Trends - Social Media 101
TOP 10 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS FOR 2024

TOP 10 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS FOR 2024

Social media remains a dynamic force in digital marketing, continuously evolving to offer new avenues for brands to engage with their audiences. As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Social Media 101, we spotlight the top 10 social media trends of 2024. This milestone number reflects not only our years of expertise but also the key trends that digital marketers, social media managers, and business owners must leverage to keep their strategies vibrant and effective.

1: Rise of Short-Form Video Content

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels dominate the digital landscape, where short-form video content reigns supreme. These platforms allow brands to captivate audiences with quick, impactful messages that are easy to consume. Integrating such content into your strategy can dramatically enhance visibility and user engagement.

2: Social Commerce Expansion

The boundaries between social media and e-commerce are blurring. Platforms are increasingly embedding shopping features that allow users to make purchases directly through social media. This seamless integration facilitates a smoother buyer journey, potentially boosting sales and customer retention.

3: Value vs Vanity Metrics

There’s a significant shift towards valuing meaningful interactions over mere likes and followers. It is increasingly important to track metrics that support business objectives and deliver real value, rather than just counting vanity metrics. By focusing on valuable metrics, brands can gain insightful data that informs more effective strategies and drives tangible business outcomes.

4: Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences

Augmented reality has transformed social media from a platform for sharing to a more interactive space. AR filters and features not only enhance brand storytelling but also offer unique user interactions that can differentiate your brand in a crowded market.

5: Social Media as a Customer Service Channel

Consumers increasingly expect brands to respond and interact with them through social platforms. Using social media as a customer service channel can lead to faster resolutions, improved customer satisfaction, and a more humanised brand presence.

6: User-Generated Content

User-generated content (UGC) is a powerful tool for brands, providing authentic material that resonates with audiences. Encouraging UGC not only fosters community engagement but also enhances brand credibility and trust by showcasing real-life experiences with products or services.

7: Social Media Communities

Creating niche communities within larger platforms allows brands to engage with their audience on a more personal level. These communities offer spaces for shared interests and deeper discussions, enhancing brand loyalty and user engagement through targeted content and interactions.

8: Localisation and Personalisation

Tailoring content to specific regions, cultures, or languages is vital for global brands aiming to connect authentically with diverse audiences. Personalisation enhances user experience by ensuring content is relevant and resonant, demonstrating a brand’s commitment to its various consumer segments.

9: Micro-Influencers Make a Big Impact

Collaborating with micro-influencers offers brands a cost-effective way to reach engaged, niche audiences. These influencers typically boast higher engagement rates than their macro counterparts, making them valuable partners for authentic and impactful marketing campaigns.

10: Enhanced Privacy and Security Features

As users become more privacy-conscious, social platforms are enhancing their privacy and security features. Brands that transparently communicate their data handling practices can build trust and maintain a positive social media presence.

Conclusion

Staying ahead in the fast-paced world of social media requires a keen awareness of emerging trends and an adaptable strategy. By embracing these top trends of 2024, digital marketers and business owners can ensure their social media efforts are not only current but also resonating with their audiences on a deeper level. To further explore these strategies and how they can benefit your business, consider booking a call with Social Media 101, your expert partner in digital marketing.

WORLD PASSWORD DAY: STRENGTHENING DIGITAL SECURITY

WORLD PASSWORD DAY: STRENGTHENING DIGITAL SECURITY

World Password Day, observed on 2 May, raises awareness about the importance of secure passwords in the digital age. This article discusses the significance of strong passwords, offers tips for creating them, and explores their role in social media security. It also delves into platform-specific features and advice on maintaining secure permissions.

Why Password Security Matters

Passwords are the front line of defence against unauthorised access to your accounts. Weak passwords can lead to data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage. For businesses and social media accounts, the stakes are even higher due to their public exposure and the potential impact on brand trust. Losing access to your business’s social media accounts can result in:

 

  • Reputational Damage: If hackers gain control of your social media accounts, they can post inappropriate or harmful content, damaging your brand’s image.
  • Data Breaches: Social media accounts often contain sensitive business information, and a breach could lead to significant legal and financial repercussions.
  • Customer Trust: A compromised social media account can cause customers to lose faith in your business’s ability to protect their data and maintain a professional image.

