The year 2018 came with a shift in digital marketing. Companies realized that people spend most of their time on social media, and this became the perfect platform for advertising.
However, it is important to note that most people struggle to focus as attention duration has reduced to 8 seconds, and brands find it difficult to catch the attention of consumers. Therefore, brands need to look for ideas that will fit the speed.
Here are five trends of social media marketing as of December 2018
#1. Augmented Reality (AR)
Mobile phones are now powerful and social apps have integrated better with AR. Agencies can use AR to engage potential buyers. Apple has already launched iPhone X and iPhone 8, which has new AR encounters.
As such, social channels will develop ideas of integrating AR. Using unique filters, companies can now project their products into their customer’s homes. For instance, IKEA rolled ‘Place’ is an app that enables consumers to preview furniture in their home before buying.
AR is an easy and quick way of showing customers how the product will look in their homes before buying.
#2. Chatbots
Chatbots are now able to connect instantly with customers from all over the globe. Chatbots make the interaction with customers more personal than other social media marketing strategies.
With bots becoming intelligent, you can send customized messages directly to potential customers. Already, there are several active bots on Facebook Messenger, providing marketers with a new way to connect with the audience.
#3. Ephemeral Content
Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat stories have increased the use of ephemeral content. The shared ephemeral content stays up for 24 hours then disappears forever.
Companies can create ephemeral content for their social channels as a marketing strategy. This strategy enables brands to be more authentic.
You can use your Instagram profile to post your high quality and real-time content and stories. Since this content will not stay for a long time, your followers will act quickly making you the ultimate winner.
#4. Video
Videos are currently our main consumption. We can say that videos comprise of 90% of all the content shared online. The biggest challenge is creating a video that will capture your audience’s attention within the first 3 seconds.
Brands need to use short videos as a social media strategy since they are the fastest growing ad format in the world. A video is the closest a brand will get to a face-to-face conversation with its customers.
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat have invested in videos to increase engagement. You can use Facebook Live or Instagram Live to engage your customers.
#5. Influencer Marketing
Marketers are now investing in influencer marketing. The only challenge is knowing who to trust. Consumers look for authenticity from influencers. If you work with a trusted influencer, your brand will have high engagement rates.
The secret to using influencer marketing effectively is to create and maintain a good relationship with influencers. You require personalized messaging to keep these relationships. In the future, influencer marketing will turn companies into experts.
Wrap up
When planning to use any of the above strategies, make sure to have a solid implementation plan. You can use a suitable platform to promote your brand name and expose you to the social media world.