all web traffic came through mobile phones. Try to ensure you’re taking a mobile-first approach.

  2. Values First. According to Hubspot, 68% of consumers are more likely to be loyal to a brand if they share the same values. Ensure your brand is authentic and your imagery, copy and content are consistent across every touch point. According to Global Newswire, 70% want sustainable products and services. Be transparent and don’t greenwash. If you need help with this, ask. Don’t over promise and underdeliver. People want honesty from their brand.

  3. Digital First. According to Statistia, since 2020, two billion people have purchased goods or services online. Consumers are demanding products and services from brands that offer better value for money. They also want a seamless customer experience (CX) as well as a stronger user experience (UX).

What are you doing to ensure customer loyalty, to deliver a seamless customer experience (online and offline), and to take a responsive mobile-first approach? Have you thought about your sustainability practices and transparency? How are you building trust and brand awareness with your audience?

After all, nothin’s gonna change if you don’t change it.

About DigiKind: How are you connecting with your community?

Discover how we use both online and offline platforms and events to connect with you with your audience. Enable people with the right tech when they are needed — like digital hubs, online communities, websites, digital training, experiences, digital directories, gift guides and creative social media campaigns. Learn more about our work in the Case Study section of our website.