However, social media evolves—as do its users. That’s why it is important for marketers to stay on top of the latest trends—both short-term and long-term shifts—and build their strategies accordingly. Here are some of the biggest trends to watch for in 2020, according to recent articles from CMS Wire and Influencer MarketingHub:
Hyperlocal Marketing
Following an uptick in searches on smartphones in 2017 that included the phrase “near me,” Google adjusted its algorithm. Now, getting information and the ability to deliver effective hyperlocal marketing will be key in 2020. That’s according to CMS Wire.
Video Content Dominance
“Whether it is short-form videos like those popular on TikTok or Stories or long-form content on YouTube, videos are the future of social media content,” according to Influencer MarketingHub. The article cites a Cisco study that shows that by 2022, 82% of all online content will be video content. “If you’re not currently creating videos, it is time that you include it in your content strategy. In the near future, videos will dominate social media and anyone who doesn’t realize that will have a tough time.”
Diminishing Value of Likes, Tweets and Views
The number of likes or views or retweets of a certain product is not a gauge on whether a product is well-liked or not. Google Analytics is one good way to measure regression and progression of specific internet traffic. Instagram has eliminated the ability to view how many likes there are on photos, according to CMS Wire.
The Rising Popularity of Ephemeral Content
Ephemeral content, or content that is available for a short time and then disappears, is growing in popularity due to the changing way people are consuming content and decreasing consumer attention spans. Examples of this are Instagram and Snapchat Stories. This content is “addictive in a way that people can spend hours scrolling through one Story after another,” according to Influencer MarketingHub.
The Growth of Niche Social Platforms
Facebook and Instagram are synonymous with the term social media. They are the largest and most popular platforms. But, they are hardly the only social media platforms—and now some of the others are getting their time in the limelight. TikTok is one example. LinkedIn and Twitch are others ones to continue to watch, according to Influencer MarketingHub.
Channel Chasing
Understanding where to advertise will be a significant and, at times, complicated challenge. Social media outlets will need to prove that ad spending on their platform is effective and more valuable than not only other social media platforms, but also other channels that offer advertising, such as the likes of Amazon, according to CMS Wire.