Social Media Trends For 2018

Any marketer knows how important social media is. With smartphones seemingly becoming an extension of our lives, we’re quickly melting our real presence with our social media presence. Whether you’re recruiting, marketing, or consuming products, social media will continue to play a vital role in your marketing campaign. With 2018 well underway, it’s important to take a look at the latest trends in the social media world. Below you’ll find some of the top social media trends for 2018.

Social Media Trends For 2018

Live Streaming

When it comes to social media trends for 2018, this is one that might not come to mind right away. When we think of live streaming, we usually think of people playing a popular video game, or a celebrity detailing a daily makeup routine. However, many marketers are figuring out that they can use live streaming as a way to increase brand awareness.

Live streaming is a medium or implementation of social technology that’s uniquely positioned to take advantage of hardware improvements for the next several years. The resolution of an image the size of a phone screen can only get so good before you have to zoom in to see a difference. We could also begin to see “live commercials” which will take advantage of the immediate feedback that can be provided by viewers.

AR and VR

Augmented and virtual reality initially seemed like a gimmick. It was something that looked cool in the movies, but would never live up to expectations when put to practical use. However, when it comes to social media trends for 2018, AR and VR will play a major role in the marketing industry. After a handful of highly successful AR apps, rising sales of VR headsets, and greater technological sophistication (including faster internet speeds and better visual rendering), 2018 could finally be the year that AR takes off.

More users will be using VR and AR, which means that social media will quickly become the link to connect these people. How soon will it be until we can virtually sit across from our loved ones who are across the globe? You’ll want to keep an eye on this technology and think about how you can implement it within your marketing initiative.

Generation Z

Another one of the social media trends for 2018 to be aware of is the importance of generation Z. A recent study conducted by Goldman Sachs concluded that Generation Z was more valuable to most organizations than millennials. Today, the oldest Gen Zers are 22 years old. They are just beginning to enter the labor force and will have increased buying power for some time. While it’s easy to discount them as just a generation of youngsters, they’re easily the savviest when it comes to social media, which is why it’ll be so important to market accordingly.

This young generation could be the key to your brand’s success, so make sure to do your market research to figure out who exactly you should be marketing to on social media.

Social Call-Out and Accountability

Another major shift in social media is the growing necessity of social accountability when it comes to your brand. Previously, there were only a few places that a customer could voice his or her opinion. However, with the rise of social media, millions with just a few clicks can see a customer experience. According to the Sprout Social Index, 81% of consumers agreed social media increased accountability for businesses. But what causes consumers to voice their opinions online? The same index found 3 in 5 consumers said dishonesty from brands causes their social call out.

However, you can use this to your advantage. Transparency and honesty will increase your reputation as a brand and ensure that they’ll continue working with you.

We hope we’ve provided some stellar tips for enhancing your brand. These social media trends for 2018 should ensure that your marketing initiative is successful. If you’d like to provide some other trends, feel free to comment below!