5

Social

Media

Trends

You

Should

Know

About

A solid social media presence has the power to transform your business quickly. Therefore, if you are using social media in your strategy, it needs to be effective. One way to check this is to stay in line with current social media trends.

We’ve compiled a list of the top five trends you should be aware of this year.

5 Social Media Trends You Should Know About

1. Augmented reality is on the rise.

Augmented realities continue to appear and develop rather quickly. As virtual reality enters the social media scene, users will start to use these technologies to enhance their experience.

What does augmented reality look like when it comes to social media?

You’re probably familiar with the rise and of Pokemon Go, for example. If you are an avid Snapchat user, you may have already experimented with varying shades of augmented reality as well.

It’s a technology that lays a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a blended view.

2. Social media will bring live presence to the fore.

In recent years, social media platforms have been used to promote a variety of content. However, in 2017 we’re starting to see more authentic content published.

For example, live videos are emerging on Instagram and Facebook. Users are attracted to live video simply because it seems like it’s more credible and captivating than less authentic content.

3. Advertising may become more costly.

As social media platforms start to lose ad space, you can expect paid advertising to increase. This isn’t necessarily a problem if you have a different marketing strategy, but it may mean having to expand your budget to incorporate more allotted dollars towards paid digital ads.

4. Messaging will continue to expand.

This is one of the most essential social media trends to follow:

Many platforms are already integrating messaging systems on websites and in apps. One-on-one communication is a key aspect of user experience.

Integrating a personalized social messaging system into your website can dramatically increase engagement. It provides a more personal and effective means of communication that users prefer.

5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will dominate.

With the rise of virtual reality comes the rise of AI. How does AI appear on social media platforms? Most often, you encounter what’s known as a chatbot on various websites. That’s a form of AI that directly engages with customers.

Chatbots can provide answers to customers’ questions, resolve product issues, as well as assist with sales and transactions. They provide an efficient way for users to resolve issues and engage with businesses without having to go to a physical location or make a phone call.

Harnessing the Power of Social Media

Overall, Social media is an all-important tool for your business, and it’s proven to boost sales and grow your customer base. However, it’s easy to overlook the full advantages that social media offers, especially as the field adopts virtual realities and live feeds.

Therefore, as you work on your social media presence, keep in mind these platform trends. Consider responding to these trends by integrating them into your marketing strategy for 2017.

Most of all, you’re not alone in managing your social media strategy. We can help you stay on top of the game.