FIFTY per cent of UK businesses think that marketing has changed more in the past two years than it has in the past 50.

Digital marketing is one of the fastest-changing industries in the UK.

With new updates, tools, platforms and strategies constantly being introduced, it can be hard for businesses to successfully maintain.

During the summer of 2022 – LOCALiQ part of Newsquest Media Group and publisher of the Hereford Times – conducted a nationwide business survey to gain a better understanding of the state of digital marketing in the UK.

More than 300 UK SMBs representing a wide range of industries, locations and roles contributed their current challenges and investment plans as well as their targets and goals for the year ahead.

Set against the context of economic uncertainty with a looming recession and soaring energy costs, the UK-wide survey uncovered what businesses’ priorities are for the year ahead and allows SMBs to proactively evaluate and benchmark their marketing efforts.

"This first ever State of Digital Marketing Report from LOCALiQ helps businesses in the more than 200 local communities we work with, understand how their peers are navigating the ever-changing digital landscape,” Nikki Broxup, Marketing Director, LOCALiQ.

In addition to discovering 50 per cent of UK businesses think that marketing has overwhelmingly changed in the past two years, the report also found:

  • 70 per cent of businesses struggle to maintain innovative marketing ideas and technologies
  • 52 per cent of businesses will spend more on digital advertising in 2023 than they did in 2022
  • 40 per cent of businesses are not sure if their current marketing is performing well

Download the report here.