In 2024, social media is evolving with exciting trends that brands and users alike should be ready for. These trends highlight the importance of genuine connections, technological adaptation, and creative content strategies for success in the ever-evolving landscape of social media.
The Resurgence of Long-Form Video
Long videos that last more than a minute are becoming popular again on big social media sites like TikTok and YouTube. After a while of everyone loving short clips that are easy to watch on your phone, people are now getting into longer videos that tell a story or go deep into topics.
Some reasons why long videos are back include:
- TikTok pushing longer videos: TikTok is letting some users make videos up to 10 minutes long. This is a big change from its usual short clips. This is great for creators who want to make longer videos like vlogs, how-to guides, or documentaries.
- YouTube expanding video duration: YouTube now lets videos be up to 12 hours long. This is a lot longer than before and is perfect for long stuff like lectures, concerts, or documentaries.
- Users spending more time watching long videos: People are now watching long videos (10 minutes or more) on YouTube for more than half the time they spend on the site. This shows that viewers like these longer videos.
Long videos give brands a chance to share more detailed stories and information than short clips can.
Video as a Primary SEO Tool
With over 1 billion people using it every month, TikTok has become a big deal in social media and even a place where people search for stuff. This means that making your video easy to find is key for brands wanting to be seen more online.
Some tips for making your video easy to find include keyword optimization, you need to remember to use important words in your video titles, descriptions, and captions. Hashtag usage plays an important role since it helps you to connect with specific groups of people.
Turn on auto-transcriptions on sites like YouTube and Facebook to help people find your video when they search using text.
As TikTok keeps improving how it suggests videos and YouTube stays a top place to search, making your videos easy to find will help you get more views and followers.
Engaging Through Authenticity
The Rise of Authentic and Transparent Branding
Nowadays, people on social media want to see brands being open and honest. A survey found that 61% of people think brands should be clear about what’s happening, especially during tough times. Also, almost 90% said that if a brand messes up but then explains the mistake and how they’ll fix it, people are more likely to trust them again.
Brands shouldn’t just talk about their products. They should share their values and what goes on behind the scenes. This makes customers feel closer to them, you can try to show off content made by your customers, like their photos or reviews, to prove that real people enjoy what you’re offering.
Being real means focusing more on making sure customers have a good experience that matches up with what they care about, instead of just trying to look good with fancy numbers.
Social Media Trends, User-Generated Content and Nano-Influencers
A survey says that people are more likely to believe a brand is real if it shares content made by its customers, not just its marketing stuff. Also, 28% of people remember brands better when they show off stories from their users instead of just talking about their products.
Working with nano-influencers, who have 1,000 to 10,000 followers, can also add to this feeling of authenticity. They have smaller, more focused groups of followers which makes their recommendations feel more personal and real.
The goal is to work together in a way that feels true and builds trust, without coming off as fake. It’s all about making real connections with your customers.
Technological Innovations
Integrating AI in Social Media Strategies
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we do social media trends in some pretty cool ways. By 2025, almost every social media platform is going to use AI to help figure out what people like, make better content, and improve ads.
Brands need to use AI in a way that’s clear and fair. If things get too automated, it might turn people off. The trick is to use AI to make things more personal while still keeping it real.
With the right approach, AI can help you connect better with your audience.
The Metaverse and Immersive Experiences
The metaverse is like a new online world where people can hang out using virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR). By 2026, it’s expected that a lot of us will spend at least an hour every day in these virtual spaces.
This opens up new ways for brands to connect with us. Imagine shopping in a virtual store that feels almost real, or going to digital events without leaving your couch.
AR can also make the real world more fun by adding digital stuff to what we see through our phone cameras. This can be great for trying out products in stores without touching them.
Social Commerce and Customer Interaction
The Growth of Social Commerce
Social media trends aren’t just for sharing photos and chatting anymore. Now, you can also buy things directly through platforms like Instagram and Facebook. By 2025, people are expected to spend a whopping $604 billion on products they find through social media.
A big reason why shopping on social media is becoming popular is because it’s easy to find products you might like. More than three-quarters of people who shop online say they use social media to help decide what to buy.
Live video sales are also getting big. For example, in China, shopping through live video streams could make up 20% of all online shopping by 2026. Just one live event on Alibaba, a big online store, made $7 billion in sales.
If you’re a brand, you can get into social media shopping by showing off your products in videos, and try to save special sales on live streams. Make sure people can easily buy your products without leaving the app
Enhanced Customer Support via Social Media
Nowadays, people want to be able to talk to brands directly on social media for help, just like they would through email or over the phone. Soon, more people will use social media to ask for help than making phone calls. It’s handy because you can get help while you’re still scrolling through your feed.
Social media trends will make you available on popular messaging apps or even using chatbots for quick answers at any time.
Good customer service on social media can make people like your brand more. It’s all about being there for your customers in a way that’s easy and friendly.
Adapting to Platform Changes
Platform-Specific Strategies
Social media trends keep evolving, and to keep up, brands need to think about what works best on each platform. It’s not a good idea to do the same thing everywhere. Instead, focus on a few key places where your audience hangs out and make content that fits what those users like.
Pick Your Main Platforms
Choose 2-3 main platforms where your audience spends most of their time, and create content that fits what people expect on those platforms.
Try Out New Platforms
Keep an eye on new platforms like TikTok and give them a go. Be ready to change your plan based on how well your content does.
Make Your Content Work Worldwide
Change your messages and types of content to match what people like in different places. Make sure your brand feels the same everywhere, even if the content changes a bit.
With a smart plan that changes based on the platform, brands can do well even as things keep changing.
Regulatory Challenges and Platform Policies
Social media platforms are getting a lot of attention for how they handle privacy, fake news, and more. Their rules and the way they sort content keep changing. By staying on top of these changes, brands can make sure their social media trends efforts fit the latest rules.
Conclusion
As we progress through 2024, it is evident that social media trends are undergoing significant transformations, ushering in trends that demand both authenticity and technological savviness from brands.
The return of long-form video content reflects a deepening desire for substantial, engaging narratives, while the incorporation of video as a primary tool for SEO signifies the merging of entertainment and searchability.
The emphasis on authenticity, manifested through transparent branding and user-generated content, underscores the craving for genuine human connections in the digital realm. Technological innovations such as AI integration and immersive experiences within the metaverse present new frontiers for customer interaction, demanding a balance between personalization and privacy.
Social commerce continues to reshape the way consumers discover and purchase products, turning social platforms into full-fledged marketplaces. With the ever-increasing demand for accessible customer support via social media and the necessity to adapt to individual platform dynamics, brands are required to be more agile and user-centric than ever.
