Do you want your small business or startup to move to the next level in 2022? Are you looking to capitalize on market openings caused by the slump in recent years?
If so, then you’ll need to stay ahead with the latest sales trends.
Whether it's using influencer marketing to boost your brand following or making your brand messaging more empathetic, there are quite a few trends that you can capitalize on in 2022.
When looking at these trends, make sure you have the budget, creativity, and initiative to capitalize on them and boost your sales. For example, if you want to dominate the SEO in your local area, then you should have the best SEO services in Pakistan managing your strategy.
So, which trends can you capitalize on to boost your sales in 2022? Let’s get into it!
2022 is the Year for Small Businesses
The COVID pandemic hit small businesses quite hard. Some chose to adapt and became more profitable while many others had to shut down. So, what is the difference between a small business that’s successful and one that’s not?
It's the ability to capitalize on new trends. Businesses that are willing to change are more likely to grow in situations like the COVID pandemic. Rigid businesses will get left behind.
So, what trends should you look out for to boost your sales in 2022? Here are the top 6 trends to include in your marketing campaigns to drive sales and brand growth:
1. Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing has exploded in recent years and it is currently at the point where it’s almost compulsory for many retail brands to incorporate this in their marketing campaigns. So, what aspects of influencer marketing make it so effective and why should a small business use an influencer?
Firstly, influencer marketing has evolved significantly since it was first used. While previously the only “influencers” were the famous actors and actresses that charged unaffordable sums for ads, nowadays the concept of influencer marketing is quite different.
You don’t need an actor with 20 million followers on Instagram to promote your small business. A popular local influencer with a few thousand followers will work wonders for boosting your sales.
Secondly, influencer marketing is not only beneficial for sales; it's also great for improving your brand image. Chances are if you have reliable SEO services in Pakistan, they may also recommend getting high-quality backlinks to drive traffic from popular social media influencers.
So, instead of pouring all your budget into ads, why not try a more reliable and consistent promotional method?
2. The Importance of Local SEO
While every business may have a different SEO strategy, it's unlikely that your small business website will consistently rank above the top players in your niche. If you have the best SEO services in Pakistan running your SEO, then you'll likely get a few good keywords that bring in revenue.
However, the recent trend favors businesses that target local SEO. Local SEO involves targeting local keywords, a specific area, and local directories. For example, targeting Google My Business listings will help you rank higher than the national or international brands, giving you direct access to your most valuable customers.
Consult with a company that provides SEO services in Pakistan and target local SEO for better long-term results.
3. Using Empathy in Your Marketing
Customers nowadays want to know about the brands that they buy from, the story behind their products and services, and that the company has a human side. So, how do you implement this in your marketing strategy?
One way to do so is to interact with customers on social media. You can use it as a customer support platform, ask customers to give their feedback and suggestions, and even gift random customers with prizes.
Another way is to tell the success stories of your employees or company, share a challenge that you recently overcame or ask customers to share their stories. Empathy is all about connecting with your audience, and it will help you get a more loyal customer base.
4. Optimizing Business Processes
While there’s a difference between optimization and automation, the two go hand-in-hand when it comes to modern businesses. Automation can help you optimize your business processes and includes everything from improving your inventory management systems to using better hosting and even automating your customer services.
If you have a business that’s developing your website or creating marketing or promotional emails for you, then make sure they implement automated tools for more efficiency.
The best thing about automated tools like chatbots or email management systems is that the software is inexpensive and helps you save a lot from improved productivity.
5. Investing in Employees
Recent research has suggested that even smaller businesses are reliant on the productivity of the employees for better growth. Employee development, mental health, and other HR-related topics were previously believed to be a subject for large corporations, small businesses are rapidly starting to look into this as well.
Investing in your employees will help your business grow exponentially as human resources are the backbone of more small businesses. This is because the employees play a bigger role in smaller businesses.
Set up an effective reward system, fund employee skill development courses, and create a workplace environment that promotes idea sharing and family values and you'll see the effect it has on your brand growth!
6. Target All Social Media Platforms
Nowadays, many businesses may make use of Facebook or Instagram for marketing but often ignore other social media platforms. If you want to boost your sales in 2022, then target smaller social platforms for better results.
This may include Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and other popular social platforms. Not only will your presence on these platforms introduce your brand to a more active audience, but it is also great for SEO. So, if you outsource your SEO to a company that’s providing SEO services in Pakistan, then consult them about posting content on these platforms.
2022 is the year to boost your business growth and sales, so make the most of these market trends to take your brand to the next level.
