Nine entrepreneurs share the 2022 business trends they expect to carry into the new year

Social media isn’t the only place to find the latest trends. When you look at the business world as a whole over the past 12 months, you’ll find a number of trends and initiatives that have taken hold of many organizations. Whether it’s flexible or organic pencil drawing, these trends are popular for a reason – but will their popularity last into the new year?

To share their predictions, members of the Young Entrepreneur Council will each discuss one business trend they see actually happening in 2022 and why we think we’ll — or may not — continue to see that trend in 2023.

1. Omnichannel Marketing

“Omnichannel marketing” was the buzz word of the year. In the year I bet it won’t just last until 2023, but beyond. With the rise of e-commerce since the pandemic, business owners are facing more competition than ever. Therefore, you need as many ways to reach as many consumers as possible. On the other hand, consumers will be increasingly exposed to messages directed at them. This means that in order to build a successful brand in 2023, you need to ensure that your strategy, messaging and visual identity are consistent across all online and offline touch points. Establishing this strong and scalable foundation will ensure that your business truly shines in your omnichannel efforts. – Daria Gonzalez, Wonderdogs

2. Flexibility for employees and customers

One business trend that has really caught on is increased flexibility—both in the rise of gig workers in the workforce, flexible work weeks and more, and in how businesses look to their customers. Many service businesses have expanded to offer virtual appointments or services in customers’ homes in addition to—or instead of—their traditional service locations. I don’t see this trend stopping anytime soon because now that customers have the ability to fulfill their needs in the comfort and convenience of their homes, they won’t want to go back. – Diana Goodwin, MarketBox

3. Treat others with respect

Companies are starting to really wake up to the bottom line value of treating people with respect. We’ve all seen comedies where the annoying boss character treats his employees horribly and only smiles at a paying customer. However, the global pandemic that has followed the Great Resignation has made it clear that people are very willing to take their skills and businesses elsewhere. It is simply a refusal to deal with bad behavior. At the macro level, companies are reevaluating their partnerships with other companies, spokespeople, and celebrity endorsements. In short, no one—employees, customers, partners—will feel “trapped” anymore. While fostering respect stems from an underlying for-profit motivation, it’s refreshing to see kindness invading the market. – John Rampton, calendar

4. Informed decision making

In the year One of the biggest trends I see in 2022 is a move towards more data-driven decision making. I think this is due to the increasing access to data, especially through social media – and the increasing use of machine learning for analysis. This has led to some pretty interesting things, like being able to predict whether someone will quit their job based on what they post on Facebook. We’re not quite there yet, but I think we’ll see the trend continue in 2023 and beyond. – Brian Greenberg, Insurst

5. Side conflicts as an alternative income

One of the most notable changes is the way people are now turning to alternative sources of income. In the past, people may have had full-time jobs, but now many rely on side hustles to make ends meet. These can range from selling products online to offering services such as grooming or dog walking. Surprisingly, this trend does not seem to be slowing down. If anything, it increases speed. I think this is because people realize that they can’t always rely on one source of income, so it’s important to have multiple streams of income. I think this trend will continue to grow in 2023 and beyond. More and more people are becoming entrepreneurs and looking for ways to make money outside of the traditional 9-to-5 schedule. – Abhijeet Caldate, Astra WordPress theme

6. Social selling

Social selling and selling using social proof really took off in 2022, and with so many social media updates offering social selling capabilities, this trend is sure to continue in 2023. Incorporating social proof into websites and e-commerce platforms is fun. With so much social selling going on, it’s easy to get social proof. Peer support and testimonials are one of the most powerful ways to leverage growth. It’s a great way to strategically reach out to a large audience who are interested in your products and services because of your friends and associates. People feel more comfortable buying when they see other satisfied customers or friends. – Matthew Kapala, Alphabet

7. Hire for the right skill sets

In 2022, I see more employers hiring specialized workers than someone who can multitask. I believe this is because brand leaders want to have strong people in most, if not all, of their vacancies. When someone comes across something – social media marketing – that’s where they spend most of their time. It doesn’t make sense to drag someone with such strong skills into doing something they might not be good at, such as blog posting. Of course, it is important to encourage people to train if they are interested. But as a general rule, most employers seem to be looking for new hires with the right skill sets for specific jobs. – Chris Kristof, MonsterInsights

8. Organic lead casting

One business trend that I really see taking place in 2022 is businesses trying to capture leads organically rather than using other marketing tactics. It was surprising to find marketers using techniques they’ve relied on for years, such as paid marketing and sourcing through third parties, and focusing on content-based strategies. Leads captured organically are generally of better quality as they are developed through relevant content. So their conversion is relatively high. This trend will continue to grow in 2023 as marketers continue to explore the true power of content. – Stephanie Wells, Amazing Forms

9. Remote work as a positive work culture

In the year In 2020, remote work emerged amid the global pandemic. Now, it’s a sign of a positive work culture. Companies that want to be positioned as leaders in 2022 cannot ignore offering remote work or hybrid spaces. Emotional pay will continue to grow as a more valuable and expected component of employee compensation packages in 2023. – Alfredo Attanasio, Uassist.ME