2017 has been fun, but we’re already looking forward to what 2018 has up its sleeve including the social media trends to expect in 2018. It seems that every year we are in the prime time of the Digital Age, but 2018 is coming in hot with a can’t stop, won’t stop mentality. Brands are readying themselves with these 6 social media trends to stay in the game of retaining consumers’ attention:
Focus on Gen Z – 1995 babies, the eldest of Gen Z, are rounding up to 22 years old and are headed into the workforce. How old do you feel now? With that, brands will be targeting these big kids to spend big bucks on bigger toys. Work hard, play hard, right?
Chatbots – Messaging platforms engage 2.5 billion people globally and if your favorite brand has not jumped on the bandwagon yet, they will be within the next year. Brands will be connecting with consumers to provide personalized experiences through artificial intelligence, voice assistants, or chatbots. This feature will enable a quick channel of communication to direct audiences.
Influencer Marketing – It is no shocker that brands have gone down the influencer route to get their products to more consumers. This may not be news to many, but the rise of this advertising strategy will continue to dominate on social media. As this popularizes, brands may have to double-check who they are working with to assure their product is in the hands of an influencer who authentically connects with their following.
Ephemeral Content – With technology rapidly bringing information at the touch of our fingertips, it is no wonder our patience runs low when there’s a glitch in the system. With ephemeral content, short advertisements or visuals will appear for a few seconds to the viewer. The limited timeframe draws attention to the product being introduced and creates a sense of urgency for a call to action.
Livestreaming – Thanks to apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, users are given the power to show their following live videos of their current activities. Out with friends? Share it live. At a concert? Share it live. Your favorite celebrity is being interviewed? It’s probably being streamed live as well. The ability to share a moment with more than just the faces surrounding you has changed the social media game.
Rise of Augmented Reality – Visuals are everything these days. What we see is what attracts our attention and it is no doubt that indulging ourselves into a completely other realm of reality will be a climbing trend going into 2018. From fantasy videogames to alternative universes, these worlds are brought to our senses through a single screen.
