Technology is evolving quickly, and social media is no exception. Platforms constantly add new tools and features to improve user experiences and satisfy changing consumer requirements and expectations. With this in mind, predicting the changes we might expect in the coming years is crucial. Here are some social media management trends to keep an eye out for this year.
Social Media Management Trends & Predictions
TikTok Will Become Bigger
TikTok had over 1 billion active monthly users in September 2021 and is still rising. TikTok is a must-have for businesses looking to target younger consumers. It is one of the most critical channels for reaching Generation Z and Millennial consumers.
TikTok is also a suitable venue for businesses to advertise, utilising short-form videos, which are popular among younger generations. TikTok also features ad and business profile options to help it extend its platform.
Video Content Is At The Top
According to research, video content will count for 80% of global consumer internet traffic. On the other hand, long-form videos are losing popularity as more people choose short-form films, such as those on TikTok, Facebook’s Reels, YouTube’s Shorts, and Instagram’s Reels and Stories.
Furthermore, businesses are turning to live-streaming to engage with customers. These videos tell a story, showcase a product, promote events, or share other company communications. Social media videos should be a maximum of a minute long.
Social Commerce Will Rise
Purchasing things straight from social networking platforms will become the standard. Social networks are becoming shopping platforms, complete with shops and shoppable content. It’s said that 90% of shoppers plan to purchase social media. Businesses should strive to offer an optimal purchasing experience with as few clicks as feasible. This can be done by focusing on their most popular items rather than their entire storefront.
Augmented Reality Is The Next Big Thing
Other new technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), will connect with social media, allowing for more customer participation. While VR is still in its early stages, AR is now used to augment the graphics shared on Instagram and Snapchat.
Snapchat, for example, uses AR in all its photo filters to change people into animals, make them appear to be wearing makeup or sunglasses, or have other look changes. However, AR uses go beyond picture filters. People can also test things in advance. Customers, for example, can digitally put on sunglasses or see how a table fits in a room.
Local Targeting’s Growth
Companies can attract local customers by using location-based targeting. Geotagging in online content to reach a specific audience is a typical approach to finding locals. Since social media users can search for posts near them, provide a location in your post. Instagram, for example, includes a geographical search feature. Companies can also “boost a post” on Facebook and pick target locations for the audience to help narrow the reach.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is not something new, and it’s not going away. Influencers promote brands on social media. Investing in influencers is less expensive than other forms of advertising or marketing, yet it still produces results.
According to a poll, 88% of marketers believe influencer marketing is beneficial. LinkedIn is yet another social media network that facilitates influencer marketing. While LinkedIn and influencer marketing are not typically associated,
LinkedIn offers initiatives to assist creators in building their communities, indicating a desire to invest more in creators and influencers. Influencer marketing could help businesses accomplish more than just creating leads. Influencers can also assist with customer engagement and loyalty.
Customer Service Becomes A Big Part
People eventually started to use social media as a customer service platform when they realised they could contact businesses directly. Customers post questions or complaints, and companies answer.
According to a report, 54% of global participants had more favourable perceptions of organisations that responded to customer care complaints or requests on social media. Companies might want to invest in a chatbot to handle some questions quickly or establish a customer care knowledge base – or FAQ – to speed up response time.
Companies can use social listening to understand the impact of campaigns, brand perceptions, and other insights on customer demands and requirements. To begin, businesses can test the waters using branded hashtags, relevant keywords, and corporate mentions in social campaigns. Companies can also utilise social media to aid crisis communication and listen to individuals on their platforms.