A lot happens in social media. Knowing how to stay abreast of the latest trends is vital. We give you some tips on just how to do it.
While it may seem like an impossible job sometimes, keeping up with the latest social media trends as a marketer is very much possible. You just need to know the strategies. We thought we would give you some key pointers on social media trend monitoring, before we take a look at some of the biggest trends in the few months that are left of 2021.
Twitter hashtags
The best thing about Twitter is that it is still very much a news-based platform. This means it will serve up current information much quicker than some other sources would. Taking advantage of this is vital if you are to get the most out of it as regards trends.
The best way to make it all happen is to follow hashtags that are important to you as a social media marketer. Don’t follow #socialmedia because that will simply throw up a lot of information that is way too broad and general.
Instead, look for hashtags that are specific to you and your area of expertise or industry. For example, if you specialise in branding on social media you can look for #socialbrandingnews and so on.
Twitter is a great way to keep up with trends because it’s social, and it was literally built to help share news.
Use LinkedIn
This is an interesting way of staying on top of social media marketing news. Use LinkedIn groups to join in on conversations that cover your expertise.
You may well find that a group of social media marketers is a great place to start. But there are also plenty of business groups, which often turn the topics of conversation to social media marketing.
Be a part of these groups and make sure that you engage and share. You’ll find that LinkedIn Groups offer regular opportunities to find out what is going on in the world of social media marketing.
Podcasts
These are incredibly powerful tools if you are trying to keep up with social media trends. Just look at what your podcast provider has to offer and you’ll soon see podcasts that are perfect for you and your area of expertise.
What’s particularly great about podcasts is the fact they often focus on certain current news items that are talking points in your industry. They often feature special guests that can offer unique insights that can feed into your marketing. They also do a very good job of providing unique perspectives on current trends.
Spend time on social
It seems ridiculously simple, but actually being on social media for a period of time every day will help you to stay on top of trends.
Just ten minutes a day watching your brand or client’s feed is a great way to ensure you find news as it happens. You can configure your feeds so that only relevant news comes up. This means you are making optimum use of your time.
If you are part of a team, ensure that this becomes part of your daily practise. Sharing news that team members find can also help spark new ideas and even new campaigns.
And the trends for the rest of the year and beyond?
A few areas have become really popular on social media and in social media marketing. One of the biggest areas is virtual reality (VR). With VR, companies are really investing a lot of money and research time into making the technology accessible and meaningful to consumers. This in turn has created a situation where it is a hot topic for consumers as well as marketers who want to stay on trend.
Social commerce is another key trend that has really raced ahead. Platforms have recognised that they can facilitate quick and easy shopping in feeds and this has meant an explosion in social commerce opportunities. This area is particularly important for marketers working for brands that are suited to physical products and visual offers.
Finally, in the months ahead, and perhaps as a result of the pandemic and general focus on climate matters, brands that are able to present a focus on social issues and areas such as kindness will gain more online. Brands are becoming more socially aware and responsible, and audiences are responding to this.
Use social media effectively and you should be ahead of the curve most of the time. And that should be enough to give you the edge you need to stay on top of trends.
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