Social Media Trends for 2020

There’s little doubt that social media has cemented itself as a driving force in digital marketing. With billions of people active on at least one social platform, it’s easy to see why marketers consider social media to be an effective part of their digital strategy.

Thanks to technology brands of every size can gain unprecedented access to people across the globe. But greater access also means greater competition. To ensure that your brand stands out from the social crowd you need to know which social media trends matter the most in the new decade.

So what social trends should brands focus on in 2020? Let’s take a look…

• Meaningful Connections

Gone are the days of self-serving messages and posts on social platforms. Simply providing a service online just won’t cut it in today’s world. These days, people actively seek out brands that are willing to go the extra mile and nurture relationships with their customers on social media. Knowing that a brand understands and cares about their customers is more important than the product or service that’s being provided.

Brands need to dial back the flash and focus on the basics like the interests and challenges of their specific audience. Doing so will enable brands to create content that will resonate with their audience, thereby creating the start of a meaningful connection.

• Micro-Influencers

Influencer marketing is changing. Big-name influencers (like Kim Kardashian) no longer hold the monopoly in the digital space. This is due to social media users gravitating toward micro-influencers. While these influencers may not have the biggest audience numbers their knowledge of specific topics, brands and products is more specialized.

As such brands need to consider the impact of micro-influencers when selecting an individual to work with. Micro-influencers have more defined audiences and can offer a higher level of personalization and better audience engagement. And the results are amazing because people are more likely to follow the advice of influencers they can relate to on the same level.

• Platform Diversity

For the longest time social media giants like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have been a dominant force online. While these sites still hold a seat at the head of the social media marketing table, newer (albeit smaller) platforms like SnapChat and TikTok have made their presence known. Research indicates that these sites are gaining popularity among younger social media users like Gen Zers.

This means that brands need to embrace smaller social networks if they want to reach a wider audience. The good news is that you don’t have to ditch the tried and tested sites. Brands simply have to add a few more platforms to their marketing repertoire. There are also a few unique benefits to using smaller sites, like reduced costs due to lower levels of competition.

• Authentic Content

While striving to create the most authentic content isn’t a new digital marketing concept, its value among users has increased over time. Social media users are savvier and more skeptical than ever. Before they make a purchasing decision users want insights from real people. This is where authentic content is the most valuable. Content like customer reviews, opinion pieces, and personal essays do better than canned company posts that just push a product or service.

Content with a personal angle is viewed and more genuine and therefore more trustworthy. It’s also important to note that content can still allude to the brand’s core values, mission, and benefits of the product or services – it just needs to be done more subtly.

• The Rise Of Video Content

Video content has slowly carved out a comfortable space for itself on social media. This is largely due to the popularity of ephemeral videos like Instagram and Facebook Stories. These mini-videos are easy to digest, making them one of the most engaging forms of content on social media.

Short-form videos are a great way for brands to get their message across without too much effort. Because they only last 24 hours (on average) there’s no need to make costly adjustments to your entire social media campaign. You simply need to create something better once the video vanishes.

Final Thoughts…

It’s important to remember that social media isn’t just a place for marketing and advertising. It’s a place to build and nurture customer relationships. Social media gives brands the unique opportunity to engage with potential customers on a level playing field. No matter the trends, remember to have fun, create meaningful content, be helpful – and above all be social.

Get in touch with the Digital School of Marketing

If you want to learn more regarding social media marketing and how it can benefit your business, we really suggest that you do a Social Media Marketing Course such as the one which we offer. Follow this link for more information.