It’s not exaggerating to say that most people spend a significant portion of their waking hours on social media. People’s lives and daily routines have been transformed by the prevalence of social media. Some people are so dependent on it that when they first wake up in the morning, they go online to check their social media feeds.
Social media has become an essential part of consumers’ lives, so marketers and companies are eager to connect with their target audience on these platforms. However, social media is flooded with content, and the competition is fierce. In order to stand out, you must have a well-defined social media strategy. Keeping up with the latest social media trends is an excellent way to keep your strategy fresh and to set yourself apart from the competition. Below are some top social media trends for 2022.
Paid advertising will be necessary
Hootsuite’s survey on 2022 social media trends found that declining organic reach and the need to spend more on paid advertising were the biggest challenges for more than 40% of respondents. Since the average organic reach for a Facebook post is only slightly over 5%, it makes sense that paid advertising will be a necessity.
Influencer marketing will grow
However old the trend may be, influencer marketing is here to stay. This trend’s adoption can be viewed from two different angles. Social media influencers are increasing in numbers, and businesses are spending more money on influencer marketing as well.
As a result, investing in influencers is much more cost-effective than running paid advertising campaigns. Marketers can use influencers to help them accomplish more than just generating leads.
The use of social commerce will be huge
Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook have long been used by brands to promote their products. However, by the year 2022, it will be commonplace to purchase products directly through social media. It’s no longer just for cutting-edge companies to make use of it. The social commerce industry is expected to be worth $80 billion by the end of the decade.
When it comes to e-commerce, social media is constantly evolving. A lot of businesses and marketers will be using social commerce in their marketing strategies in 2022. It’s important to remember this when you’re designing your user experience, even if you’re only focusing on your most popular products. Your goal should be to create a seamless shopping experience.
Ads on smaller networks will grow
When it comes to “smaller” social media platforms, TikTok isn’t the only one drawing the attention of consumers and brands. Social media sites such as Pinterest and Snapchat are becoming increasingly popular.
Ads on Pinterest can generate twice the return on ad spend for retail brands as compared to other social media channels, according to data from Pinterest Business. As compared to Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat advertising statistics show that Snapchat’s advertising audience has grown a lot over the last few years.
Brands should start looking at alternatives now, especially in light of Apple’s announcement earlier this year that it will restrict Facebook’s ability to target a significant portion of its users.
Audio on social networks will gain in popularity
Clubhouse has grown in popularity since its debut in 2020. Live Audio Rooms and podcasts are already available on Facebook in the United States.
A lot of brands are starting to pay attention to this development. In Hootsuite’s 2022 Social Media Trends survey, more than 74% of businesses said they plan to invest in audio-only content in the next year. According to the same study, the most popular strategy was to host an audio live stream as a thought leader.
Smaller businesses haven’t yet caught on to this trend, especially since it isn’t the most cost-effective form of content marketing. An audio clip may be short, but it still takes time and expertise to produce high-quality audio content.
Video content will continue to dominate
It’s no secret that video is one of the most engrossing media formats. 82 percent of all online content will be video by end of 2022. This demonstrates the criticality of incorporating video into your social media strategy if you want to remain relevant.
User-generated content will grow more
User-generated content is not a new trend, but it is a trend that will continue to grow in importance for brands for the foreseeable future. With more and more marketers using UGC, the only thing that has changed is the adoption rate.
Customers of some brands are given the opportunity to be featured on the company’s social media pages in exchange for creating content and tagging the brand in it. Some companies, such as Dove, have marketing campaigns that encourage people to submit their entries and be a part of the campaign.
It doesn’t matter how you decide to use user-generated content, you should include it in your overall content strategy. User-generated content is considered more authentic than branded content because it’s free and doesn’t have to be edited. If done correctly, it can improve your brand’s reputation and image.
