Do you know important social media marketing trends to take note and probably integrate into your marketing strategy in 2019?
The start of the new year is the perfect time to take a closer look at your marketing efforts. Social media marketing is changing at a fast pace with increased connectivity and more than 3.3 billion social media users globally. That means in order to keep up, marketers need to keep an eye out for the latest trends and ensure they are keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing. Here are the most important social media marketing trends to note and integrate into your marketing strategy for 2019.
Social Media Marketing Trends for 2019 You Can’t Avoid To Miss Out On
1. Engagement
Engagement is one of the most important ranking factors in the social media marketing world right now, especially with Facebook’s updated algorithm. Early in 2018 they announced that their algorithm would be changing to favor meaningful interactions. Users have been struggling to adjust to this update throughout 2018 and now that we are moving into a new year, have finally started to get their footing. This means the competition for the most meaningful content is at its highest.
It is no longer enough to encourage likes, comments and shares on your posts. People should want to interact organically because the content is engaging. Content that sparks a genuine conversation or evokes authentic interest will rank higher on social media platforms. Say goodbye to clickbait headlines with empty content. Marketers and page managers need to focus on creating interesting content in 2019.
2. Micro and nano influencers
Influencer marketing is not a new concept. We have all seen celebrity influencers endorsing products on their Instagram and Twitter pages. However, those sponsored campaigns are becoming more and more expensive. Companies who don’t want to shell out millions of dollars are instead turning to micro and nano influencers. These smaller-scale influencers with under 50k followers cost much less than say, Kim Kardashian.
These influencers have a strong, authentic following and tend to have a heavier influence over their followers. We are following these accounts because we trust what they have to say and want to tune into their daily lives. In this way, micro and nano influencers can have a stronger pull over the market than celebrities. They are also much easier to reach and deal with due to the fact that brands can speak to them directly rather than going through representatives.
3. Instagram Stories and Live Videos
Over the past several years, stories on social media, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook for example, have become wildly popular. According to a Merkle’s report, more than 400 million people watch Instagram stories daily and with over 1 billion active Instagram users, that number will continue to grow. 80 percent of those active accounts follow at least one business, meaning there is ample opportunity to build an audience and begin using stories for advertising content.
Since Facebook launched its “Live” feature in 2016 there have been 3.5 billion live broadcasts, doubling year over year. More recently, Instagram has also launched live video features. The widespread popularity of these live broadcasts is a powerful tool for marketers to consider. The interactivity and authenticity of live videos can be used to strengthen the bond between a brand and its followers. Live video leaves room for genuine mistakes. This level of transparency increases trust in a brand and allows followers an inside look into your business.
4. Facebook Messenger Chatbots
Chatbot customer service platforms are one of the most important points of contact between brands and their customers right now and Facebook Messenger chatbots are the most commonly used. Using them via social media is a great way to interact with consumers in a place where they already spend a majority of their time. According to a Facebook survey, 53 percent of customers said they would prefer to shop with a business they can message online.
Not only do these bots answer questions and interact with customers on a human level, they also provide an excellent channel for gathering customer data. They evaluate demographics and their preferences, which can then be used to further tailor marketing efforts directly toward the most receptive customers.
5. Sales Enablement
Product discovery through social media is proving to be a powerful tool for marketers. According to a Mary Meeker report, 55 percent of respondents who found a product on social media went on to purchase it later. Using social networks for product promotion allows brands to promote their products through their posts and get them in front of a massive audience. Although social media is meant for social interactions, it is headed more and more toward becoming a business funnel.
Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest are the most popular spaces for product promotion. What makes social media channels a more successful place for sales is the fact that businesses don’t necessarily need an outright sales pitch. Instead you can use your social pages to tell your company’s story and let customers in on your mission and values while subtly including products in your posts. This encourages sales while fostering a genuine connection to followers.
Conclusion
As we move further into the new year, take some time to evaluate your social media marketing efforts. Be sure you’re paying attention and keeping up with these social media marketing trends!
Social media marketing is evolving at great pace and failure to evolve with it means you are leaving money on the table for your competitors by not following the latest social media marketing trends and practices.
More About Me
Social media marketing in my viewpoint has become new SEO as posts which get shared most on social media tend to rank higher in search results too. Social media itself is growing fast while SEO as a field is plundering and nobody knows what new shifts it could take in new coming years. Things are changing fast but one thing is now for sure that social media signals have already started playing their role in the search engine results.
Thanks for giving the knowledge that how social media is helpful to develop a business.