SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS ARE CHANGING REEL-Y FAST.
Social media is a lot like a Wisconsin summer. It constantly changes and you never know what’s coming tomorrow. Thinking about lounging on a hot day in the lake of Facebook stories? Guess again. Put on your sweatshirt because the temperature dropped and it’s time to make a reel. It changes so fast even the experts have a hard time keeping up with it. However, we put our heads together and came up with five social media trends that we recommend to our clients to keep them on the forefront of what slaps, is bussin’ and lit (that’s Gen Z lingo for awesome, cool and the bomb).
Short Videos
You’ve already seen it on your own social media feed. Short videos are all the rage and it’s not going away. The good news though is that they cost nothing and are super easy to make. If you aren’t quite ready for TikTok though, try Facebook or Instagram Reels - especially if you already have an audience. After all, if your followers are doing it, you should too!
Micro-influencers
Way back in the day (okay, more like 2018), influencers were considered a cost-effective way to raise brand awareness and sell more products. Now, through the power of social media, influencers come with a hefty price tag. However, you have influencers right in your community. Use the people that buy your products and use your services as micro-influencers. Partner with affiliated businesses (think real estate and interior designers) to play off each other’s social media posts. Real engagement = real influence.
Social Commerce
The world changed in 2020 in more ways than one. Online shopping went beyond retail and it went beyond websites. If you sell a product, you need to sell it online and you need to sell it directly on social media. Users want a one-stop experience with social media, including shopping.
Paid Social
Would you give out services or products for free every day to everyone who walks through your door? Neither will Facebook. Social media has evolved beyond keeping up with friends and family and sharing recipes. It is now another form of paid advertising. Like radio, TV and print, social media is marketing. If you want to reach more people and build your brand, you have to pay to play on social media.
Culture
What attracts people to social media? It’s other people. And most importantly, its people that you can relate to. Your employees, your family, and your customers are what people engage with most on social media. Your business and your products are secondary. Don’t feel like you have to keep it strictly business on social media - have fun and be real!
The moral of the story? Social media trends can be scary - but without risk, there is no reward. Take a moment to evaluate your audience and your goals. Pick a social media trend or two and try it out. Give it at least three months to evaluate your data and then…you guessed it. Social media will probably change again and then it’s time to come back to our blog and see what the newest trends are. Until next time!