Tips for Creating Strong Passwords

Enhancing password security involves best practices like:

 

  • Length and Complexity: Using a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
  • Avoiding Common Words and Patterns: Steering clear of easily guessable sequences.
  • Using Unique Passwords for Each Account: Avoiding password reuse across platforms.
  • Using a Password Manager: Managing complex passwords securely.
  • Implementing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security​.

Securing Your Social Media Account

In addition to strong passwords, here are some suggestions to further safeguard your social media accounts:

 

  • Permission Levels: Assign roles and permissions to team members based on their responsibilities. Platforms like Facebook Business Manager and LinkedIn Campaign Manager allow you to control who has access to specific functions and assets, ensuring that only trusted personnel can make significant changes​​.
  • Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Besides 2FA, some platforms offer additional security layers, like biometric authentication or hardware tokens.
  • Restrict Access to Sensitive Data: Limit access to critical business information to only those who need it. Assign roles carefully and ensure that only trusted personnel have administrative rights.
  • Secure APIs and Third-Party Apps: Be cautious when granting access to third-party applications, and regularly review API permissions.
  • Monitor Activity Logs: Keep track of who accesses your accounts and from where. Investigate any unusual activity.
  • Educate Your Team: Regularly train your team on social media security best practices, phishing attacks, and other threats.
  • Use a VPN for Remote Work: If your team works remotely, ensure they use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to secure their connections.

Conclusion

Password security and access control are critical for maintaining a safe digital presence. By following best practices and utilising tools like Facebook Business Manager and LinkedIn Campaign Manager to manage permissions, you can reduce the risk of cyber threats and protect your assets. Losing access to your social media accounts can have severe consequences for your business, so it’s vital to stay vigilant. If you’d like assistance with social media security, book a call with us for a consultation.

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF FACEBOOK: THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ADVERTISING

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF FACEBOOK: THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ADVERTISING

As Facebook marks its 20th anniversary, we take a moment to appreciate its profound impact on the world, particularly in the realm of advertising and marketing. From a college dorm project to a global phenomenon, Facebook’s journey reflects the evolution of digital connectivity and commerce.

The Early Days of Facebook:

Originally designed as a social networking site for Harvard students, Facebook rapidly expanded to other universities and eventually to the general public. Its initial charm was rooted in connecting friends and fostering online communities. Even in these early stages, features like user profiles, friend networks, and groups laid the foundation for its future in targeted advertising.

The Rise of Facebook in Advertising:

 
The introduction of Facebook ads in 2007 marked a turning point. Businesses now had a tool to reach targeted audiences based on detailed demographics, interests, and behaviours, a stark contrast to the broad, untargeted advertising of traditional media. For example, a small local business could target customers in its vicinity based on interest, a capability previously unavailable in traditional advertising.

Key Features that Revolutionised Advertising:

 
Facebook’s advertising platform offered unprecedented features: precise target adverts, engagement-focused formats, and comprehensive analytics tools. These features enabled businesses to tailor their messaging, track performance, and adjust strategies in real time.

Facebook’s Global Reach:

Today, Facebook connects billions of users worldwide, making it a valuable platform for businesses seeking global exposure. Its vast user base provides unparalleled opportunities for brand expansion and audience engagement.

The Future of Facebook in Advertising:

Looking ahead, Facebook is poised to continue innovating in the advertising space. With advancements in AI, augmented reality, and more immersive content formats, Facebook’s advertising capabilities are set to evolve further, offering new ways for businesses to connect with customers.

Conclusion

Facebook’s 20-year journey has not just transformed it into a cornerstone of modern digital advertising but also into a hub of community and connection. At Social Media 101, we’ve mastered leveraging these aspects to enhance your brand’s reach and engagement. We craft strategies that sync with the latest in Facebook’s advertising innovations, ensuring your brand is not just seen, but remembered. Connect with us to harness the full potential of Facebook and other social media platforms for your business growth.

SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA TRENDS 2019

SOCIAL & DIGITAL MEDIA TRENDS 2019

As we kick off 2019, the energy and anticipation of what lies ahead in the social and digital media spheres is palpable. This includes both tech advancements and changes in the way that businesses incorporate these media functions into their operations. These are some of the social & digital media trends expected to make an impact on the business and marketing landscapes this year:

Business Strategy

 

  • Integration: Social and digital media will play a much more integrated role within organisations. As opposed to being treated as separate marketing elements, brands are embracing the business functions and value offered by these media types. For example, there will be an increase in the use of omnichannel (multiple channel – e.g. traditional plus social media) marketing, and the use of social media for different business objectives.
  • Risk & Reputation Management: With the ease, speed and reach of social media communication, the potential risk to brand reputation has never been higher. And therefore, the need for crisis and reputation management has never been more vital. Businesses will be partnering more with experts in this field in an attempt to best avoid and/or handle a possible negative public backlash, scandal or crisis linked to their brand.
  • Online & Asset Security: Companies have started to realise that online resources such as their audiences, content and databases are tangible, valuable assets. As such, the need for online security will increase exponentially to address the very real risks to such assets.
  • Budget Allocations: Let’s face it, not all business decision-makers were convinced that social media has a place in business. But now, the ROI and benefits are getting harder to ignore. Social media budget allocations are set to rise across all industries this year. SME’s in particular (even those with tight budgets) will be investing more in social media as the cost not to is too high in the current competitive market.

Brand Affinity & Customer Experience

 

  • Customer Experience & Service: There will be a notable shift towards a more Customer Experience (CX) approach by brands in line with consumer demand trends. Characteristics of this approach include customer-centric elements such as responsiveness, being “always-on”, interactive communication, quality content, targeted messaging & increased use of social media.
  • Brand awareness & affinity: n addition to price and quality, more emotion-based factors like customer sentiment and positive affinity will take centre stage. This is driven by CX-based factors such as ensuring excellent customer experiences throughout their journey with a brand. Positioning a brand as both client-focused and socially responsible is also a great way to drive awareness.
  • Social Listening: This year, egos will take a step back as social listening activities increase. It’s no longer about assuming what people think, but instead finding out how they really feel about a brand based on what is said online. This extends to comments on any platform, not just a business’s own pages.
  • Monitoring Tools: Implement social listening tools that alert you whenever your brand or products are mentioned. This enables you to respond swiftly to potential issues.

Influencers

 

  • Micro-influencers: You don’t need to be a celebrity to become an influencer online. In fact, as consumers increasingly demand authenticity and transparency, brands are looking more to micro-influencers to help market their products and services. This could range from a food blogger to a stay-at-home-mom, and anyone between. It’s all about expertise in a field and/or an engaged, relevant audience.
  • Influencer Vetting: As more awareness is shed on factors such as bought or “fake” audiences, brands recognise that there is a need to vet any influencer before creating a partnership. This due diligence includes verifying their audiences, approving content and ensuring that there is no conflict of interest (with a competitor, for example).
  • Employee Advocacy: Also known as Employee Amplification, it refers to using key employees as online ambassadors for their company. Techniques such as positioning certain staff as thought leaders and trusted advisors will gain traction in both the B2B and B2C spheres this year. This is great for both personal and business branding.

Video Trends

 

  • 360 Video: Businesses have started using 360 video to provide users with a panoramic, immersive experience. Industries that are already making use of this include entertainment and tourism companies. With customer experience being at the forefront, more businesses are likely to experiment with this video style in the upcoming months.
  • Vertical Video: As social and digital gains exponential market share over traditional marketing media, vertical video will be seen more and more. This is simply because such media is viewed predominantly on mobile devices. Instagram has even launched a dedicated vertical video platform, titled IGTV.
  • Native video: The use of native video (video uploaded on a brand’s own page or platform as opposed to a 3rd-party app like YouTube) will also increase. The launch of LinkedIn’s native video ad campaign options and Instagram’s long format video options further support this trend.

Tech

 

  • Automation, AI & Machine Learning: While the “social” side of social media is all about adding the human element to online activity, the tech side is all about reducing human contact points. More businesses will be incorporating automation into their service process, for example, social media bots. It’s all about streamlining processes, improving customer service and cutting costs.
  • Augmented Reality: Ok, so maybe this tech is not quite mainstream as yet, but it is definitely super cool. Augmented Reality or AR refers to digital, interactive technology delivered to the user in real-time. For example, apps that brings a child’s drawing to life when you position a smartphone or tablet above it. This video explains it much better – click to watch. From a marketing perspective, this technology can be used for anything from outdoor media (like a bus shelter) to wine bottle labels – click here to watch video.
Well there you have it – some exciting stuff in store this year. Keep watch as they start to shake up the business and consumer markets over the upcoming months.
For more info on these or any other social and digital media topics, get in touch with Social Media 101. We would love to chat to you about the best options for your business.