There are still three months left to start a new year. However, in the field of marketing you have to be prepared well in advance. Marketers and communication and social media professionals are already speaking out. The crystal ball has already been put into operation and the predictions for 2018 are ready. Do you want to know what they are? Well, pay attention, here come the trends in social media that will mark next year.
Videos and bots: protagonists of the networks
For several years now, videos have been part of the list of fundamental points in social media strategies. In the coming year, they continue to have the same prominence. The possibilities of showing audiovisual content on social networks are increasingly broader. The three most used platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) already integrate the possibility of transmitting live videos. Those in charge of the official profiles of any brand should pay attention to:
1. The stories. An original idea from Snapchat that was later integrated into Instagram and Facebook. They are a good means to create a close brand image. The user will feel that the brand treats them as a friend rather than as a simple consumer. Of course, there is no need to bombard you with product descriptions and offers. It is better to use stories to show the day-to-day life in the company or important events. We already saw this trend in last year’s forecasts, and it continues to be present in next year’s forecasts.
2. Live videos. This type of content generates great engagement. Curiosity and instant interactivity are the fundamental attractions of streaming videos. There is no formula for perfect live streaming yet. Therefore, it is best to study the audience beforehand and be creative to impress them.
On the other hand, artificial intelligence is increasingly penetrating the social sphere. Chatbots are becoming the new customer service assistants. Likewise, social networks have become channels for the user to contact brands. The instantaneousness that the client requires in their responses makes it practically necessary to include virtual assistants who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Forecasts dictate that by 2020, the main interaction with brands will be carried out through chatbots.
New technologies are good complements
Since video continues to be the star in social media marketing, we must look for new ways to capture it that surprise. Virtual reality is one of the big bets for 2018. The immersive capacity and great appeal of virtual experiences become a perfect format for advertising. Networks such as YouTube and Facebook already allow the upload of 360-degree videos which, together with virtual reality glasses, allow consumers to live new experiences without leaving the site.
Mobile phones have already surpassed computers in terms of Internet access. Forecasts indicate that more than half of social network users will access their profiles through their Smartphone rather than from the PC. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt the contents for the best possible viewing on the small screen of a phone.
For now, these are the most talked about social media trends for 2018. Although, as we said at the beginning of the post, there are still three months until the new year begins. So, things can change. We will be attentive to all the news to continue telling you everything you need to succeed as a company on the internet.
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