Social Media was one of the biggest phenomena of the last decade. It became home to over 3 billion active users worldwide.
Social media is one of the most effective ways through which people learn about new products and get exposed to various brands. Little wonder, many marketers see social media as a priority for their businesses.
As the new decade begins, there is no denying that social media will continue to play a big role in the success of brands around the world. If you are curious about what to expect for social media platforms in 2020 and beyond, here are some of the biggest trends to watch
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The end of the Instagram “like” button
For a long time, the “like” button has been seen by many brand influencers and social media users as a measure of brand recognition and exposure on social media. But it appears we are on the verge of witnessing the death on the Instagram “like” button.
Many social media platforms have in one way or the other expressed their intent to get rid of the “like” button. Lately, Instagram has joined the long list of sites seeking to make likes less prominent. You will no longer be able to see the number of likes a particular Instagram post has. However, you will be allowed to see likes on your own posts.
This idea stems from the plan to lessen the negative impact social media has on mental health. It is also a way to combat fake engagement in the form of likes and followers. With the demise of the “like” button, brand influencers and marketers will have to depend on more creative ways to promote brand exposure.
The rise of video story content
Video content continues to be one of the most impressive social media trends in recent times. In 2020, video is expected to make up 82 percent of all internet traffic. As a result, many social media platforms have taken several measures to prioritise video content. For example, Instagram’s IGTV and LinkedIn Video are some of the features that show great promise when it comes to video content.
On the other hand, marketers have taken a cue from these social media sites and will focus most of their efforts on videos to target specific markets. As video disrupts social media, it is important to closely follow the trend and understand how video stories engage users especially on platforms that are getting rid of the “like” button.
Tik Tok: the next big thing for brands
As more emphasis is put on video content, video-driven platforms like TikTok, Lasso, and Byte will dominate the world of social media. Tik Tok, in particular, saw a surge in popularity in 2019, especially with Gen Z users.
The Chinese-owned social media app stands out for its engaging, original and entertaining content. Tik Tok isn’t focused on the perfectionism that Instagram has come to be known for. Rather, it is the ideal platform for influencers and micro-influencers to express their originality.
The rise of micro-influencers
Gone are the days when big-name influencers were solely considered as the go-to people audience engagement. Now, small-scale or micro-influencers are starting to gain popularity among brands. While macro-influencers still hold sway in the market, micro-influencers are now gaining recognition for their smaller yet better-defined audiences. Influencers at this level offer a higher level of engagement to their audiences by being more personal and authentic with them.
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Social shopping becomes more popular than ever before
In recent times, social shopping has become a big part of social media due to the role social media platforms have played in expanding the e-commerce industry.
Users are getting more accustomed to accessing products and brands via social media platforms. This relies significantly on video and influencer marketing. Also, it is a better way to create a more seamless environment for customers to shop without leaving social media sites.
Source:
Social Media Week
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