Today's a very exciting topic as we're going to talk about the future of social media, and the different social media marketing trends that are going to help your business!
These are Kylie’s takeaways from her recent Social Media Marketing World Conference in San Diego, and we’re so thrilled to share them all with you now!
Social media is NOT dead!
There's always so much discussion around social media being dead, that it's over… that no one needs to use it anymore. We even heard someone (who’s running a workshop) saying, “You don't even need to be on socials if you've got a business!”
So, is social media dead? The answer is… NO!
Social media is NOT dead! It's more alive than ever before! According to Mark Zuckerberg, "The number of people daily using Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp is the highest it's ever been!"
We also have gathered good stats from surveys that were done to tell you that Facebook is the platform that improves your sales, revenue and generates the most leads; while Instagram is the platform that increases your exposure the most.
Let’s get into figures…
First on the list is ... according to a recent survey, the platform that improves sales and revenue is none other than Facebook. It's followed by Instagram at 25%, LinkedIn at 20%, YouTube at 19%, TikTok at 15%, and Twitter at 10%.
Second, the platform that increases your exposure the most is Instagram. According to marketers, 76% of people say that Instagram is the one that gets you the most exposure!
Surprisingly enough, Facebook only ranks fifth in this instance!
Instagram is the platform that gives you the highest exposure, followed by YouTube and TikTok, and then Twitter. And this only proves one thing...
Reels or short-form content is the focus now. So it's not too late if you haven't joined the Reels bandwagon yet! Start creating videos, and start taking videos. Go live!
What about TikTok?
It’s crazy how noisy TikTok is, however, in terms of generating the most leads, Facebook tops the list, and TikTok is in the bottom line!
An interesting report for all those people that say you have to be on TikTok no matter what for your business. Well, now it's clear that "it depends".
At the end of the day, whether it’s TikTok or another social media app, it’s important to always ask yourself this question, “Is this platform generating leads for my business?”
No more links, PLEASE!
At Hello Media, 80% of our posts include a link… it could be a link to a blog post, a link to a YouTube video, or a link to register for Kylie’s next workshop, etc.
However, links are becoming problematic because Facebook wants users on the platform — they don't want them to go away. They don't want you reading a post, hitting off to read a blog on the website, and then never coming back!
And what’s amazing about this is that Facebook has looked at these links, timed and tried them if they worked at all.
And the shocking truth is…
In the first quarter of last year, 83% of what people were seeing did not include a link on their newsfeed in the fourth quarter of 2022. And 92.5% of what people are seeing now does not include a link!
It just tells you that if you're putting posts with links, for example, then there are fewer and fewer and fewer people seeing your content!
What can you do now?
You've got to come up with really creative ways!
Make sure that you are paying attention to your content strategy this 2023! Don't just post for the sake of having content to put out there.
Post because you want to connect with people, you want to add value, and you want to help people through your products and/or services.
Although link content is no longer working on Facebook, community and personal connections still are!
Turn your PROFESSIONAL MODE ON!
There are several marketers and experts that are not yet convinced with Facebook's new “professional mode” feature.
But honestly, there’s a lot that you can do with it — you can boost a post, snap, monetise, or use that in that way, and get more out of your content!
The professional mode can help you become a creator on Facebook and build a public following. It gives you access to professional tools, including enhanced safety features, on your personal profile.
PLUS, if you meet the eligibility requirements for monetisation programs, the professional mode can help you earn money for creating content on Facebook!
So, we highly encourage you to try it out if you haven't. If you don't like it, you can always switch back.
How about privacy?
One of the biggest complaints we’re hearing from people is that they don't want to do it because they're worried that they're no longer going to be private.
But, it's so easy to create a post with photos, and just choose the audience set to only friends, you don't have to post everything out as public!
What other benefits can you get?
Other than that… right now, Meta has highlighted two benefits of the Professional Mode:
First, Facebook will show your content to more people if you post on your personal/professional account.
Second, when you convert your personal account to professional mode, you retain your Facebook friends and they automatically become your followers. You get more views/plays/reach than on your business page.
Wrapping up
The final key takeaway here is not just using the right platform for the purpose that you want, or making sure you're understanding what it's doing, but also getting an opportunity to have those conversations and ask questions like, “Which is the best way to learn?”
We all know that all businesses change and evolve. But when you're marketing in your business, which everybody has to, you've got to stay on top of what is changing to remain relevant and competitive in the market.
By continually updating your approach, you can establish yourself as industry leaders and build a brand that resonates with your target audience, ensuring long-term growth and success.
Listen in to our Bite-Size podcast episode about 3 latest social media trends for 2023!
Watch this episode of our Business Bite-Size on YouTube to learn more: