Now more than ever, businesses are advised to invest in social media marketing efforts. Why? Let us enumerate the reasons.
One, it’s not a passing trend. Basing on the extensive 2019 report of Hootsuite and We Are Social, internet users are growing by more than a million per day. It’s also been said that an estimate of more than 5 billion people will be using social media platforms by 2020.
Two, whether you are a leading brand or a local shop, you need a social media presence. Social media has given businesses the power to connect with both their current and potential customers for free. Take advantage of various platforms and create content to build awareness for your brand and grow your audience.
Three, you can boost your sales and leads affordably. Creating ads on social media platforms aren’t as expensive as traditional campaigns. With these channels, you can have the opportunity to reach your target market within your budget.
Four, you have numerous social media platforms to choose from. Take a pick of what’s suited for your brand and invest in creating content that will ensure engagement with your target market. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to get on the bandwagon.
TikTok to be used to reach a younger audience
TikTok is a video-based social media app that has about 1 billion users. In the first quarter of 2019 alone, the short-form video app has been reported to be the third most downloaded app with 188 million downloads. It has about 500 million active users with 41% belonging to the age group of 16 to 24 years old.
The platform gives brands the chance to increase brand awareness and engage younger audiences by showcasing their creativity. The app itself is a hub for creativity and humor which is why a typical post won’t give you that engagement you’re after. To get it, brands must be ready to show a different side of themselves. Here are brands who experimented and gained quite the attention.
Chipotle
Burger King
LinkedIn ads to combine with personal branding
Interaction with consumers has become vital in building brands. Gone are the days where businesses are only represented by logos. Today, with the help of LinkedIn, brands get humanized through its executives and representatives.
With over 660 million users worldwide, LinkedIn has established a community of professionals connecting for business purposes. Even top executives are encouraged to share noteworthy content that can resonate with users.
Hootsuite CEO Ryan Holmes is a great example of executives reaching out to their followers with great write ups and thoughts. Not only does he share content about his company, but also things that others can relate to as well.
This is ideal for B2B targeting. When partnered with LinkedIn ads, it can help businesses connect with hard-to-reach audiences. While LinkedIn has higher ad cost, it is found to have better conversion rates and bigger ROI (return of investment) potential.
Micro-influencers sponsorship to continue to grow
Micro-influencers are those who have 1,000 to 10,000 followers. Sponsoring content with these influencers is said to play a vital role in creating brand awareness. How? According to the 2018 Global Micro-Influencer Study, micro-influencers receive seven times more engagements than influencers with bigger followings. With these results, survey shows the trade is bound to reach $10 million in budget by 2020, a 39% increase from previous figures.
Micro-influencers have become relatable and credible for consumers. Thus, collaborating would promote authenticity for your brand. As public relations company Edelman CEO Richard Edelman shares, “People want to hear from real people, not celebrities.”
Social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, have created a huge impact on online shopping and e-commerce. In fact, a 2018 Kleiner Perkins Internet Trends report indicates that about 55% of people bought a product online after seeing it on social media.
With the use of Facebook and Instagram Live videos, small online shops have used this strategy to generate sales. Even big e-commerce companies such as Lazada found this as strategic, using it to promote their products. Oftentimes, they invite influencers or celebrities to entice consumers into watching and eventually buying.
Other than this, social media has also made it easier for consumers to see services and products of businesses, along with its prices. Facebook pages, Instagram stories, and even IG TV has made it all the more convenient for consumers, thus, solidifying their decisions to buy.
For instance, Instagram now offers a feature that allows price indications. However, not all accounts are given access to it. There are several requirements businesses must meet in order to use Instagram Shopping features.
Brands to use FB groups to connect better with its audiences
Mark Zuckerberg has claimed that Facebook groups will be Facebook’s new future. In order to encourage meaningful interactions and at the same time improve the platform’s privacy measures, Facebook has given brands the opportunity to create groups.
With this feature, marketers and businesses are now able to connect personally with their consumers. This helps establish trust in your brand identity and nurture your community. Of course, it must be noted that brands have to be careful of being too forward. This opportunity must be used wisely by creating a space for authentic conversations with your audience.
Social media is a platform that constantly evolves, may it be in the form of updates, features, or functionalities. This only means, what works today may not work tomorrow. Taking this into consideration, staying on top of current trends is a must for businesses to maximize social media’s potential. This can help the brand to create a significant and meaningful connection with consumers.
So, are you ready to take on these trends for 2020? Let us know what you think!
