Social media is evolving on a constant basis. Every year, there are new trends, new developments, and new perks to look forward to within the social media universe. As such, marketers who want to succeed in the world of social media need to stay on the edge.
This is as true in 2017 as it’s always been. Because of new technology, new user behavior, and a more intense focus on building unique relationships with customers, social media has shifted dramatically. We have some exciting things to look forward to this year.
What’s New In Social Media For 2017?
Here’s what marketers can expect to see as 2017 wears on:
1. More Live Video Content
According to HubSpot, 14% of marketers experimented with live video content in 2016. That number will only rise this year. Our world is increasingly on-the-go and connected. Live video content provides a fantastic platform for brands to be authentic and build relationships with their audience.
According to Periscope, people used the app to watch 110 years of live video daily in 2016. With these numbers in mind, it will be no surprise see their counterparts creating more video content in the coming year.
If you’re considering jumping on the bandwagon, think about where your customers spend their time on social media. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook all have live video options. It’s easier than ever to ensure the video you’re producing reaches your customers in the places they already are.
2. Messaging Apps For Customer Service
Technology has a broad reach, and it’s expanded into customer service in recent years. Today, more brands are turning to messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat to handle their customer service needs. As it stands, more than 4 billion people worldwide are using messaging apps. This offers an incredible opportunity for brands to reach their customers in more intimate ways.
In addition to being highly cost-effective, messaging apps are also scalable and easy to use. If you’re considering incorporating messaging apps into your customer service strategy, be sure to have somebody staffing your messaging platforms at all times. The downside of technology is that clients now expect to be able to reach their favorite brands faster than ever before. Speed pays if you were going to use messaging apps to resolve your company’s customer service concerns.
3. Marketers Will Start Using Social Media Platforms to Make Sales More Frequently
Today, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook all offer ways for customers to purchase items directly within the app. As such, marketers are turning to these popular social platforms as an avenue for making sales and pitching products.
According to an Aimia survey, 56% of customers follow brands they admire on social media. One of the primary reasons they do so is to browse items. Futhermore, 31% of online shoppers report that they use social media to do product research before making a buying decision.
4. Virtual Reality Will Become A Popular Marketing Tool
If you thought virtual reality was reserved for sci-fi films and robots, think again. In 2017, virtual reality is likely to become an incredibly popular marketing tool. Because it offers an immersive, unique experience that is currently unlike any other available, virtual reality is something that more marketers will likely turn to in the coming year.
Brands like TOMS have already used virtual reality to make an impact with customers. For example, the company’s “One for One” campaign, which takes customers along on a VR expedition to Peru.
5. A Crackdown On Low-Quality News Sites
While this may not seem something that is directly related to marketing, the ‘fake news’ crackdown will have a large impact on the way that people interact with social media. In recent years, social media has become the preferred communication platform of choice for millennials and many other people. As these platforms have become more popular, the level of unsavory or “fake” news on them has ballooned.
The peak of the fake news crisis came just before the 2016 presidential election when false news spread like wildfire from both sides of the aisle. To keep their content credible and the trust of their users stable, social media platforms like Facebook are cracking down on so-called fake news outlets. They are working to ensure that the brands who use the platforms have something genuine and verifiable to sell or say. This focus on quality and relevance will ripple out to affect companies in various industries. The brands who produce high-quality, trustworthy content will begin to stand out.
6. A Continued Focus On Mobile Platforms
Mobile platforms have been dominating the world of social media for a few years now, and will continue to do so. It was estimated that more than 2 billion customers worldwide owned smart phones in 2016. As such, social media platforms and the marketers who use them are shifting their focus continually. They want to provide better experiences for users, ensuring all content is readily available on mobile platforms.
Understanding Social Media in 2017
While predicting upcoming social trends can feel complex, it’s important to remember that people who know what the trends are can adapt accordingly. While these six changes are indeed new and exciting, they’re also a continuation of the way social media has been trending for years: more personal, more unique, more meaningful. Brands that continue to adhere to those principals will perform just as well (if not better) in 2017 than they did in 2016.
To learn more about how your company can ace social media in 2017, or to find the perfect team to help you, contact Thrive Internet Marketing today – your source for all your digital marketing needs.
