1. TikTok will grow
TikTok reported over 1,000,000 active monthly users in September 2021 and it is still growing.
TikTok is essential for companies looking to reach younger customers. TikTok is one of the most popular platforms for reaching Gen Z and millennial customers.
TikTok allows businesses to advertise on short-form videos, which are very popular among the younger generation. TikTok also offers tools for business profiles and ads to help expand its reach.
2. Video content will continue dominating.
According to a study done by Cisco, video content will account for eighty-two percent global internet traffic. Long-form videos are slowly losing their popularity, as more people turn to short-form videos like those on TikTok and YouTube’s Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Stories’ Reels and Stories.
Live-streaming is also becoming a popular way for companies to interact with customers. You can tell a story, demonstrate a product, promote events, or share other company communications through these videos. Hootsuite recommends that social media videos not exceed one minute.
3. Social commerce will continue its expansion
It will soon be common to buy products directly through social media. Social media is becoming a retail platform with shoppable posts and storefronts. According to Sprout Social, 98% consumers intend to buy on social media.
Businesses should make it as easy as possible to create a shopping experience that is enjoyable. You can do this by focusing on the most popular items and not a full shopfront.
Metaverse Shopping is also growing in the social and online e-commerce markets. Roblox’s Forever 21 storefront allows users to purchase matching outfits using their avatar.
4. Augmented reality will become mainstream
Other technologies, such as virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality(AR), will be integrated with social media to increase customer engagement. Although VR adoption is still in its early stages, AR can be used on Instagram and Snapchat to improve visuals. Snapchat, for example, uses AR to transform people into animals or make them appear to be wearing makeup or sunglasses.
There are many AR applications that go beyond photo filters. You can also test products before they are released. You can also see the fit of furniture in a space or virtually try on sunglasses.
5. Marketing Influencers continues to grow
Although influencer marketing isn’t new, it isn’t going away. There are many influencers on social media who promote brands.
Although influencer marketing is not as costly as traditional advertising, it delivers great results. According to an survey from Influencer Marketing Hub, ninety percent of marketers considered influencer marketing effective.
LinkedIn is another social platform that offers influencer marketing. LinkedIn and influencer marketing may not be commonly connected, but LinkedIn offers Creator accelerator which is an initiative to help creators grow their communities. This shows that they are willing to invest more in creators as well as influencers.
Companies can do more with influencers than just generating leads. Influencers can help customers engage and encourage loyalty.
6. Social media is all about customer service
As people discovered that they could contact companies directly, social media became a more popular customer service tool. Companies respond to customers’ complaints and questions.
According to Microsoft’s Global State of Customer Service report, fifty-four percent of global participants had a more positive view of companies that responded on social media to customer service requests or complaints. Customers appreciate the importance of responding.
Companies may consider investing in chatbots to answer customer queries immediately.
7. Social listening will be used by more companies
Social media can provide insight and data for businesses. Businesses can use social listening to listen to the consumer world. Here are some social listening instruments:
- Clarabridge
- HubSpot
- Lately
- Sprout Social
- Hootsuite
Social listening is about monitoring any conversation on social media and understanding reactions.
Companies can use social listening to gain insight on customers’ wants and needs, as well as their perceptions and campaigns.
Companies can start by using branded hashtags, keywords, and company mentions in their social media campaigns.
8. Local targeting will increase
Companies can attract local customers by using location-based targeting. Geotagging is a common method to reach local consumers.
Users of social media can search for posts in their area. Make sure you add a place to the post. Instagram, for example, has a location search feature. Facebook also allows companies to “boost” a post and choose target locations for their audience to narrow the reach.
9. Social audios will be more popular
Audio isn’t new but its presence on social media platforms is. Audio is a medium that uses the human voice to communicate with its listeners. This allows people to listen from anywhere they are at any time.
Although Clubhouse, a social-audio app, was very popular in 2021 due to its invite-only restriction, it was not available for all businesses. Other platforms now offer audio-only options. Facebook now has Soundbites, Podcast and Rooms features to support audio content.
Trends in social audio include voice messaging, live event broadcasting and music.
