The year 2018 is here and so far we have felt the impact on all sectors. Everyone is optimistic that changes will continue to occur. Social media marketing (SMM) is already a developed strategy that is shaping digital marketing in businesses. Through this it’s evident that social media is no longer used for socializing alone.
Experts anticipated several changes for this year, some of which have already begun. If your business has not taken up a smm service, now is the time. These are the trends that will continue to change social media in 2018.
Live Streaming
This concept has been around for several years, but its true potential is only starting to be seen. As businesses realize that social media fans would rather watch a video than reading content, the popularity of the concept continues to rise fast. Some reports show that over 80% of potential customers using social media would go for a live video rather than read text.
Facebook has been on the forefront of live streaming content, of which many business people are taking advantage. The usage rate of live streaming by sellers has already increased this year. Digital marketers are optimistic that this will continue to grow.
More Ads
Since its conception, social media has been a prime space for advertising. Ads on social media are hugely successful, and their use keeps growing each year. Most social media marketing experts will consistently take advantage of top social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to post ads according to set rules. Well-designed ads will generally yield positive results.
The only difference when comparing this year to previous ones is that the number of social media ads will grow by over 30%, according to reliable reports. The experts will focus more on paid ads, which are posted on active pages and groups.
Augmented Reality
This is a project that giant online platforms have been working on for many years to change how people market their brands. However, despite this, it has consistently failed to pick up. This year, those companies that have failed are already using the AR concept to enter the marketing segment that they previously weren’t able to penetrate.
Facebook and Snapchat are on the frontline of companies aiming to bring this concept into reality. Clients can now see various products and brands as they would in the real world. This is done through various soft and hardware. The remainder of this year should see great progress in this field.
Increased Privacy
Social media is a virtual space notorious for its lack of privacy. Most of the cybercrime that damages peoples’ reputation every day originates on social media platforms.
However, there has been a great improvement this year on social media-based cybercrime, a trend which is expected to continue. Software can now be used to protect the privacy of users. So, whether you are responding or making a comment to a company and do not want others to see, you now have a higher chance of doing it privately.
Increase in Personal Experiences
Social media is now being integrated with giant search engines like Google to more facilitate data collection and interpretation. Analytics tools can know the number of people visiting your site and what their concerns are. This way, companies are in a position to customize campaign messages and content depending on the needs of people.
In 2018, marketing companies are also using various tools that filter activity and then inform about activity of fans on social media. Some automated software can automatically send customized messages to potential buyers.
Use of Social Listening Tools
This is a concept that is very helpful in understanding customer needs. As both sellers and buyers interact more on social media, this year has seen innovators explore more creative options. Social listening tools track the communication between sellers and their buyers on social media platforms and pick certain words and phrases as programmed. From the analysis reports that they give, it is easier to understand what the customers want. Social listening programs are therefore an analytic tool that can help you understand the needs of your clients
Increased Customer and Brand Engagement
Increasing numbers of people are using social media on a daily basis more than any other internet-based platform. Companies have taken this into account, and the number of sellers using platforms to advertise the products has increased. However, posting the info is not enough. You need to create a connection between the customers and the brand. This year has seen sellers come up with strategies that increase customer brand loyalty, where your Facebook fans, for instance, will share your company page with their friends and recommend it.
This and the other trends that we have discussed have played a major role in shaping social media for this year. As a business person, there is a lot you can take advantage of to make a difference in your business. The time is now!
