“New year, new me.” – Instagram, probably.
I say this all the time – the only consistent thing about social media is that it is constantly changing. In 2018 alone, we saw Facebook Ads Manager get an overhaul, Instagram add hashtag following, and so much more. With these changes, comes new trends for social media users.
Below we’ve compiled a list of what we predict will be the top social media trends of 2019.
1. Video Content
This one should be a no-brainer. Every single year, video content continues to grow in popularity. Last year alone, Facebook averaged 8 billion video views each day, a number that continues to grow. In fact, CISCO predicts that 80% of online content will be video by 2020.
If you haven’t brushed up on Final Cut Pro yet, now is the time.
2. Real Content > Staged
Speaking of content, authenticity will be key in 2019.
More and more brands are realizing that people are craving real, authentic content as opposed to anything staged. Showing the personality and people behind your brand will be imperative throughout this next year. Don’t be afraid to have fun with your social – people want to see the human side.
Not sure how to start? Check out this blog post.
3. Micro-influencers
In the past few years, social media influencers have become a major trend. Instagram stars and YouTubers have become modern-day celebrities, boasting millions of followers. Because of their mass following, the power of social media influencers has become abundantly clear to many social media marketers. But with these high followings comes a high paycheck as the prices for online influencers have skyrocketed.
In 2019, it is predicted that many marketers will shy away from the big influencers (and their big price) and turn their attention to micro-influencers. Micro-influencers usually boast a following of 10,000 or less, but still pack a powerful punch when it comes to promoting your business.
Want to learn more about influencer marketing? Check out this blog post.
4. Social Media TV
Netflix & Chill < IGTV & Chill
In 2018, Instagram revealed a new feature – IGTV. According to Instagram, IGTV “features longer videos and easy discoverability through channels, all in a vertical format that sits upright, in the palm of your hand,” so you can grow even closer the creators you love.
While this feature hasn’t exactly taken off quite yet, with the rise of video content, it’s only a matter of time. Soon, all brands will be utilizing IGTV to reach their target market. And as this trend begins to rise in popularity, you can expect other social media platforms to follow Instagram’s lead.
5. Real-time communication
Social media never sleeps. People are awake, talking about your brand online at all hours of the day. Because of this, the immediate future of social media marketing will be real-time communication. This has been happening for a while, and we now have the tools to help. There are tools that look for mentions of a brand in real time, tools that schedule content, and chatbots that offer immediate help.
In 2019, don’t be surprised if people expect your brand to answer their Twitter complaint right away.
What are some trends you predict for 2019? Tell us in the comments below.
