Marketing trends are an extremely useful gauge to determine what consumers currently crave from the business world. They can guide businesses looking to innovate. As I mentioned in a post last week, Deloitte researches and releases these marketing trends every year.

Let me tell you—something stirred in my spirit when I reviewed this year’s trends! Many of them are based on kingdom-minded values: purpose, human experience, trust, and fusion, and the rest entail specific calls-to-action for believers in the business realm: agility, participation, and talent. Don’t worry if those don’t make sense yet. In the next two blog posts, I will unpack these marketing trends and discuss how I think they reflect what God is doing in the business realm.

Trend 1: Purpose

According to Deloitte, the marketing trend of purpose refers to “companies that inherently understand why they exist and who they are best built to serve regardless of what they sell today.” It reflects the notion that most consumers today are more likely to support brands that align their enterprise with a purpose that is reflected in all of their activities. Sticking to promises throughout all aspects of the company presents integrity that’s attractive to customers.

Related: Why Social Impact Marketing is the Key to Success in 2021

What does this mean for the Kingdom?

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2

Purpose is the cornerstone of business as mission. God wants to partner with people in their work and, in doing so, provide rich purpose. In other words, we aren’t meant to isolate our faith into one category of our lives. Rather, we are called to integrate it into every aspect. For kingdom-minded entrepreneurs, that means creating businesses out of an overflow of their relationship with God. Central to their business is a mission and vision after God’s own heart.

So, this trend reveals that customers are more receptive to purpose-driven messages from the businesses they frequent. In most cases, their preference is not to consume a service and leave without further thought or action. It is an opportune moment for Christian business owners to share their hope-filled message creatively because the world is looking for purpose in the marketplace.

Trend 2: Agility

The agile marketing trend refers to a business’s ability to respond quickly in our fast-paced, digital world. In other words, customers are getting increasingly impatient! In order to meet demand, businesses and marketers need to ensure that they have the proper systems in place to respond quickly and effectively to customers.

What does this mean for the Kingdom?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19-20

1.Learn how to use Digital Marketing Well

This trend brings up a critical component for Christians: connectivity. Every day we become more connected to our global community. I believe that God can help us leverage digital marketing tools as a way to reach a larger, global audience with life-giving messages.

2. Do your Research and Pray for Discernment

This trend reveals how flooded with content we are. The average consumer views somewhere between 400 and 10,000 advertisements daily. More than ever, there is a need for relevant content to connect consumers to your brand. According to the report, “At its core, relevant content can be as sophisticated as engaging in cultural moments when they happen or as simple as selling snow tires when it’s snowing.” Data-driven insights about what’s happening in the market (like this blog) are key to producing relevant content.

In addition, there is a name for the cultural moments the report mentions: kairos moments. The biblical, Greek definition of kairos is an opportune moment for decision or action. By staying connected to God and praying for discernment, I believe that he will make us aware of the direction our business needs to pivot in to fulfill his purposes. Further, that same discernment provides the needed, relevant insight to cut through consumer noise.

Related: How to Keep Your Business Moving Forward

Trend 3: Human Experience

People crave connection. The core of this trend is to value the human experience over efficiency. In today’s market, businesses are charged with the task of becoming outward-facing. This entails prioritizing the needs of their customers over their own survival. The former will feed the latter.

The report puts it this way: “When we surveyed almost 2,500 global consumers in April, one in four people strongly agreed that they walked away from brands they believe acted in self-interest.”

The objectives that are paramount to the top C-Suite executives surveyed are human-centric initiatives such as improving customer engagement, retaining top talent, and increasing the company’s impact on society. Deloitte writes that this moment in time is “an opportunity to innovate and rebuild the human experience in a way that addresses our collective needs.”

What does this mean for the Kingdom?

Jesus lived a life of service. He revealed that true leadership and success come through serving. Traditionally, a service-minded version of success wasn’t super prevalent in the business realm. Things are changing, and business people realize that ‘upside-down’ kingdom truths can actually present lucrative results.

In addition, there is a gateway to better know our needs and the needs of others, serve, and express empathy in the business realm. So, the possibilities of what God can do through open and authentic connections made in this manner are infinite!

Related: Service Brings Access: How to Humbly Reach Your Destiny

If the intersection of faith and business (even in something like marketing trends!) sparks your interest, then I have an invitation for you. The Kingdom Business Summit is taking place at Charis Bible College, June 16-18. It is a one-stop shop for leadership, business, and spiritual teaching. There will be plenty of networking opportunities as well! Click HERE to watch a video from Becky & I that explains more.