Like it or not, social media’s importance in our daily lives is huge. Some of us try to do our best to live without it, while some build entire careers based on it. Of course, finding a middle ground would be the best, and there’s no need of wanting to abolish it entirely. Be as it may, that’s where all the action happens, and no other place is as fertile for marketing as social media platforms.
In this article, we’ve summarized the most important social media marketing trends for 2022 and probably beyond – as you will see, some of these trends are continuing on from the years before, and some just spurred into action recently but will probably soon dictate their own new trends and shifts on social media marketing.
As you well know, standing out on content-saturated social media platforms is getting harder each day, and a clear strategy is a must to conquer your target audiences. And while harmonizing the perfect campaign and the bigger picture – a strategy – is no easy feat, digging deeper into social media marketing trends for 2022 might be just the thing you need.
The Ever-Growing Importance of TikTok
Keeping in mind that video content and especially short videos are gaining popularity, it is no surprise that TikTok is climbing up the ranks of Instagram. And while TikTok won’t dethrone Instagram as the most popular social media marketing platform just yet, you should probably start planning your advertising there.
Recently, TikTok added some pretty useful tools for businesses, like ads and business profiles, so it’s no longer exclusive to dance routines and challenges. Instead, TikTok will likely become the main platform to reach two very important audience groups – millennials and Gen Z’ers.
Marketing Through Smaller Networks
Marketing your brand on smaller networks, like Pinterest and Snapchat, could be easier if you’re selling a niche product to a niche audience. So, basically, a sure shot at your target audience.
What’s more, data shared by Pinterest Business shows that ads placed on their platform can generate up to twice the return on ad spend for retail companies compared to other platforms. And with Snapchat? While it is still a marketing underdog, Snapchat’s advertising statistics show the potential advertising audience has recently shown significant growth.
Expansion of Social Media Commerce
If just recently shopping directly on social media platforms was the deal of very forward-thinking brands, then today, it is basically a norm and a must. Audiences not only like to be able to buy goods directly on social media platforms but expect it. So much so that eMarketer expects the social commerce industry to reach the $80 billion benchmark as soon as 2025.
So, to think about incorporating a seamless shopping experience when designing a social media page for your business would probably be a very good idea.
Change In Primary Goals – Reaching New Audiences
Social media and social media marketing are about to take a turn to be a people’s platform less so than a place to boost sales and advertise.
According to research completed by HubSpot, most marketers are shifting their goals towards reaching new audiences, growing relationships with customers, and improving customer service.
See, social media platforms can be human!
Video Content Is Likely To Hold its Ground
Although it sounds unbelievable, data from Cisco’s study shows that up to a whopping 82% of social media content in 2022 is bound to be videos. Just think of it – 82%. So, if you aren’t creating video content for your brand’s advertising campaigns, you should probably start doing it now.
There’s one catch, though – long-format videos are completely last year, and audiences do not care that much for it, so keep your videos short and sweet. The best example for short-format videos would probably be Facebook stories, Instagram reels, and general TikTok content.
Paid Advertising
Considering that the average organic reach for a Facebook post is just around 5%, there’s probably no need to tell you that paid advertising will be taking the lead for advertising on this platform. However, that might also be the start of a decline in Facebook marketing, and other platforms, like TikTok and Instagram, might take the lead here.
Augmented and Virtual Reality Is Still On The Rise
Okay, so augmented reality (AR) might still be hard to incorporate into our daily lives (or imagine it being incorporated, rather), but there’s no escaping from it and its importance in advertising. Since users practically demand more engaging experiences, both AR and VR might be the newest platform for marketing.
While it’s a bit too early to throw all your budget on campaigns based on AR and VR platforms, dabbling in it and keeping the pulse on the possibility is highly advisable.
New Heights For Influencer Marketing
Remember when we discussed the shifting policies of marketers that are now aimed at audiences and clients instead of just boosting sales? Well, and what better way to humanize social media marketing than through influencer campaigns? And that’s exactly one of the main reasons why social media influencer marketing is still on the rise – the human touch and the genuine feel it offers.
Social media influencer campaigns can be measured and made easy, and you can trust your campaign to the Agenic team for the easiest possible experience for you and the influencers you’d like to work with.
Personalized Social Media Content is On The Up and Up
While we all can agree that personalizing business social media content for each audience segment is quite a far reach, that doesn’t mean that social media ads could not be done this way. With advanced targeting and personalization options for marketers added to social platforms, the task now is easier than ever, and such ads undoubtedly ring the truest to your audiences.
The Future Is All About Inclusivity
Corporate social responsibility is still a hot topic these days, and brands must emphasize their positive views on inclusivity. Consumers have made it pretty clear that all social responsibility is what they expect from their beloved brands, so choosing the right social issues that work together with the brand’s and the audiences’ values are the key to successful campaigns.
Social Media Communities For Brand Awareness
While things like Facebook Groups are nothing new, they still work perfectly for customer networking and bringing like-minded people who like your product up for various discussions.
What’s in it for your brand? Well, a very achievable way of getting unfurnished customer feedback, gaining valuable user insights, and even a fertile ground to launch new products.
Good Customer Service Is Important As Never Before
We don’t mean being polite and helpful – that’s a given – we mean good customer service online. Customer habits have changed, and now they expect businesses to communicate with them and answer their questions mainly via social media messaging; nobody likes to call anymore! So be prepared to be swift, curt, and helpful on your social media pages.
