Social media has become a key part of online marketing and the driving force behind many successful digital campaigns. It is estimated that 3.484 billion people, almost 45% of the world’s population use social media daily. Pretty crazy right? 

With social media being such a big part of our lives, it’s important that we understand the role of social media in the marketing world and continue to keep up with the ever-changing industry trends. 

Now, we know keeping up with social media trends can be tough, so that’s why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to make things easy for you. Below is a breakdown of all the top social media trends for 2020, which may well be the key to your next digital marketing success!

1. Building A Community Online

Customers are becoming more drawn towards personalized content that sparks conversations and allows people to build a connection with your brand.

Customer engagement is about much more than the number of followers you have, it’s about being active, encouraging conversation and connecting with your customers on a personal level. 

Sharing posts that you know your customers will enjoy is just a small piece of the pie. Think about the type of content that is going to get your customers talking, feeling and engaging. By adding a more human element to your brand, you will bring in new potential clients and customers, improve their experiences and keep them coming back for more.

In just 5 simple steps, you can begin building an online community.

• Know your audience
• Solve problems that your followers may have
• Be generous
• Listen to your audience 
• Be open and honest

2. A Social Media Detox

Many of us are taking more time away from our screens, which means more of us are spending less time on social media. In an article written by Stacey Overton, it says 1 in 3 adults have made a conscious effort over the last year to limit their time spent on social media. And some have gone as far as deleting their apps altogether because social media has left them feeling overloaded, concerned about their mental wellbeing and fed up with reading fake news.

Taking on board this research, it’s important that we understand the impact that social media can have and use this opportunity to put some more time and energy into other marketing channels, such as email marketing and SEO, both equally as important. 

It’s not clear as to whether this ‘digital detox’ trend is temporary, or whether it’s something that will become permanent. However, it’s vital that our content across all social media platforms are of value and provides your audience with some positivity. What’s going to make you stand out?

3. The Power Of Micro-influencers

We’ve seen influencer marketing become more and more popular, and for many brands has become a successful way to bring in new customers, create brand awareness and increase revenue.

There are two different types of influencers, celebrities/social influencers, and micro-influencers. It’s obvious that both produce great results when it comes to online marketing, but which one is more effective? Well, according to the 2018 Global Micro-influencer Study conducted by SOCIALPUBLI, micro-influencers are where the power is at, with engagement levels being 7 x higher than celebrity/social influencer content.

Big brands such as H&M, Glossier and LUSH are all integrating micro-influencers into their social media strategies. And guess what, it’s creating great results!

So why not try reaching out to some micro-influencers, people who will be true advocates for your brand. The validity and honesty that they provide will help your brand thrive and in the long run, will allow you to create a better connection between you and your customers.

4. The Rise Of Tik-Tok and Pinterest

Social media platforms such as Tik-Tok and Pinterest have seen a huge boost in 2020. Taking the industry by storm, it’s one of the biggest social media trends for 2020 and has opened the doors up for many brands to engage with more people and offer new ways to promote their products.

Not only is Tik-Tok fun and entertaining, but it’s a great platform to reach younger target demographics, specifically 16-24-year-olds. It’s also a cheap, effective way to reach out to your desired audience and build a fun community around your brand. Pinterest, on the other hand, has also proven to be a valuable platform for E-commerce businesses. Acting like a mood board, it can be an effective tool for advertising and selling new products. Research suggests that Pinterest can offer high conversion rates, with users being more likely to buy something they’ve seen on Pinterest rather than other social media platforms.

If you’re not already on these platforms, then why not spend some time experimenting with them. Figure out some new ways to sell your products and reap the benefits.

5. Sharing Stories

One of Instagram’s many great features is the ability to share your stories. This personalised element is entertaining, interactive and gives you the ability to share so much with your followers. From question tags and polls to filters and stickers, there are so many ways to make yourselves stand out from the crowd. And once you reach 10,000 followers, you can start linking stories to your website, which will help boost online traffic.

Use this incredible tool to your advantage. Connect with your customers, start conversations, share customer-generated content and spark inspiration!

With a fresh new insight into the social media trends for 2020, you can use this opportunity to adapt and be creative with your social media strategy. However, if you do need some help getting started, then we have a great team here at Fresh Pies who can help grow your social media channels through social posting and paid advertisements.