Did you know that Meta has launched its first smart glasses with a display?
Or that Mastercard created a Facebook messenger bot using NLP to decipher customer needs and automate handling payments?
Or that Netflix has saved $1 Billion in annual revenue by using AI to improve its personalized recommendation algorithm?
And what about IKEA generating annual revenue worth $40 Billion worldwide using AI and VR for its customers?
These are some of the drastic changes that are already happening or will happen in the years to come, booming in 2024. The success stories are a clear indication of what massive developments lie ahead, especially in the domain of social media, and if embraced correctly, what returns they can yield for brands.
If you want your brand to be on the same bandwagon and make those profits, read on to learn about the social media trends that will shake the social landscape in 2024.
Trend 1: Short-Form Video Content Dominance
In the era of declining attention span, short-form video content is going to sweep the market in 2024. Forbes iterates that short-form videos are 2.5 times more engaging and are able to capture the attention of 66% of consumers. Due to the potential of this medium, Meta released YouTube Shorts back in 2020 in competition with TikTok and Instagram Reels. While TikTok laid the foundation for short-form video content, the next stage of evolution will incorporate enhanced interactive video features, such as shoppable videos, real-time reactions, and seamless AR integrations.
Source: explodingtopics.com
Trend 2: Hyper-Personalization Through AI
Hyper-personalization, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), is not something unknown to us now. Customers have started to understand what targeted ads are and how they work. So what's new in 2024? 2024 will all be about not overdoing personalization and making it as authentic as well. The approach will be solution-centric and not salesly. The refinement of AI-driven algorithms will make ad targeting for marketers precise, ensuring campaigns reach specific demographics with tailor-made messages.
To get this personalization right, brands need to focus on addressing them directly, analyzing buyer personas, a well-thought-out content strategy, and data. Reputed brands like Amazon, Netflix, and Spotify have already personalized their marketing for their customers.
Trend 3: Proliferation Of Augmented Reality (AR)
Even though still in its infancy, Augmented Reality (AR) technology will seamlessly blend the digital and physical worlds in 2024, offering users interactive and immersive experiences. While Snapchat and Instagram have already integrated AR filters and effects, we’ll see AR technology integrated more deeply into social media. The reason behind technology giants investing heavily in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is to create a digital space for customers to interact, shop, attend events, and even work in hyper-realistic environments. Marketers should move beyond conventional 2D content and explore immersive 3D spaces to create interactive and memorable brand experiences.
Pokemon Go, which became a sensation with more than one billion- downloads, was just the beginning. Meta is all set to a series of products leveraging AR and VR technology in the next 4 years.
Trend 4: Rise Of Voice Search Optimization
With the advent of voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, more people are using their voices to search for information online. In fact, 67% of consumers of all ages noted that they’re very likely to use voice search when seeking information. This shift requires businesses to adapt by optimizing their online content for voice search to rank prominently in search engine results pages (SERPs) in 2024.
Hence, marketers need to understand the use of natural language in content creation, as users usually state voice queries conversationally. This requires a focus on creating content that matches natural speech patterns. Thus, businesses that embrace voice search optimization will find themselves in a much better and updated position as opposed to their competitors.
Trend 5: Needs For Social Media Listening And Sentiment Analysis
As social media continues to be a primary platform for communication and expression, brands have become more customer-centric, valuing what they are saying and feeling more than ever. Yes, 2024 will see the boom of this dynamic duo: Social listening and sentiment analysis, which pretty much go hand in hand. With 80% of brands aiming to track brand mentions and 61% taking to social listening, the need for tools that help with the same has increased manifold.
And Statusbrew can help you with both. Our tool not only helps brands track social conversations and mentions but also looks beyond social listening, giving insights into customer sentiment (positive or negative). It will also allow you to examine the trend for different periods so that you can track how your brand sentiment has changed over time.
To know more about how this feature functions, book a FREE demo with us to stay ahead of the curve and take your social media strategy to the next level!
Trend 6: Use Of Social Messaging Apps As Marketing Channels
Social messaging apps are no longer just for personal communication; they have already evolved into powerful marketing tools.
