Revealed: The Top Digital Trends For Businesses In 2022
In this guest post, owner and founder of web design agency Five by Five, Jon Hollenberg (main photo), talks the digital trends you need to be across come the new year…
Changing consumer habits, the shift to online and evolving tech are continually contributing to developments in the digital industry, but what does it actually mean for business owners and the industry itself? Jon Hollenberg, Founder of Australia’s highest rated web design agency, Five by Five, looks ahead at what business owners and digital teams should expect now and in the future.
Where are we now?
Some 41 per cent of the Internet today is built on WordPress, with more than 82 million WordPress sites online and 500 sites built each day.
This is known as the WordPress Economy and in a study by WordPress technology company, WP Engine, it was found that if this economy was equivalent to the market cap of a company, it would rank 10th among the largest companies worldwide. If it was a country, the WordPress Economy would rank 39th in the world by Gross Domestic Profit (GDP). Huge and it’s set to continue.
1) The WordPress economy is booming
With its market dominance and continued uptake, there are no signs the WordPress Economy is slowing down. WordPress is the fastest growing Content Management System (CMS) in the world and whilst being utilised by businesses such as CNN, The New York Times and all those in between, it’s growth will flourish well into 2022 and beyond.
The boom in the WordPress Economy reflects the growing need for an integrated digital presence made more important than ever thanks to the pandemic, continuous changes in consumer behaviors, and the shift to online.
It also tells a story of businesses becoming more accepting of open source software which can be pulled apart, modified and enhanced. Open source software like
WordPress enables tremendous flexibility when it comes to building custom functionality, a must-have capability for a) implementers like digital teams who are committed to providing bespoke solutions to clients and b) business owners who need to set themselves apart from their competitors through those bespoke solutions.
The fact WordPress integrates with platforms already being used within businesses, its rapid development and iteration capabilities, and low cost ownership are also factors contributing to its popularity. Further to this is its impact on corporate and personal financial growth. Businesses that invest in WordPress continue to experience financial returns and individual users who work with WordPress for more than 15 hours a week derive 48% of their income from the platform!
2) Personalisation – the key to driving results
Today, consumers are demanding personalised experiences and a unique CX. In fact, 80% of consumers say the experience a company provides is as important as its products and services.
One way to offer a personalised experience is listening to customer needs and taking notice of their past search, and how they’re using a website. This will be key to helping businesses deliver relevant, customised content for the end user and therefore a personalised experience.
Another great example of personalisation in action is the website of Queensland’s largest home builder. It automatically detects where users are geographically visiting from and serves up products and offerings that are specific to that location.
Use the data you already have internally and extract the insights to inform your innovation (and personalisation) strategy. If you can nail delivering the ultimate customer experience, you’ll be nailing business results in response.
3) Higher quality leads thanks to data driven lead generation
Speaking of data, the next big thing in the web and digital space is the greater uptake of data driven lead generation tools that assist with higher quality website leads and understanding customer needs.
Data driven lead generation tools like quizzes or scorecards will capture valuable information about users and their problems while providing users with quick wins in terms of actionable automated advice. In turn, business owners will capture detailed information on prospective clients for warmer sales nurturing and conversations.
Sales teams can then pick up the phone and have rich conversations with the most qualified leads first, or by integrating a lead generation tool into a current CRM program, you can run personalised marketing campaigns based on the data that customers have provided.
To understand this in play, we’re currently working on our own prototype lead generation tool at Five by Five which will enable our team to identify specific pain points for prospective clients and enable us to have more meaningful, solutions-based conversations early on. These types of diagnostic tools are a much more informed, powerful way of having sales and growth discussions with businesses, and ultimately, gives those who use them a competitive advantage.
4) No code solutions means anyone can create a website
Over the past 18 months the playing field has levelled, and having an online presence isn’t as hard as it once was.
The ability to quickly create a WordPress website, install a page builder such as Elementor and have a website up and running within a few hours is giving sole operators the chance to compete with bigger brands and companies.
Drag and drop editors that don’t require coding knowledge provide hundreds of pre-built pages and blocks that allow for every conceivable requirement. This is a fantastic option for business owners who might not have the funds to invest in an integrated web build, but understand the importance of an online presence.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – personalisation is key. So whilst using these platforms, the integration of bespoke content (including video and imagery) targeted at each individual user is what will have the largest impact and drive your results.
