Social Media Trends – What’s On Tap for 2014?

Social Media Trends – What’s On Tap for 2014?

There’s no doubt about it – 2014 is set to be another explosive year for social media marketing, particularly for businesses. It’s always good practice to make some strategic forecasts and predictions in each area of your marketing plan. This can help you better hone your strategy to help you achieve and exceed your goals for the coming year. Here are some of our predictions for what we believe social media has in store for business in 2014.

Secret, an app that lets you share content anonymously has been gaining rapid popularity in early 2014.

Looking beyond Facebook and Twitter…

While these two platforms will continue to dominate the core of most business SMM plans, the coming months will also bring increased use of other platforms. Social networks that produce ephemeral content, such as SnapChat and Secret will continue to grow. Look forward to networks that promote more intimate connections, like Tinder and Weave. Expect an increased use of Pinterest, Instagram and Vine. Google+ will also continue to grow and become even more important, especially for SEO purposes.

The mobile shift continues…

Just about everybody owns some type of mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. If you haven’t yet optimized your website for mobile, 2014 is the year to do it. Mobile internet usage is set to exceed desktop usage over the coming months. For best results, analyze how you’d like your audience to be able to interact with your site while they’re on the go. Focus on responsive design. Responsive design makes viewing and interacting with your website on a mobile device easier. Responsive design is also more anticipatory in nature, presenting more contextual information to users. People using their mobile devices to visit a website are likely pursuing a different area of the site than those using a desktop.

The eyes have it…

Visual content, such as photos and videos, will take precedence over blogs and other types of content. Begin to brainstorm creative ways to incorporate visual media into your other marketing strategies. Include more images and micro-videos in your email marketing campaigns. Studies have shown that imagery has a much higher retention rate than text. Visual communication impacts brand recognition and reach more than text-based communication. Try and figure out how to communicate your information in an animated gif instead of in the copy.

Social influence is still king…

All the big-budget advertising in the world will not get you the same, sustainable results as word of mouth marketing. In fact, a 2013 Nielson survey indicates that 84% of consumers trust recommendations from their friends and family over traditional advertising. In 2014, referral marketing will continue to be the most influential marketing strategy for businesses. What’s the best way to achieve this? Recruit and maintain an army of passionate brand ambassadors that believe in your brand and are willing to spread the word on your behalf. Make sure your plan for 2014 includes some type of referral program to take advantage of this.

Savvy consumers will seek value and relevance…

Over the coming months, the consumer desire for content that enriches, educates and entertains will continue to grow. The most valuable customers are those that are smart and savvy. The best way to convert these customers is by delivering engaging content that they want to share with their own networks. Your 2014 marketing strategy should include a detailed analysis of what your audience needs and wants. So that you can ensure that you’re cultivating that content throughout the year.

2014 is set to be the most exciting year yet for social media. Stay tuned for these and other trends that will continue to shape the way we do business in the digital age, and let us know in the comments what you think 2014 will bring us.