At the risk of stating the obvious, the Social Media has been a transformative force in the world of marketing and advertising. It offers businesses and brands an almost infinite number of ways to reach their targeted consumers. The smartest marketers keep a close watch on new social media trends so they’ll be successful at leveraging them in their digital marketing. Social media has evolved. We’ve said GOODBYE to simple status updates (“Drinking my favorite latte and binge-watching The Crown”) and HELLO to building business, selling products, driving traffic to websites and growing our overall digital communities. While new social media features and trends can feel never-ending; like social commerce, showcasing your human side, and dominating video content; they also give you the opportunity to experiment and connect with your audience in a different way. So, if you’re interested in leveraging social media trends in 2022, we’re taking this opportunity to throw you some guidance on the subject.
Social Commerce
Social commerce (the use of social network in the context of e-commerce- ie selling products online) is nothing new, but it is probably going to dominate social media in 2022. Consumers want to have experiences in the places where they are already spending time. We will see more brands testing shoppable functionality on all social media platforms. From shop buttons to livestreams to ads to influencers, the ‘social sale’ will be at the forefront of smart social strategies for product-selling businesses.
Customer Service
Businesses will find that getting back to the basics of relationship building and customer service on their social media platforms would be VERY beneficial. Communicating and connecting on social media was always what it was there for, but from a business’s standpoint, it hasn’t really been a thing in the past. Business accounts were communicating the SELL SELL SELL ideas to drive revenue – which is their main goal. More recent social media trends show businesses that leverage a more personal communication with their audience are also building trust and loyalty within that group. I realize that organic engagement is tough, but people just don’t want to be treated like they aren’t important or focused on. Working the customer service angle on social media will be a very important trend for businesses in the future.
Recruiting
As Gen-X and Z-ers search for workforce opportunities, social media strategies must shift to meet them on their preferred platforms. Facebook’s popularity (57%) among Gen X-ers barely trails behind YouTube (60%); while Instagram (37%), TikTok (20%), and Snapchat (20%) follow at a distance. Among Gen Z adults, however, falls behind YouTube (69%) and Instagram (67%). Using next-gen social platforms such as TikTok for employer branding and recruiting will be critical for both B2C and B2B in 2022. While TikTok videos aren’t heavily branded, they provide a great opportunity to humanize your brand and give talent a behind-the-scenes view of life at your company.
Showcasing Your Human Side
We talked a little about this earlier, but something that should never go out of style is a business being HUMAN on social media. Consumers are sizing up more than products and services in their social feeds. They are looking at how aligned a brand is to its purpose, mission and social issues. Marketers should lean into this and use social media to showcase their brand’s personality and perspective. Showcasing your human side will also make your audience feel they know you better and to KNOW you is to TRUST you. It’s a win win!
Dominating Video Content
Video content remains one of the most engaging forms of content on Social Media. According to a Cisco study, by 2022, 82% of all online content will be video content. This clearly shows how important it is to start utilizing dominating video content to stay relevant in the social media domain.
If your business is interested in leveraging the latest social media trends but doesn’t quite know where to start, Creative Juices Marketing Agency is here to help! We’ll use our creativity and ever-expanding experience to make sure your business is in the right position to compel your customer base, improve and build on your brand, and ultimately increase your revenue. Contact Denise Hood at 434 964 7511 or send us this CONTACT FORM.
