Numerous social media platforms have endured for years, if not decades. However, what does not remain constant is how they are effectively utilized, particularly in marketing.
Yearly, and usually more frequently than that, brands, individuals, and marketing teams must reconsider their promotional plans. Why? To stay current with social media algorithms, user preferences, and trends. Here are some things to know if you want to market efficiently following current social media trends.
Dynamic Ads
Many companies are making investments in social advertising, and you may want to do the same. Consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to purchasing online, mainly via social media sites. Combine this with advanced advertising — such as Facebook’s tailored ads, which adapt their format depending on who is viewing them — and you have the potential for significant targeting.
Additionally, customers can purchase straight from the social networking site instead of being redirected to a third-party website. Buying directly from the social platform encourages more people to complete the transaction due to fewer hurdles.
More Comprehensive Metrics
The metrics used to kick-start your business’s marketing activities may still be different from the Performance metrics that are significant to you today.
Which metrics are most important to you at the moment? Are you more concerned with comments and direct connection with customers, or with users doing certain activities, or with the amount of income generated by a campaign?
Superficial metrics are no longer particularly valuable. For instance, if you were previously focused on the number of likes your post generated. With some social platforms phasing out likes entirely and marketers focusing on social listening to join in the dialogue, marketing trends are veering into the unknown. What has been discussed is now more significant than how many people are participating.
Nano Influencers
Influencer marketing is undoubtedly popular, and there is no reason to believe it will disappear anytime soon. However, brands are becoming savvier in terms of the influencers they deal with and the outcomes they want. First, false influencers are something of which you should be aware. Second, likes are no longer a credible metric for engagement.
As a result of influencers’ hefty fees, marketers are now justifying their market spend with more nuanced, effective data. As a result, Nano influencers are gaining popularity. Miniature-sized influencers have incredibly loyal followings, implying superior quality despite their smaller size. That is something brands appreciate.
Optimized Targeting
If you’ve been targeting your ads solely based on fundamental demographics, it’s time to diversify. Consider your audience to be a complex group of individuals with varied interests and goals. When you focus exclusively on the most fundamental of demographics, such as gender or age group, you miss out on unifying elements.
The majority of the population is not connected solely by their birth date. Instead of that, target your ads and other promotional activities at more passionate audiences who share common interests. You’ll reach a larger audience that isn’t constrained by irrelevant features.
Social Chatbots
Many people, just as they are at ease shopping online, are also at ease troubleshooting online. However, previous generations of chatbots left much to be desired. They could only provide the most rudimentary level of assistance and rarely made a difference, and required consumers to speak with a person — prolonging the entire troubleshooting procedure.
Now we see chatbots powered by artificial intelligence. They’re more knowledgeable and helpful, and they may make a significant impact on customer service. Users making use of chatbots have their issues resolved swiftly and without the need to speak with a real human being every time. Additionally, smaller businesses can serve customers even if they lack substantial human resources.
Social Communities
Attracting and keeping a high-quality audience regardless of the size is another trend. The emphasis on social communities is another illustration of this.
Businesses are beginning to place a premium on building online communities made of members of their core audience. Individuals who belong to those groups can communicate with one another and with the company.
This type of intimate, private group is unmatched when gathering feedback, soliciting suggestions, sharing tailored material, and resolving issues. Additionally, it’s a fantastic area to test new concepts, goods, and services before presenting them to the general public.
Social Media Trends That Aren’t Going Away
While these social media trends are not new, they continue to be beneficial. Incorporate them into your marketing effort.
Ethereal Content: This type of content is temporary and then vanishes, similar to Instagram and Snapchat Stories. For two reasons, users (and advertisers) adore this type of material. To begin, it is bite-sized and easily digestible. Moreover, the knowledge that it is about to be phased out instills a sense of urgency. Make interactive content of this type, and you’ll get even more out of it.
Live Streaming Video: Video marketing has been important for a long time now, and many platforms currently provide live streaming. With live streaming, you can create content on the fly. Additionally, you can interact with followers in real-time, which is especially critical for brick-and-mortar businesses that have been forced to transfer their in-store events online.
User-Generated Content (UGC): It almost sounds too good to be true — your audience creates content for you, and you enjoy the benefits. Utilize intelligent strategies such as branded hashtags or sweepstakes to encourage fans to upload their experiences regarding your products or services. Consequently, social proof and word-of-mouth marketing are boosted. What could be better?
Live video is not the only sort of video that is gaining popularity. Exceptional results can be achieved with both short and long-form videos on social media. If your brand is not yet on YouTube, you may want to consider it.
Choosing the Best Platforms to Experiment with Social Media Trends
Even though you can be on every social media platform does not mean you should. It is now more crucial than ever to carefully select the social media platforms that are most appropriate for your company and target audience. Quality is more crucial than quantity in this situation.
Your reach may be more expansive on Facebook, but if you’re a retail company specializing in home goods, Pinterest and maybe Instagram is where you want to be. Make long-term decisions based on your best interests, not on what appears to be more exciting at the moment.
Concluding Remarks on Social Media Trends
Almost everything altered last year as a result of the pandemic, including social media marketing. While offline customer experiences have degraded, online marketing has grown.
Fortunately, numerous trends that have been there for a while will continue to be significant, which means you won’t need to rebuild your plan altogether.
At PrimeView, we believe that the new trends are smart ones, focusing on audiences, personalizing engagements, and focusing solely on the most critical aspect of your business. Let us help your brand meet the challenges of 2021 and beyond.
