As 2017 draws to a close, now is the time to start considering your social media strategy for 2018. This year has seen some major developments across several social media platforms. Instagram and Snapchat have continued to expand and live streamed videos have become one of the quickest ways to boost engagement. But what social media trends should businesses consider for the following year?
Social media trends – video will become more important
You are probably aware of the rise in popularity of video content over the past year. Many businesses have benefited from higher engagement rates with their content, especially on Facebook, with Instagram and Snapchat stories also offering businesses a chance to post regular and timely video content to their base of followers. Many other social media networks are beginning to implement algorithms to support live video streaming, so it should be an important consideration for your 2018 social media strategy.
Chatbots will improve customer service
Chatbots have become more advanced and are now able to closely simulate a lifelike human conversation. An increasing number of businesses are choosing to use them within their customer service offering to provide a personal yet automatic response. As chatbots can help people 24/7, they are able to ensure there is always a response ready, which helps improve and build lasting relationships. As the service has become more popular, many customers are starting to expect an almost instant response. If you are not yet using chatbots, 2018 could be the perfect time to start.
Increased use of personalised content
There are large groups of people using social media which have built up a mistrust of traditional advertising methods. This means that a change in the type of content produced needs to take place. It no longer makes sense to focus on sales; instead, content should be personalised and relevant. To do this, it is important to get to know your target market and keep these personas in mind when creating new content. In 2018, personalised content is expected to lead to much higher rates of engagement.
Social media trends – where to find out more
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