Social media constantly evolves, and it can be hard to keep up. We have compiled a handy list of trends to watch out for in 2023 so you can adapt and stay at your social best. With change comes great opportunities though so with a bit of creative thinking, you have the potential to reach a whole new audience.
With over 59.3% of the world population active on social media, you’ll definitely want a slice of this enormous pie. In fact, social media usage is still on the rise and steadily growing. The pandemic has a lot to answer for in terms of the huge number of social media users, with people now in the habit of spending more time on their preferred channel.
Implementing the following social media trends will help you increase your brand visibility and help you stand out from the crowd, driving better engagement and market reach. Keeping up with and following up and coming social media trends is key for a successful marketing strategy.
- Keep it authentic
Authenticity has crept up the priority list in determining success for social media platforms. Real-time posts and posts that customers can really relate to are now a necessity rather than just an expectation. Users are more aware than ever of the presence of overly edited images and videos, being cynical before they even view your post.
TikTok is becoming ever more popular, demonstrating the appetite for filter-free content and relatable personas.
- Short video
Video should form a key part of your marketing strategy, and it’s likely you’ll turn to YouTube which remains the leader. But Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn continue to improve their video capabilities which has spurred on the video phenomenon.
Short videos are particularly popular among younger audiences, so if this is your target demographic then this trend is the one for you! They are easy to create, won’t cost an arm and a leg and result in great user-generated content.
Instagram and TikTok are the leaders in this arena, and with attention spans shrinking further still, the demand for “microcontent” is only set to increase.
- Social commerce
We predict that Facebook Shop and Instagram Storefront will become one of the most used features on their respective platforms in 2023. Online shopping has never been more popular, with buyers being more informed than ever before and convenience a number one priority. Being able to find information about you and your product or service offering all in one place is critical to the modern buyer; 54% use social media to research products so social commerce is the ideal way to make a quick purchase off an informed decision.
- Personalised ads
More than half of businesses are planning on increasing their social media advertising budget. Why? Because paid advertising works.
Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn are reported to be the most effective in reaching their business goals and are effective for a variety of types business growth. Of course no one wants to waste money so you’ll need to get creative to boost your visibility and conversion rate. As always, if you need any support with maximising your budget on social media then we are here to help, so please get in touch today.
- Communities
The noise from social media can be overwhelming and hard to cut-through. You might be wondering how your business can reach that oh-so-desirable smaller audience with strong engagement rates. The answer? Facebook Groups and LinkedIn. These communities with high levels of interaction are ideal for drawing in your audience to talk about your brand or perhaps a specific product. You can take the lead on the conversation; gather invaluable feedback and insights and provide value-added content. Your customers will feel valued, empowered, and engaged with your brand.
- Social media and email marketing
Yes we know we said we were giving you 5 trends, but what can we say – we love giving you a little extra!
A successful digital marketing campaign requires a multi-channel approach social and email campaigns to be aligned and work together. Social media is great for building brand awareness and generating interest, whereas email marketing focuses on conversion. One quick example might be offering a giveaway on social media, in return for signing up to the email newsletter. If you want more information about how to coordinate your digital marketing activities then we are here to help.
So there you have it – 5, or rather 6 social media trends to look out for in the new year. Remember that the biggest trends start small, so keep your ear close to the ground and eyes peeled for any opportunities you can take advantage of. Our advice is to focus on a couple of trends that you can do well. Do what works for you and your brand, but remember to also listen to what your audience wants.
