Social Media Trends … 5 things to look out for in 2016!
I wonder if marketers expected social media to be THIS big 5 years or so back? Social Media has changed the way marketing and advertising works. As we are very nearly at the end of 2015 we are reviewing the changes that have happened in the digital world and what there is to come for 2016. We have put together 5 social media predictions and what to watch out for.
‘BUY’ buttons
Now that the big players in the social media field (Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest) have put Buy buttons onto their channels, it is only a matter of time until the other platforms follow suit. This will make it even easier for users to buy products directly through social media channels – this will be very exciting for anyone in the tech industry and exciting for us social marketers to watch!
Real time is going to get ‘realer’
Periscope, Snapchat, Meerkat, Blab – the obsession is only going to continue for 2016! Now allowing you to share and capture a moment on video and share instantly with your friends rather than having to wait to upload and share with your friends later.
Instant Articles
Launched in October 2015 Facebook’s instant articles will be something to watch in 2016. This allows publishers to post content without users having to leave the website to read it. It is a new way for you to create fast, interactive articles on Facebook. All you need to do is look for the lightning bolt on the top right corner of some stories shared in News Feed - this indicates it's an Instant Article. When you tap the story, it loads ten times faster than a standard mobile web article and the reading experience is beautiful and interactive. This trend will continue into 2016 allowing more opportunity for you to engage with your audience on just one platform! What’s not to love about this?!
Social Search
Up to 80% of consumers are influenced by online reviews and comments created by other consumers. We and they are not typing into Google anymore, we are heading straight to Youtube, Facebook and Pinterest for advice and opinions. Partnering with social media influencers (bloggers, vloggers) is a trend on the rise and something that is bound to have a positive affect on your business for 2016. Of course you are going to big your product or service up, but having someone else big it up for you is a must!
The visibility competition will increase
We all know that Facebook have cut down on how many people your post can reach organically and for 2016, they are going to make the competition to reach your audience harder and will be increasing the cost of the advertising throughout 2016.Remember: Make sure you stay social! Users want to see, watch and hear from real life people. Wasn’t that the whole point of social media to begin with? Can we help your business group in digital marketing? Our dedicated team are happy to discuss your social media requirements for your business in greater depth and we can help you crate an informative digital marketing strategy. Drop us a line on info@themarketing-collective.com!