To be successful marketing your company on social media, you must stay up-to-date with the latest techniques that are popular in the digital marketing space. Understanding how platforms change, and knowing which new ones emerge can put your business ahead of the game, and leave your competitors trying to play catch up.
During the first half of 2016, we’ve seen several trends get bigger and better, and on new platforms, that can help your business achieve its social media goals.
Live-Streaming
The growing popularity of live-streaming has brought the capability to a variety of different social media channels. YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook all give you the opportunity to live-stream your activity in front of your audience. Fans appreciate live-streaming because of the added authenticity which seems personal and more intimate way to connect. These videos work best to showcase events and product releases, but there are many different ways to create content for your company through live-streaming.
In-App Purchases
Pinterest first introduced this capability back in June, while Facebook just recently expanded its “shop” section on business pages. The ability to make purchases within social media pages is great for both the company and the channel. The “buy it” button makes purchasing easy and convenient which encourages sales for the company without having to leave the social media site. This evolving trend is sure to change the way people shop online.
Mobile Matters
It’s no secret that consumers spend most of their time with their phone in their hands. Over the years, this has resulted in a vast majority of social media use happening on smartphones. It has never been more important to ensure that your company site is mobile responsive, and looks good on a mobile device. If you are linking to your site from your social channels, then there is a good chance that the person clicking will be seeing a mobile version of your site. Make sure your site is visually appealing on mobile, so it is easier to convert sales.
Behind the Scenes with Stories
“Stories” was an important way to tell your company’s story online when it was exclusive to Snapchat. Now that “Stories” has made its way to Instagram, it has become even more vital for your brand. Companies who have been growing their audience on Instagram since 2010 now have a new way to use what everyone loves about Snapchat, in front of their larger Instagram following. Both applications allow for you to give your audience a behind the scenes look at your company and show off your culture in a fun, different, visually engaging way.
These trends continue to grow and develop depending on how users interact with the content. It is important to remember to adapt as the social media trends change. These current trends will help your company keep up with the competition and stay relevant in today’s social world. For more information about the importance of telling your company’s story on social media, check out our most recent blog!