What to Watch Part 2: Social Media Trends in 2019
Whether you’re in marketing or management, it’s nearly impossible to avoid being present on social media. Your consumers want to engage with you, and your best tool, besides your website, are social media platforms – Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. While dozens of platforms exist and it seems like algorithms change daily, it’s important to remember what platforms and content are important to your organization.
You may already be a social media and content expert; however, some organizations are just getting their feet wet and simply trying to keep pace with change. No matter where you are on the social media spectrum, you’ll want to consider the following social and content trends of 2019.
In a study done by Cisco, it is expected that by 2019, 80 percent of global Internet consumption will be video content. This includes any of the following: short-form (YouTube and Facebook), long-form (Netflix and HULU), live-streaming, online rentals/purchases, and webcam views. If you really want to break the numbers down, the study says that 17 percent of Internet video traffic will be from live video by 2022. Video is a great way to engage with your consumers on a more personal level. We’ve created video case studies, short YouTube videos, and incorporated video into some of our email campaigns. In the case of the email campaign, we saw a 15 percent open rate. Live video is a great way to showcase your business. Keep in mind that the length of the video matters greatly. Examples of how you might build momentum and excitement with video:
See the green circular icon in the lower right-hand corner of this webpage? That’s a live chatbot (if you have a question about this blog post or just want to test it out, say hi). It allows website visitors to connect with our team instantly, thus offering a convenient and efficient customer experience. Most content management systems and web platforms allow for adding a live chat for free (or a small fee if you’d like something really fancy). And, if you’re really looking to engage with your consumers, use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter messengers to connect with your followers.
You don’t have to write a novel each time you write a new blog post, yet you’ll want to get in the habit of extending your writing with more details. So long are the days of convincing your editors to write at least 500 words. Have no fear! Google isn’t going to give you the axe if you aren’t hitting a certain word count. However, a high-quality article is considered a minimum of 1,000 or more words. Spend some time reviewing your Google Analytics and your SEO strategies. This will help you determine if you should expand on your content.
If you’re a Millennial or Gen Z, this type of content marketing was developed for you. We often have FOMO – fear of missing out. And short-lived content fulfills just that. Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook stories are ideal to host short-lived content. Whether it is a time-sensitive promotional code or a sneak peek at a new product, you prompt your viewer to make an impulsive decision with this strategy. In addition, knowing how to use your platforms to showcase your content is crucial. In a post by Wix, Snapchat should be used to show the “behind the scenes” of your organization; and Instagram and Facebook stories are for call-to-action type content – your promos, events, live videos, etc.
We’ve all been there before – you’re thinking of something you’re going to purchase, browsed for it once, and then all of a sudden it’s popping up all over your news feed. While some are convinced their phones are listening, many marketers use “social listening” as a form of engaging with their consumers. Social listening is a tool that takes specific keywords and scans the Internet –websites and social media platforms – to see how consumers are engaging with brands. For example, if I search for flights out of Traverse City on Expedia, I can almost guarantee after exiting out of my browser that I’ll find Facebook ads from Expedia pushing me to make a purchase to wherever I was looking to travel to. As a marketer, this is an effective tool to understand your consumer market.
Social media and content marketing can be intimidating, especially when trying to keep up with ever-changing platforms and trends. We have the team of social and content experts to supercharge your marketing. Click the chatbot in the lower right corner or send us an email to help you get started!
Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to see how we engage with our followers!
Marketing Manager