What’s Big in 2018? The Social Media Forecast

Are you ready to see what’s going to be big in 2018?

With the introduction of several new features, changes in consumer preferences and increased brand opportunities, it’s safe to say that there was no shortage of changes to the social media stratosphere in 2018.

While it’s impossible to predict everything that will happen in the world of social media in 2018, there are a certain number of growing trends that we, as social media marketers, need to stay ahead of. So, following on from a year of Instagram shopping and increased artificial intelligence lenses (face filters to you and me), all that’s left to ask is – What’s big in 2018?

Live Streaming:

With studies suggesting that, in 2017, around 80% of users would rather have watched a business’ live video than read its blog, 2018 is set to be the prime time for live streaming, and businesses that miss the boat could be missing out on a huge surge in traffic.

Not only do multiple platforms now support said feature, brands and audiences have also settled into the format meaning this is no longer a cool way to engage with your audience – It’s an expectation from your brand!

LinkedIn Video Content:

 It may have only been launched in late 2017, but LinkedIn’s video feature is already vastly outperforming all other content on the platform. This new-found way to connect with your ideal audience is a real game changer for B2B marketers, who utilise said platform to generate solid business leads and sales, and is set to become an invaluable feature in 2018.

It goes without saying that personality and creativity are crucial in marketing and sales, so those looking to create business leads through LinkedIn should be utilising said feature to represent themselves and showcase their expertise.

The Rise of Facebook Messenger:

Fed up of all the paid ads filling up your social feeds? You’re not alone.

Recent studies suggest that over half of consumers are fast becoming tired of seeing too many paid ads on their social feeds and, aside from live streaming, messenger ads currently stand as the only way to beat Facebook’s algorithm and contact your target audience direct.

Here at Bee Social Marketing, for example, we have recently had great success when using messenger as part of an otherwise failing recruitment drive for one of our clients.

So, keep your eyes peeled, marketers, Facebook Messenger is about to take off!

Instagram Stories:

While Instagram stories were only launched in late 2016, their daily views have already marginally surpassed that of Snapchat stories, with a whopping 250 million daily users to Snapchat’s 173 million!

Not only are they the foundation for engagement gold (video drastically outperforms all other content), they also enable accounts with over 10,000 followers to add a link within them – A pretty big deal given that links only otherwise work in Instagram bios.

And, with 1 in 5 Instagram stories from brands seeing at least one follow up consumer message, this relatively new feature could be the secret to your business’ online success in 2018.

Higher Engagement Rates:

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again – Consumers love the ability to chat back and forth with their favourite brands!

So, whether you’re wiping the floor with Facebook Live or contacting consumers directly through messenger, our most popular tip for 2018 is to engage, engage, engage!

If you’re a local business, reach out to those in your local area, if you’re a multi-national brand, target your desired audience; not only will your customers feel valued, a change to Google’s algorithm means it will also drastically improve your rankings.

So, while it’s probably too late to say Happy New Year, you’ve definitely not missed the boat when it comes to flying your business to new heights in 2018. Put simply, learn and reflect on what worked in 2017, stay tuned to the latest trends and update your strategy periodically to fit said changes. It’s going to be a big year for social media, and you definitely don’t want to miss out!

Interested in outsourcing your social media platforms?

Give us a buzz on Leeds: 0113 3206266 or Harrogate: 01423 297009 or click here to contact us.