If you’re a social media manager, you’ve probably been curious about the trends in social media for 2023. So, let’s talk about Social Trends!
We recently attended the SocialNext Digital Marketing Insights conference and are here to share some key takeaways. Keep reading; they may be different than you might think!
Top 6 Trends to Follow for Social Media in 2023
Direct Shopping
Social media e-commerce is a powerful tool for businesses. With the rise of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, many businesses have reached a wider audience than ever before. Selling directly from these platforms also makes it more convenient for customers to make purchases which have always been challenging.
Once you set up your digital storefront, you can upload a product catalogue and add product tags to your photos and videos. You can also allow other people to tag your products in their posts- a great example of using user-generated content to have others promote your products for you.
Creating conversions without your customers having to leave the app? A win-win! Your customers have an easy, streamlined experience, and you see the results.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a great way to give your business credibility and reach a large audience. It’s a cost-effective way to promote your brand, but it’s essential to collaborate with influencers who align with your values. If you’re active on social media, you know that the benefits of influencer marketing have grown in popularity over the past few years and are expected to continue in 2023.
When we talk about influencers, our mind often goes straight to celebrities with massive followings. But what if we told you that successful influencer marketing doesn’t always have to be defined by a high number of followers? For many brands, influencers with a smaller, niche audience can yield more impactful results!
If you’re ready to get started, start by setting some goals. Who is the target audience you want to reach, and what measurables do you want to hit? Do your research and start a list of potential collaborators. Then start reaching out!
Building Community
Building a solid community creates opportunities for connection and growth. Many people mistake “followers” for “community.” While followers are people who, quite literally, follow your brand, a community is composed of people who are interested and passionate about you or the industry. A loyal community increases your brand’s visibility and can attract more potential customers.
One of the most successful ways of building a loyal community on social media? Transparency! Businesses willing to show that they respect and listen to customer feedback will earn the trust of their followers, eventually leading to more conversions.
Authentic vs Polished Content
Authentic content is about more than just being perfect. It’s about being true to your brand, audience, and the industry you’re in.
Authentic content helps build an emotional connection between you and your consumers and is a great way to increase engagement. With the world becoming more tech-savvy, your audience can spot false advertising from a mile away, so it’s essential to showcase your credibility through authentic content.
Be relatable- people love to engage with content that relates to themselves. Your audience is likelier to connect with this content than highly curated, too-good-to-be-true posts.
Engagement
Answer ALL comments and messages. When customers have a need or question, they often head straight to social media for an immediate answer. A quick, friendly response can improve your customer experience, which helps develop strong brand loyalty.
On a technical level, with the inconsistency of organic reach, accounts with higher levels of engagement are less likely to be impacted. The more often your content is interacted with, the more likely it is to be shared with other audiences.
Besides being consistent with your replies, note the days and times you post. If you notice any trends, adjust accordingly! Include a call to action on your content to guide people into responding, whether it’s clicking a link, commenting or sharing. And, of course, different types of content will outperform others- we get more into that next!
Quality Content
If you want your content to stand out this year, it’s going to need to be diverse and shareable. Original content that your audience finds valuable will help set your brand up as a leader in the industry!
If the content you’re sharing isn’t engaging or meaningful, it can often have an undesirable effect and can drive your audience away. Showcase your brand’s personality and have consistency in your brand messaging.
Here are some examples of how you can create original content that sparks conversations:
Types of Content:
- Behind-the-scenes tours
- Customer spotlights
- Live video events or interviews
- Infographics
- Testimonials & user-generated content
- Carousels
- This-or-that questions
- Memes
- Longer captions vs shorter ones
When in doubt, ask yourself this:
- What story do you want to tell?
- Why does it matter?
- Who needs to hear it?
Social media is constantly evolving, and it can be overwhelming to keep up. Still, the key to success in this space is experimenting with content and digital marketing trends to see what works best for your business and audience. Keeping an eye on these current social media trends and incorporating them into your digital marketing strategy is critical – and we can help!
Let’s connect! Explore our social media services here!