Long gone are the days of sending emails to customers only to be left on read or marked spam. 2024 will all be about brands using social messaging apps for a range of marketing activities, from sending product updates and promotional offers to providing customer support and even facilitating transactions for direct and personalized interaction. They are expected to leverage platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat to offer features like chatbots and automated responses, enabling businesses to engage with customers around the clock to enhance their customer engagement and support strategies.
Trend 7: Use Of Social Media For Customer Support
The use of social media for customer support isn't a new fact. In fact, 33% of consumers would rather contact a brand’s customer service via social media rather than by phone. With a declining level of customer patience every day, they want their problems to be solved as and when it happens. This has led many brands to offer customer service and support via social media, which will become more prominent by 2024. Marketers are already using Instagram DMs and Facebook Messenger for customer support whenever their clients need immediate assistance.
Thus, brands who actively listen to customers and are fast to respond can turn it into an opportunity, increasing customer advocacy by 25%. The same has been true for Ecomm retailer Zappos, which leverages Facebook and Twitter to respond to customers with lightning speed.
Trend 8: Rise Of Social Media As A Shopping Platform
With the outbreak of the pandemic, social media platforms became an increasingly popular shopping outlet, opening up new avenues for brands to showcase their products and engage with their target audience. Platforms like Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and Pinterest Buyable Pins allow users to shop directly from posts and ads, read reviews, and explore product catalogs without leaving the platform.
In 2024, social commerce and shoppable posts will become prominent as Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest enhance their e-commerce features. Younger consumers, in particular, are keen on social shopping, with 70% using Instagram to discover products and 90% following at least one business page. Facebook still remains a powerhouse, facilitating over 2 billion monthly exchanges between consumers and businesses through Facebook Messenger, solidifying its position as a top choice for social commerce.
Trend 9: Influence Of Micro And Nano Influencers
In 2024, brands are expected to increasingly collaborate with micro and nano influencers to tap into niche markets and build trust. Instead of reaching millions, they will focus on engaging with a smaller, more dedicated following to make their presence felt at a grassroots level. This strategy allows for more genuine and niche interactions, cost-effective opportunities, establishing long-term partnerships, and the potential to drive higher conversion rates. Micro and nano influencers can help propel brand awareness, as they have a higher rate of success when promoting products from brands. This will continue to shape the influencer marketing landscape, offering a refreshing shift away from the traditional emphasis on follower count.
Source: insiderintelligence.com
Trend 10: Demand For User-Generated Content
As we enter into the era of consumer skepticism towards traditional advertising, User-generated content (UGC) is expected to take the digital world by storm. While UGC is already thriving on Facebook and Instagram, its popularity will lead other social media platforms to incorporate UGC in 2024. With nearly 2.5x shoppers more likely to trust user-generated content than brand-created content, brands like Starbucks are encouraging customers to share content related to their experiences with the brand to build brand credibility and authenticity in socials like Instagram.
In fact, UGC creates a ripple effect as it is cheaper than traditional advertising, more relatable, and helps brands to be perceived as more authentic and socially conscious. This is true as 84% of consumers are more likely to trust a brand’s marketing campaign if it features user-generated content.
Trend 11: Awareness Regarding Data Privacy And Trust
In an era of data breaches and increasing digitalization, consumers are more conscious than ever about their data privacy and the trustworthiness of online platforms. This awareness extends to social media platforms, which often collect vast amounts of user data. Users are demanding greater control over their personal information and expecting companies to handle their data and that they are committed to protecting their privacy. In 2024, expect data privacy and trust to be central concerns for both consumers and businesses. Brands and social media platforms will need to prioritize transparent data practices, implement robust security measures, and communicate their commitment to user privacy to maintain trust and credibility.
Source: Enzuzo
Choose Your Trends Wisely!
While trends generally come and go, the above-mentioned ones are specifically here to stay for good. And if you want to establish your brand and make your digital footprint stronger, embarrassing these trends at a steady pace is the right thing to do in 2024.
While you will need most of these social media trends, it's still best to thoroughly plan and choose them accordingly, depending on the campaigns you’ll have. We hope the list we have given will be handy for you to understand and explore all the trends that can change your marketing game in 2024.
Hope this helps!
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