Have you ever wanted to make a TikTok or reel to a specific sound, and before you could, everyone was already onto the next trend? 💔 It’s probably one of the worst types of heartbreak.
Just like the trends we see come and go in a matter of days, the way we use social media changes just as fast. We need to think big picture when deciding the direction for our social media marketing strategies because they don’t just impact our social channels, but also our business, team, and customers.
You're not alone; Michael Scott is frustrated by this too.
It’s normal to feel hopeless trying to keep up with all the changes happening in the social media world, but we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to focus on them all - only the ones that will
produce results and help you achieve your business objectives.
Now, get ready and buckle up for a ride that takes you through the 2024 social media predictions that could be game-changers for your business. 🎢
👀 Trend 1.) AI-created content
We couldn’t talk about trends without mentioning AI, which has become the number one topic of conversation this past year. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that more businesses are using AI to create their content, however, human-written content will more often outperform AI-written content.
It was found that 94.12% of the time, human-written content outranked AI-generated content. You might be shocked hearing this stat at first, but think about it: when, for example, you ask ChatGPT to write a blog for you, usually it doesn’t seem completely right… AI isn’t at a level where it can do all the work for us, but this doesn’t mean you need to completely rule it out as a resource.
It simply means:
Leverage humans to create your content
If you do decide to use AI, make sure to have humans review and edit the AI-written content
👀 Trend 2.) Authenticity is crucial to stand out
We’ve heard this since middle school, but stop trying to fit in with the popular crowd! To have your brand stand out and have a winning strategy, consumers want to see authentic, non-promotional content. Your followers want to feel like they are engaging with a real person with interests and opinions.
To have a lasting impression online, you need to think differently.
Here are 4 tips:
An easy way to humanize your brand is to build trust with your audience through your brand voice, such as using relevant cultural lingo (especially on TikTok). It lets users know, we’re not just here to sell, we’re listening, we’re laughing, and we’re creating alongside you.
User-generated content brings authentic customer reviews, testimonials, and content into your strategy.
Lean on your employees to prioritize advocacy and proactive engagement.
Create connections by engaging with your community.
37% of consumers say the most memorable brands on social prioritize engaging with their audience vs. publishing a lot of content.
👀 Trend 3.) To work with creators, or not to work with creators?
The prominence of creators and influencers is not going anywhere soon, so it’s a smart move to implement influencer marketing into your strategy. But remember, the secret to keeping it real is to find creators who fit your brand.
For many businesses, influencer marketing can prove to be highly effective. In fact, 50% of Millennials trust product recommendations from influencers, and 33% of Gen Z-ers have bought a product based on an influencer's recommendation in the past three months.
To create an authentic partnership with creators and influencers, start with those already in your audience.
Finding influencers who already know your brand will allow them to create content that authentically fits their interests and audience.
👀 Trend 4.) Use a variety of content types and repurpose, repurpose, repurpose!
Video content has made a huge rise in recent years, but social pros are using a mix of content. Instagram and TikTok and shifted focus from videos back to images, and while this doesn’t mean video content is dead, it just means it’s important to have diversified content. We recommend filling your content calendar with a mix of videos plus carousels and static photo posts.
It’s a good practice to tailor posts to fit each platform you use, but don’t worry, we know that creating custom posts for each platform is a lot to ask. This is where repurposing ideas for each platform comes in. For example, a LinkedIn post with a poll can be transformed into an engaging Instagram story with a poll sticker.
*Pro tip: Scheduling your content ahead of time ensures you publish tailored posts without needing to jump between platforms when it’s time for them to go live.
👀 Trend 5.) Social media is the new search engine
Users want real experiences and insights from real people, and Google doesn’t always deliver what they’re looking for. On social media, however, you can find tons of knowledge from authentic sources - people! A recent survey shared that social media is the second most popular way for consumers to research products they want to buy, with 44% using social media and 48% using search engines. And data from a US commissioned study showed that nearly 40% of 18-24 year-olds (Gen-Zs), prefer to make web searches via Instagram or TikTok instead of Google.
Google should definitely be worried…
In 2024, not answering your audience’s questions on social gives your competitors a chance to become the go-to source for information in your niche. Use this opportunity to make your expertise clear and start including content in your strategy that answers common questions in your industry. It’s a fact that even months after posting, users come across educational content when searching on social media.
By incorporating these five emerging trends into your social media strategy and infusing a personalized touch into your content, you can ensure that your posts remain consistently aligned with current industry developments while maintaining an authentic representation of your brand.
Which trends will you be adding to your 2024 social media strategy? Let us know!
Staying on top of trends while implementing social media best practices can be difficult to juggle with everyday business operations We encourage you to reach out to us for any questions about social media. 🤝 We offer full social media management, consulting, content creation services, and more to make your brand stand out boldly to competition every. single. time.