With the reach and diversity of the Internet expanding hourly, it’s hard for businesses to keep up with such a temperamental market. To help you out, here are five social media predictions of 2017 that you should be implementing into your digital marketing.
1. Video Streaming is the Next Best Thing
As of last year, Facebook confirmed through AdvertisingAge it has been testing the use of ads during Facebook Live events. So far, YouTube has dominated the live-video market, covering events from concerts to Presidential inaugurations. Social media companies like Snapchat and Twitter are now rolling out live video options to their users. Instagram is debuting their live-streaming option this February, according to Digital Trends. None of this should come as a surprise, as Syndacast predicted 74 percent of all online traffic will be video in 2017.
2. The Key to Simple, Successful Customer Advertising
Most brands dump money into social media advertising without significant results. Why? Those on social media are there to socialize and many companies forget that. The Gallup Business Journal found that setting expectations, being social, and engaging with customers are the three best ways to reach customers. Leaving a channel of communication open is key to successfully reaching your customers. Denny’s Tumblr account is iconic because it successfully caters to its vast millennial customers. On Twitter, companies that respond to complaints, compliments, and trolls are recognized and appreciated over basic advertising accounts. In the past, big ideas online could get views. Now, with the incredible amount of content online battling for eyes, companies need to get more creative to secure their consumer base.
3. More Companies Will Incorporate Instant Messaging to Communicate
Twitter was a touchstone frontier for direct contact and messaging with consumers, and now Facebook has Bots that answer questions, including the Pope, his Holiness who has a personal Bot, himself. WhatsApp’s popularity has continued its growth around the world, with Syndacast naming it one of the top significant messaging apps in digital marketing of 2017.
4. Virtual Reality is on the Rise
Consumers expect a personal and interactive experience from the companies they choose, both in person and online. With virtual reality products, companies can now fulfill that demand with self-guided tours, virtual test drives, and adjustable viewing of an item. The Virtual Reality Society reports many businesses already benefit from using virtual reality with their employees and customers. Even Forbes predicts a dramatic rise in the use and advancement of virtual reality in the consumer market over the next five years.
5. Business and Product Reviews on Social Media Are Invaluable
Don’t say goodbye to Yelp or Trip Advisor, but as social media becomes even more of a connective force, watch as reviews are relied upon and searched with more consistency in places like Facebook for Business. Pamela Hazelton of Woo Commerce insists that, “Product reviews are an essential part of an online store’s branding and marketing”. The Social Times argues that online product reviews can drive traffic, increase your conversion rate, and serve as an instant word of mouth.
There is no better way to reach your consumer base than through social media. Whether it be customer outreach or your new virtual shop, we at SouthHaus Group are here to help your business succeed in the digital age.