If you are trying to build your business today, what is the one thing that you need the most?
Yes, you need to have a good social media presence. Personally, I have seen some of the best concepts and ideas fail to take off because they have not been able to make a strong enough impact, online.
Now, why does this happen? The one thing you need to remember about social media is that it is not easy to keep up with. It is constantly being changed and upgraded. Therefore, you need to be on your toes at all times. Just to make sure that you do not miss out, here are some social media marketing trends that you need to know about to run a good campaign.
Interactive Content Is a Must
Let me ask you a simple question. The last time you were tempted to revisit a certain page, what did you go back for? I reckon that you found some relevant content, even if it was a meme or a funny image.
This is where interactive content comes into play. The algorithms for several social media platforms such as Facebook are changing to identify content that is able to generate conversation and gain reaction from the users. However, it is not just about urging the user to click or share content. The user must want to react to what he or she sees. The more they comment, tag, or drive traffic to a post, the better it will perform.
It is therefore, my suggestion that you understand the need of the user that your product is fulfilling and then create your content based on that.
Use The Power Of Social Media Influencers
Some people have a lot more followers on social media than you can imagine. These individuals are called influencers because they have the ability to influence their followers through the content they post.
However, here is a secret – even influencers are constantly on the look out for new and refreshing content and can be a great opportunity for you.
If you find influencers who are relevant to your product or service, approach them now. They need your content as much as you need their following. As long as you are certain that what you have to offer is interesting and relevant, you should be able to make some profitable, symbiotic, and strategic partnerships.
Videos Matter The Most
In an age where people have very low attention spans, text is certainly not the only way to go. Visuals make the most lasting impact. If you want to take some information out to your customers, the easiest and most effective way is through videos.
Think of the several IGTV videos that you personally watch through the day. One simple rule in social media marketing is that what interests you as an individual, will interest your customers.
I always vouch for as many videos as possible, with relevant, crisp, and useful content. Watch out for trends like vertical videos and keep them short to keep your audience engaged.
Messenger and Chatbots Create Better Engagement
Whenever I hear the sound of my Messenger notification, I just open my phone to check it out. This has become second nature to most of us today.
According to CEO of the Buyer Group, Lisa Buyer, Facebook Messenger, along with other chatbots has among the highest open rates. According to studies, the open rate for Messenger is about 60-80 percent within an hour of receiving a message.
So, if you want maximum engagement for your content, think of this as the email marketing that your customer has a more direct access to. Create relevant chat blasts and you are sure to grab attention.
Create Trust Among Users
If your customer loses faith in your brand once, you will never be able to gain it back. Pulling tricks like privacy mess-ups and fake updates will only make your business lose credibility.
And, let me warn you, bad opinions spread like wildfire. Instead, it is better to use paid promotions and create strong content. Try to create a conversation with your customer. Show them that they matter and you will be amazed to see how many leads they bring back to you.
LinkedIn Will be in Vogue
If you are not on LinkedIn, you are missing a huge base of customers. LinkedIn is poised to become a huge trend soon. With added features like groups, video upload facilities and the option to connect products to Bing the platform is all set to become more interactive.
You can use these new features to your advantage like any other social media platform, but in a more professional environment.
Make the Most of Employee Generated Content
Ask yourself, who knows your products as well as you do? Is it your customers? Certainly not, it is the people who work for you. The more you engage your employees in driving content on your social media pages, the better the response.
The approach works because it gives the brand or product faces that people can relate to. It therefore, humanizes the brand and improves the connect.
Do Not Neglect Mobile Interface
Where do you access most of your social media today? That is right, on your smartphone. This is true for any user. So, why neglect the mobile interface.
The only way to engage customers is to create a social media experience that is seamless and fluid. Provide backlinks to the application whenever possible.
The option of “Switch to Mobile Version”, for me even as a customer, makes it a lot easier to gain access to the mobile version of your social media page. Keep the design simple and easy. The lesser the text, the more appealing will your social media content be on the smaller screen of the mobile phone.
The more your user is able to access you on the palm of his hand, the more he is likely to revisit your content.