Our 2016 social media marketing predictions are based, in part on the new reality that social media has become a promising digital marketing venue. When Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks first began they were often dismissed by businesses. Looked at and regarded as a communication means for younger generations, social media was overlooked. Today, it's recognized as a massive source of revenue for many businesses. It presents a unique way to build your brand, connect with your audience and create authority. Here are our predictions for social media marketing in 2016 and some insights on where we see the industry moving.
E-Commerce Sales Via Social Media Will Increase
With Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter having already integrated buy buttons onto their channels, Instagram and other social media networks are expected to followsuite. E-commerce is simplifying and checkout processes are trimming down and becoming second nature to online shoppers. E-commerce sales will continue to grow via social media, where in-app innovation is booming and online shopping is being prioritized. With Groupon and other apps showing the potential for sales on mobile devices, social media developers are watching closely.
Social Media Networks Will Integrate Search Capability
Searching on social media networks is becoming more and more common. Users often search for businesses on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social networks before navigating to their website. Social media networks will likely integrate more search capability into their platform. We may see website hyperlinks integrated into search results to make social networks a full-fledged search engine.
Audiovisual Interaction Will Increase
Social networks take full advantage of the popularity of videos and images. Instagram has shown us the engagement potential of audiovisual and Twitter has shown how viewers enjoy shorter text with less words. In 2016, we expect social networks to integrate audiovisual interaction to a higher level. Expect podcasting and audio content to become more powerful, with advertising potential for small businesses.
Big Brands Will Use Sponsored Posts For Building Authority
On Instagram and Facebook, sponsored posts showing up on your news feed has become the norm. Expect this to continue to a higher degree, with big brands using sponsored posts as a way of gaining authority and recognition in their industry. These sponsored posts will likely use audiovisual to capture the attention of their audience and produce better results.
Humor Will Be Used As An Means Of Advertising
On Instagram and Facebook, humor is a common theme among some of the biggest pages. Everyone enjoys a good laugh and when our favorite brands can make us laugh, we tend to gravitate toward them. Expect humor to be used as a means of advertising on social media. It's already very prominent on television and it's transitioning to social media platforms.
Niche Social Media Sites Will Rise In Popularity
As the bigger social networks become over-popularized, niche social media sites will rise. Most users flock to social media sites with the most popularity as that's where their friends, family and favorite brands will be. However, users with specific interests may find better use out of niche specific social media sites where they will find users with the same interests as theirs.
More Real-Time Updates
Facebook is typically used for posting something after it occurs, while Snapchat and Instagram cater to users that want to post something while it is occurring. This surge in popularity with real-time updates will likely continue. Blab, Periscope and Meerkat are popular apps that have jumped on the bandwagon and shown how live stream and real-time updates can be popularized. When a moment can be captured and shared instantly, the social potential of that moment is multiplied. Things seem increasingly personal and less edited when you're able to share something simultaneous to when it is happening.
What are your social media marketing predictions for 2016?. If you have any questions about digital marketing and how you can utilize these changes for traffic generation, please contact us.
