Videos and podcasts will enable users to experience brands in a different way in 2023, and in some companies chatbots will soon take over the majority of customer support. It’s going to be an exciting year for content. In this article, we list the most important 8 content marketing trends for 2023.

1. Deluxe Long-Form Content

Both search engines and readers like to have long content. Longer texts are more likely to offer your users well-structured, in-depth, and well-researched texts about a subject, including added value from trustworthy sources. They are more likely to find these in long form content, which can only be created with considerably more research and time. Structure, paragraphs, headings and of course the actual text itself must always be created with your audience in mind: what possible questions could the user have about a topic? You should be able to answer these questions within the text before the user even has to ask them. As a content marketer or content creator, you goal should be “How can I help the user in the best way?” If you have this question in mind, you will automatically create perfect SEO content. Search engines are getting better at understanding the search intention of a user and are therefore likely to rank longer articles highly. Longer articles are shared more frequently on social networks. A content strategy should focus on fewer, but regular and loner articles with well-researched information. Content marketing is also moving away from texts, and more towards video, podcasts and chatbots.

2. Video marketing

Video marketing offers the greatest potential in 2023. Three out of four users are influenced by videos on social media when making a purchase decision. Videos are also the most convenient way to get to know a company on the web. Why are branded videos, webinars and influencer channels so popular on YouTube? Quite simply, users value authenticity and transparency in a brand. Videos are more tangible than text, and their involvement is higher. People who speak directly to their viewers in front of the camera establish a relationship and appear more authentic than advertising messages in words and pictures. In video marketing, short informative video clips have the opportunity to address a completely new target group on YouTube and Google Search. Of course, it’s important to ensure the best video quality, and presentation before the camera should be authentic, sizable and sympathetic!

3. Podcasts

With around ten million young, affluent listeners with purchasing power and an affinity for the brand, there is definite potential for podcast marketing. Brands can appeal to more users with audio content, bringing the brand name clearly into the consciousness of the target group via advertising in popular podcast series. Podcast marketing is not completely problematical – listening to a podcast requires time, whereas anyone can quickly look at a video and read the subtitles. Most Podcasts are heard parallel to another activity – frequently with driving a car, so cannot be classified as easily consumable, snackable content. The Podcast-Hype will probably get off to a slow start, but should not be underestimated.

4. Social Media

Social media marketing is one of the fastest moving channels, and in 2023 will have to pay close attention to where users are. There is a strong trend away from Facebook towards short-lived audiovisual media such as Instagram and Whatsapp. This is especially true for the younger audiences (16 to 30 year olds), as well as for influencers. For content to perform well on Instagram, it has to be authentic and personal. Networking and interacting with other accounts is just as important as personal contact with the users – in other words, active commitment. Stories should be told with fast, regular posts. Continuity, playfulness and authenticity are the key elements.

5. Mobile first!

Mobility is “the” trend of our time. Most users use a mobile device to watch videos on the internet, shop, inform themselves and stay in contact with others. According to studies, in three years, the smartphone will replace the PC as the most important way of accessing the internet. Therefore, all content should be implemented on the basis of the “mobile first” idea. Especially in video marketing, all signs point to mobility, because most people watch videos on a tablet or smartphone. Mobile content has to be compact, funny and original, as well as being authentic enough to quickly convince users. Only then will the user want to take a closer look at the small display. The second step is how to spread the mobile content to other channels.

“UX is king”

2023 is all about meeting the needs of users with different formats, winning their trust and giving the brand a positive image. Above all, content marketing must create one thing: a good user experience. In the future, tangible content will clearly catch up with price and quality as important attributes of a product. Google, Instagram and Facebook optimize their search engine and news feed algorithms every minute to react to the further development of the user experience and attract users. The advantage: when a user interacts with the content, it automatically remains visible and present on social media for longer. The way people use the internet is changing. More and more people are using voice search instead of text input. As content marketing managers, you have to adapt to this trend and invest more in suitable audio content in order to meet the corresponding user needs. This is especially true for SEO and web search.

7. Micro Moments: Snack content in the right place at the right time

Micro moments are short moments in which customers search for information, offers or help to make a purchase. For example, when I look on my smartphone to see where the nearest supermarket is, the moment I reach for the smartphone is the micro moment – and a great opportunity for marketers. “These are the moments when we (the potential customers) want help informing our choices or making decisions. For marketers, these moments are an open invitation to engage. And they’re the moments you have to be ready for.” Micro Moments target the use of pull marketing strategies. The customer searches for offers from suitable companies and will probably follow the most relevant and fastest offer. Who offers their click there in the suitable format will receive the click.

Google distinguishes between four types of Micro Moments:

To win the customer over at one of these touchpoints, Google gives a few tips: “These are the moments when we (the potential customers) want help informing our choices or making decisions. For marketers, these moments are an open invitation to engage. And they’re the moments you have to be ready for.”

• Be there: Be present as a brand throughout a user’s search journey.
• Be useful: With content relevant to all four types of search queries – whether it’s a buying interest or a search for information.
• Be quick: Be faster than the others with your offer.

Micro moments are part of mobile marketing, and suitable micro content can be offered to the customer quickly and easily on social networks. Micro Moments arise primarily on mobile devices and demand relevant small pieces of information. This can be the immediate answer with a link to an entered or spoken question, or a short, well-structured info text on a topic. For content marketers, Micro Moments offer the perfect opportunity to capture and exploit customer needs in a targeted manner.

8. Cross-Team Content Marketing

In 2023, content creation should no longer be the pure task of a company’s marketing department. From the CEO to the intern, every employee should at least allow some input to flow into the content creation process. Why? Each department and each employee has to deal with the customer in different ways and in different sections of the customer journey. Different departments therefore know the customers’ needs and requirements best at this particular moment. A possible approach for content creation as a cross team could look like this: The marketing team gets a new role of content moderator, and manages the input it receives from all other stations in the company. In cooperation with HR, IT, Sales, Account Management, relevant content can be created from people who deal with the target group in their area on a daily basis. Possible ideas: “Meet the team” – Blog articles, videos or regular company podcasts make the people behind a brand tangible, promote direct interaction with customers and make a significant contribution to a company’s transparency and trust.

Conclusion

Content Marketing will be taking a big step forward in terms of technology and UX in 2023. Companies must adapt to the expectations of their customers – be it in customer communication, content creation or provision on all channels. Video and audio formats are on the rise – and they must be authentic, fresh and consumable in the right snack format, whether on the tablet at home or on the smartphone. For text content, the longer the text, the more likely it is to be shared. And content marketing is a team sport. Employees of individual departments know best what moves their customers and what expectations they have. Bring them on board! Cooperation with other companies or influencers often results in surprising marketing ideas, a wider audience, and additional channels for user communication.