In the aftermath of a global pandemic, social media has proven to be an invaluable channel for reaching and converting customers.
Social media marketing calls for staying up-to-date with social media trends.
2023 is shaping up to be a year of significant growth in the social marketing sphere, and the latest trends in social media advertising have shown some interesting points to look out for as 2022 ends and the new year comes in.
Social Media Trends 2023 – 5 Major Social Media Trends To Look Out For
Authenticity – Social Media 2.0
Despite being a buzzword in 2022 (or perhaps because of it) the concept of authenticity is showing to be increasingly important as time goes on.
As relationships between brands and consumers become increasingly strained, the need for transparency and authenticity becomes more pronounced.
The BeReal app that took the world by storm gave content creators and big brands the opportunity to share a bit of themselves with their audiences, and the positive feedback only served to bolster that, although authenticity is certainly nothing new, the importance of being true to oneself should be a focal point in any social media journey.
TikTok Continues To Grow
What started as a dance app has become one of the biggest setters of social media trends. TikTok is sitting at around 750 million monthly users as of 2022, the platform has become a force to be reckoned with.
TikTok is showing itself to be the place to find the latest trends in social media advertising, and social media trends as a whole.
While TikTok still shows some teething problems – i.e. Instagram content blatantly being reposted on TikTok – it’s these problems which show a massive opportunity for brands to capitalise by creating authentic, original content.
Interactivity Is A Must
While engagement was one of the biggest social media trends for the longest time, algorithms are now leaning more towards interaction.
In essence, the focus is now on putting the “social” back into “social media”.
Platforms are introducing new ways for brands and creators to interact with their followers – and rewarding those who do it well.
Things such as reaction stickers in Instagram reels and TikTok’s push for video stitching, social media companies are very clearly calling for a more interactive approach when using their platforms.
While this might sound like one more thing for brands to worry about, these tools are the representation of a perfect opportunity to build and nurture real, long-lasting relationships with audiences at a much lower investment level than previous years, where brands replied to individual comments.
Regular Q&A sessions in stories or reels can be a great way to make your audience feel heard while also getting feedback which you can use in improving your product or service.
In a time where people are critical of the amount of ads they see on social media (often in place of their usual content), this social media trend is a great opportunity to stand out from your competition.
The Human Touch
While brands generally recognise the importance of social media, we’re seeing them embrace a more human approach to social media platforms.
Maximising the potential of peer-to-peer communications and leaning into authenticity, traditional brands are following their digital counterparts and prioritising content that focuses around real people as opposed to polished content.
People Over Personas
One of the most disruptive social media trends for 2023, brands will begin to move away from personas, and shift to communities which communicate within themselves.
In short, companies with big personalities won’t be able to compete with companies that foster a community.
Conclusion
As social media continues to evolve, social media trends are shaping more towards turning platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook into digital landscapes akin to a lunch table where people can all chat to one another freely.
It’s an instance of people being put before brands, and showing that brands need to adapt to their environments and cater to their followers – not the other way around.
