From a social media perspective, each year presents new challenges and trends. This isn’t notable exclusively for those in the content creation realm. The social media landscape will in one or many ways evolve for the better. The discerning user, who wants to carve a name, needs to keep up with the trends that are set to change the way we do things in 2018.
In 2018, marketers and designers have had to keep their eyes out for shifts and changes in different sectors of this field. Algorithms have changed and so have apps and networks. Even though it’s difficult to keep a minute by minute track of things changing within the social media landscape, investing time and resources will help you catch up with most tectonic shifts in this sector.
Create For a Mobile-Savvy Audience
Among the aspects that marketers have to reckon with in 2018 is the growing need to create content for mobile users. Since there are over 80% of Facebook users who rely on their mobile devices, you need to ensure that your content in 2018 is mobile optimized. Your content needs to be available on small screens without compromising fidelity and high definition. Whether it’s video or graphics, you have to give your prospects all the reasons to stay and watch your product and service videos on the go.
The 2018 social media trends point to a growing preference for brands to use social listening tools. This means more brands are taking stock of what their customers have to say and think. Social listening entails tracking specific phrases or word. It’s imperative that modern businesses create content around such words to offer gratification and solutions to a customer’s immediate needs. Today, it takes more than analysing the Facebook like counter or comments. If you position your business to capture the thoughts and wishes of your target demographics, improving the UX will be a walk in the ark.
In 2018, brands that invest in social listening will achieve significantly in areas including:
Improved Customer Care: When you listen, capture and analyze customer sentiments, their reviews and thoughts will help you understand the health of your brand. As such you will maximize on leads, conversions, and revenue.
Creation of Engaging Content: Your social media strategy in 2018 will survive if you have a killer content strategy. Listening tools will help you to create the kind of content that is algorithm friendly in 2018. Since these tools track trending hashtags, you no longer have to guess the kind of content that will keep your customers close to your brand.
Innovative Marketing Campaigns: If your social marketing campaigns have flopped in the past, listening tools can rejuvenate your efforts. It’s easy to identify new opportunities and channel your energy towards your success on a given platform.
Exploit User Generated Content
In 2018, social media success is to an extent pegged on what you do with user-generated content. A brand that integrates user-generated content that complements what you are offering wins the confidence of prospects. Don’t hammer about your brand without considering how your customers feel or the kind of changes they want to see.
At the same time, capitalizing on branded hashtags will give your customers a reason to share your content. Some platforms like Instagram enable hundreds of uses to follow a hashtag. This means going for brand hashtags will propel your venture to success.
Create Emotionally Compelling Content
For your business to succeed on social media in 2018, you need to remember that the content landscape is changing too. You need to offer content that attracts users’ mid-scroll. Your users need to see useful and awesome content that plays the call to action role. If your page and post have no wow factor, it could lead your prospects right into a competitor’s page.
The emotional factor of every social media post is a major pull to every marketing effort. Your 2018 social media effort should captivate your prospects on an emotional level. This can be addressed by using killer visual images, graphics or video. Make sure that these visuals have the right effect to lead users to your landing page, blog, or cart.
In the process of analyzing the 2018 social media outlook, consider the quality of content, the power of emerging trends, and how to best integrate them for maximum impact. The faster you internalize some of these concepts, the easier it will be for your brand to stay afloat and above the competition in 2018.
