Summer is right around the corner, and between the influx of barbeques, pool parties, and outdoor beer garden hangs, brands are making heat waves to stand out among all the excitement. With school letting out and summer vacations taking the forefront of many people’s minds, consumer behavior tends to shift during these warmer months, and brands need to adapt to keep up. Get to know five marketing trends you are likely to see this summer.
1. Integration of AI Marketing Tools
Throughout this past year, it has become evident that AI is here to stay. In fact, 80% of marketing professionals have begun to integrate AI technology into their marketing efforts. Here are just a few samples of the many AI marketing tools out there:
- Grammarly: Great for editing, well, grammar!
- Notion AI: Project management of the future.
- Originality AI: Ensures your facts are true and content is original.
- Chatfuel: Meta’s official chatbot partner.
2. More Podcasts from Brands
These days it seems like everyone and their mother has a podcast, and that is because it is somewhat true. There are roughly 5 million podcasts (and counting) available for listeners. Brands are leaning into the trend, using brand-sponsored podcasts as a way to connect with larger audiences and build credibility in their industry. The Webby Awards has even given brands their own category called the Top Best Branded Podcast or Segment Podcasts, with brands like Heinz taking the gold.
3. Brand Alignment With Consumers’ Values
According to Consumer Goods Technology, 82% of shoppers want a brand’s values to align with their own, with 75% of shoppers reporting they have stopped buying from brands with values that do not align with theirs. With these staggering numbers, many brands are taking notice and doing research to find out what their target audience’s core values are. Of course, when taking this approach, it’s essential that brands be authentic and transparent about their values and how they operate with them in mind. For instance, if you claim to be an eco-friendly brand, many shoppers are going to want proof of this value.
4. Story-Centric Messaging
Stories have stood the test of time and for good reason. Stories offer people a sense of community, understanding, and belonging. They can even release dopamine in our brains and make us feel good! As digital advertising continues to become more saturated, storytelling is a great way for brands to cut through the noise. Some brands might do this by sharing their origin story and mission, while others highlight people who love their brand. There are plenty of opportunities to get creative.
5. User-Generated Content
Brands are increasingly leveraging their target audience by featuring user-generated content (UGC). UGC is exactly what it sounds like – brand-centric content that users create. For example, a clothing brand might repost a reel someone created of themself trying on clothes. Brands might even come up with community hashtags, social-sharing-based contests, or reply directly to consumers.
While you’re mowing the lawn and adjusting the sprinklers this summer, be sure to take some time to reassess your marketing efforts based on these trends. Need help getting started on a website or blog refresh? Give us a call at 920-214-4025 or reach out here.
