Other than funding and getting in fights with cofounders, social media has become one of the staples of the business world. As one of the most affordable means of getting your brand out there, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and dozens others have transformed the way startups and corporations interact with their customers. And because of the always shifting nature of the marketing medium, staying abreast of upcoming trends is more important than ever.
Fortunately, SproutSocial understands how important your social media campaigns are in the new year, and they have consolidated upcoming trends into a six simple tips that will help you stay the course in 2017. Check them out below and keep your ear to the ground for more changes in the future:
Facial Filters on Facebook & Instagram
It’s no secret that Facebook and Instagram have copied nearly every good idea that Snapchat has come up with. From memories to disappearing messages, the social media powerhouse is always playing catchup to the tiny yellow logo. Fortunately for avid users, facial filters, also known as artificial intelligence lenses, will soon become part of the Facebook and Instagram marketing schemes as well.
Even More Customer Service Chatbots
Customer service is a make or break part of any company. But with automation becoming a viable option for this important facet of business, more and more companies are turning to chatbots to do the heavy lifting for them. And with advanced technologies surfacing that can handle the load of even the average Facebook user, you can expect chatbots to become a staple of customer service in 2017.
Paid Content Isn’t Going Anywhere
With the installment of Instagram’s new algorithm, it’s becoming harder and harder to crack the organic content code. Because social media companies, like all companies, enjoy making money, the paid content trend is only going to increase over the coming years. Social media ad spending is estimated to surpass $41 billion in 2017, a statistic that pretty much speaks for itself.
Business Features & Analytics Are Key
Social media is long passed the days of focusing on the individual. Platforms across the medium are shifting their attention to business promotion as opposed to the everyday people that use them. A Simplify360 report found 36 percent of businesses use social media analytics for more than competitor analysis. This means that business features and analytic tools are going to improve over the next year, paving the way for even more targeted marketing.
Less Automation
Despite the projected popularity of customer service chatbots, automation will likely become less of a factor in 2017. With more and more blunders surfacing from notable companies, the public relations nightmares that surface are beginning to overshadow the advantages of social media automation. Plus, authenticity sells on social media, which is hard to pull off when a robot is doing most of the work for you.
Social Shopping on the Rise
Online purchasing isn’t going anywhere soon. And while you probably turn to ecommerce sites like Amazon for most of your digital shopping, social media websites have begun incorporating marketplaces on their websites. In addition, these social media platforms have made it easier and easier for users to buy from companies through their site. This trend is likely to skyrocket as soon as a viable means of purchasing becomes apparent.
If you want a more in depth look at some of these trends, take a look at the infographic below produced by SocialSprout and get your company ready for the social media transition of 2017:
Photo: Flickr / magicatwork
