Are You In-the-Loop on These 4 Social Media Marketing Trends?

Social media is an ever-changing landscape. It seems like every few weeks there’s some update being made to one of the platforms or there’s a new trend that everyone is jumping on. It can be hard to keep up!

Well, we’re here to tell you that the remainder of 2017 will bring more of the same. Be prepared for another year of social media evolution and little surprises along the way. It’s not all a walk in the dark, though. We’re pretty confident we can tell you four social trends that will be big this year. In no particular order, here they are.

Live Video

LIVE VIDEO NKD Most of my blog followers already know video is huge on social media, but now we’re taking it a step further with live video. Yes, this started trending in 2016, but the rest of 2017 is going to open up a whole world of opportunities for live video. We’re going to see more businesses and brands incorporating live video into their social media strategies this year. There is a level of authenticity with live video that you just don’t get with other forms of social, and it’s drawing big crowds. Last year, Periscope users watched 110 years of live video each day. It’s almost unbelievable, but data doesn’t lie.

Social Shopping

Social media has primarily been used as a means to engage with customers and promote brand awareness. But what if you could initiate a sale through social? Four of the major social networks — Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest — have made it possible for users to buy something directly from the platform, and SnapChat has started testing e-commerce features. Sprout Social found that 57 percent of consumers were more likely to buy from a brand they follow on social media, and 75 percent have bought something from a business because they saw it on social media. So don’t expect social shopping to slow down anytime soon.

Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality NKD

We’ve all seen the commercials of consumers trying VR headsets for the first time, seen their amazed expressions, and heard their wonderment at what they’re seeing. Although this technology is still a newbie on the marketing scene, 2017 might be the year VR arrives. There’s already a VR-based social network called vTime, which lets you interact with your friends and family while in virtual locations. Facebook acquired Oculus back in 2014, and both Facebook and YouTube have introduced 360-video to their platforms. As the year goes on, we’ll likely see a bigger emphasis on VR in the social space. It’s something to keep your eye on.

Pay to Play

Pay to Play NKD

Expect social media advertising to surge in 2017 and 2018. Thanks to algorithm changes, it’s become increasingly more difficult to reach customers the organic way. Nearly all of the platforms use some kind of content preferential system, aimed at delivering users content they actually want. If you want your business’ content to be seen, you’re going to have to pay for it. Adobe estimates that social media ad spend will surpass $41 billion this year. Clearly, marketers are recognizing that the way to get conversions on social is through ads, and the sooner you get on board, the better. You don’t want to miss out on converting customers because you were trying to do things the old-fashioned way.

Stay one step ahead of your competitors by finding ways to incorporate these emerging trends into your business’ marketing strategy. You’ll position yourself as a business that stays on the cutting edge of technology, knows what’s up in marketing, and reap the rewards. If you’d like the comfort of having a marketing partner by your side, Higgins Marketing Group is here for you. We work one-on-one with business owners to develop strategies that work and get you the results you’re looking for. Contact us today to learn more about how our team can help you create a winning marketing plan.