Once upon a time, it was all about BEING trendy – you know, when Viennetta ice cream was the fancy dessert, lycra and leg warmers were cool and everyone used the word ‘radical’. But now it’s about WHAT is trending.
From filming TikTok dances and creating memes to videoing challenges where people slap each other in the face with a tortilla and try not to laugh… there is no shortage of bizarre social media trends.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to create a viral TikTok in order to expand your reach or engage your audience online; it is simply about being consistent and communicating with your target audience in a way that is exciting, fresh and relevant.
Over the next 12 months, there are several social media trends transforming the organic posting landscape on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, many of which businesses will need to be aware of in order to maintain a competitive edge. But save you from trying to navigate the rabbit hole that is social media, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
Short-Form Video Content
Short-form video content has taken the social media world by storm. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have shown that consumers love short-form video content. And it makes sense; many users prefer to watch something than read something (unless you’re a book nerd). As a result, social media giants like Meta are jumping on the trend by introducing their own versions of short-form video content.
Film a fun birthday message for a team member, piece together a highlight reel from a strategy day or networking night or, if you’re feeling extra creative, shoot your own sitcom-style mini video like in The Office. These days, you can make video content from nearly anything. And no, you don’t need a professional videographer either; many of today’s phones can shoot high-quality videos, and our team are able to turn them into fun short snippets. Video content also spices up your feed and adds a little extra flavour other than the traditional text and image posts.
Emphasis on Storytelling
Storytelling has always been a crucial part of marketing, and it’s only getting more important in 2023. Consumers want to connect with brands on a deeper level, and storytelling is an effective way to do that. This is where organic posting provides incredible value. By sharing authentic stories about your brand, you can build trust with your audience and create a lasting impression.
It could be doing some spotlights on your team members, sharing a feel-good story from a client, doing a case study on a recent project, or just taking the time to really showcase your ethos and values. But don’t make the mistake of writing a social media post the length of an essay; our social media experts can tactfully write posts that link to your website, a blog or a video to get your audience to interact with your brand beyond social media.
Greater Emphasis on Personalisation
Consumers want personalised experiences, and social media platforms are increasingly incorporating personalisation features, so it’s time to start taking advantage of them! Essentially, social media algorithms take into account a user’s behaviour, such as what they like, comment on, and share, to leverage data in order to deliver more relevant content to the user.
From custom feeds and follow recommendations to interactive and user-generated content, it’s important to really understand that when it comes to social media, consumers are big influencers on the success of brands. So don’t underestimate the power of creating more personalised experiences. Understanding the use of hashtags, writing your posts to address a specific audience segment and conducting thorough research into topics that are trending within your industry is a great starting point, and we can do it all for you.
Integration of Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) (like what the Pokémon Go app uses) is no longer a novelty in social media marketing; it has become a powerful tool for engaging consumers and creating unique experiences. By incorporating AR into your social media strategy, you can create immersive experiences that capture the attention. This might be a bit scary if you know nothing about it, but we encourage you to dip your toes in and have a play around with AR yourself to see how engaging it can be. While AR is not yet standard social media practice, it’s definitely a trend to stay abreast of for the future.
Trends and good content are one thing, but without a plan, your social media will likely not see much improvement. For this reason, a comprehensive strategy that considers your business goals, target audience, and social media trends is vital.
As a business owner, you may not have the time or expertise to create and implement a successful social media marketing strategy. That’s where partnering with a social media marketing expert from 80/20 Digital can help. Our expertise means we stay on top of trends so you don’t have to, saving you time, money and stress. Give us a call today on 03 9042 0714 to learn more, or explore our organic social media packages.
80/20 Digital's Content & SEO Specialist, Abbey Faulkner is dedicated to staying on top of industry trends and putting her creativity to good use for her clients. She combines her expertise in media and writing to boost rankings, improve brand awareness, increase engagement and generate leads across clients' websites, email marketing and social media.