Latest News
History Has Arrived: It’s The Cairns Crocodiles Inaugural Shortlist
Pen the acceptance speech and ready your best thongs and muumuu, because the Cairns Crocodiles shortlist has arrived.
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Integral Ad Science, a global media measurement and optimization platform, today announced a market integration with Roblox, a global immersive platform for connection and communication. Available for advertising campaigns on Roblox later this year, IAS’s Viewability and Invalid Traffic (IVT) Measurement products will provide advertisers increased transparency into the quality of their Immersive Ads within […]
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.
Bumble Reveals New Brand Identity To Usher In New Era Of Dating
It's ironic that all the dating apps market themselves as having no weirdos, freaks or mummy's boys like their rivals.
Stay In The House From Up! Airbnb Introduces Icons
Airbnb is now letting people stay in "iconic" places that sadly doesn't include the house from Silence Of The Lambs.
Changing The Conversation: The Role Of Media In Ending Violence Against Women
Governments are finally waking up to the DV crisis. Here, B&T chats with Jasmin Bedir on the role media can play.
“If You Want To Listen To Something Else, Go For It”: Fifi Box On Blocking Out The Noise & Focussing On What Works
No one is at the coal face of Melbourne radio like Fifi Box. Here, she chats with B&T without coughing up a lung.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Ferrari Signs Landmark New Title Sponsor
B&T continuing our series on sports sponsorships. And, yet again, there's little good news for the ten pin bowlers.
Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns
Not since Wonka opened the factory has there been such a hot ticket in town. Here's how to make the most of Cairns.
Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks
Quip boss calls out her highlights of the Cannes agenda. We're assuming B&T staff b-boy demonstration was an oversight.
Here Are The Agencies That Made AFR’s Best Places To Work List And What The Industry Can Learn From Them
Did your office not make the list? Make sure your boss shouts at least two schooners at office drinks come Friday.
Get Ready, B&T’s Best Of The Best Is Back With The Top Holding Company Executive Leaders – Creative!
Want to know who the Grandest of the Grand Poobahs in the industry are? Look no further than this exhaustive list.
How A Glittering Campaign Helped The Australian Museum Sell 400,000 Tickets
B&T thoroughly enjoyed the Ramses exhibition at The Australian Museum, despite thinking we were going to the Archibald.
TV Ratings (30/04/2024): A “Shoey” Straight From A Fish’s Mouth Launches The Cheap Seats Into 2024
Last night's TV saw horny farmers beat Lego nerds, who beat fame-obsessed home cooks, who beat a chap with a large fish.
Spotlight Extends Partnership With Starlight Children’s Foundation
B&T always happy to promote the excellent work of the Starlight Foundation. Less so the Starfish Fanciers Foundation.
Amazon’s Advertising Quarterly Revenue Soars To $11.8bn
There are so many Amazon couriers visiting B&T headquarters at the moment our office dog doesn't know who to maul first.
VML Wellington Welcomes Jacob McGregor As Pou Ārahi Māori
McGregor set to lead cultural competency and safety at VML Wellington in important new gig.
“They Grow Up So Fast”: Simon Fowler On Five Years Of ABEL
Abel's CEO talks lessons learned from the agency's first five years. Including staff nicking all the Nespresso capsules.
Kyle & Jackie O Urge Melbourne To Pick A Side
Who can stop Kyle & Jackie O's indelible march into Melbourne radio? Is Peter 'Moony' Moon waiting by the phone?
Future & Taika Waititi Feature In Striking New Global Belvedere Campaign
Not only does drinking vodka make you cool like these dudes, it also has great weight loss properties for the bone idle.
The Fall Of Bonza: A Case Study In How To, And Not To, React In A Crisis
Does the collapse of yet another budget airline hark back to a gentler time of 17 hours spent on a Greyhound bus?
Opinion: Agencies, Be Unique – Stop Using The Word “Unique!”
Trinity P3's Ellie Angell says agencies are overusing the word unique. You could add omnichannel & holisitic to that.
Ex Marketing & Advertising Exec Releases Melanoma Memoir
Ex-adlander Anne Gately has penned a tome to skin cancer. Which is a handy reminder to check your moles, people.
Mamamia Appoint Danni Wright As New Head Of Strategy
Danni Wright takes up Mamamia's strategy reins with a feng shui expert called over positioning of office chaise lounge.
From The Bureau: Championing Competency & Cross-Industry Collaboration
The IAB's Jonas Jaanimagi calls for more specialisation in adtech. Meaning you'll understand it less than you already do.