Consumer behaviour and business trends are constantly changing, often to keep up with the rapid development of technology, but also to keep up with current affairs, whether they are environmental, political or economic.
Now we are in July, we are over halfway through 2022, which is an ideal time to review business trends so far and predict how they will develop over the following 5 months.
Short-form video content (Youtube, tiktok, reels)
One of the biggest business trends that we can recognise this year is the popularity of short-form videos. From TikTok videos and Instagram Reels to Youtube content, businesses are going viral overnight. It has become a key marketing tool for businesses, regardless of their services.
Short videos have become a great method for businesses to use to make their content more relatable and engaging. Whilst this trend can be widely attributed to the rise of TikTok, it has migrated to Instagram, Facebook and more recently Snapchat and Youtube too.
In the future, we will probably see more companies continuing to favour this short-form video format. The algorithm on Instagram is always changing and will likely continue to change in a way that benefits businesses. The algorithm analyses and distributes video content in a way that ensures users have easy access to content that aligns with their interests. This means it is becoming easier for businesses to target their intended demographic on social media.
Hybrid working
An increasingly common trend after the pandemic has been the transition into hybrid working. Whilst the benefits of working from home have been very much recognised, businesses have also noticed the difficulties of not having a physical base.
The continuous development of technology has made working from home a lot easier and has enhanced virtual collaboration and communications. But many employees have struggled with the isolation and lack of interaction when working from home full-time. As a result of this, businesses are dividing their time between being in the office and at home, which has been proven to have great effects on employee wellbeing and work-life balance.
Based on current stats, this trend is likely to continue and numbers are anticipated to grow with there recently being an emergence of research and investment into the metaverse, and its influence on virtual working.
Sustainability and renewability
With the climate crisis being more relevant than ever, people are looking for sustainability and eco-credentials in brands. This has resulted in businesses’ increased investment into renewable energy and net-zero goals.
Whilst renewable energy has always been a long-term investment, it has also become the cheapest option for electricity which is another incentive that could explain its increased popularity.
With the goal of becoming net-zero by 2050, business sustainability is destined to become even more important and price effective.
Authenticity
Post pandemic, there has been an increased focus on brand authenticity as consumer attitudes have shifted.
This year, company values have become more important than ever as consumers want to support brands that support others. Customers are more likely to want to see a face behind a brand that they can trust and in response, content is becoming more humanised and relatable.
In the future, it’s likely that brands will get even more involved with socio-political issues. We may see more of an investment into the personalisation of content so that experiences are authentic for different audiences.