To get the greatest benefit from social media, businesses must post organic content, advertise, and engage with the online community, rather than rely on a single type of social activity.
Top Three Trends in Social Media
1. Create a virtual in-store experience
One social media trend that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic is turning social media pages into a
virtual in-store experience. Consumers are less inclined to make in-store visits these days, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t want to shop and see what you have to offer. In lieu of regular foot traffic, bring your business’s offerings to the customer. Use social media to post pictures, descriptions, sneak peeks, and product demos to give customers the “shopping” experience. Create digital signage for sales and promotions so customers know when they can get a deal. Offer virtual customer service by responding quickly to comments and direct messages, or do livestream Q&As to answer common inquiries about products.
2. Call-to-action buttons
Facebook has created an option to add a call-to-action button to organic posts to increase conversions. For example, you can add a button to encourage users to shop online, download an app, get in touch with your business, or book an appointment or reservation. Try out this feature by directing users to engage with a new piece of content, or by promoting sales of a particular product or category. Doing this will encourage your audience or take direct action instead of just browsing your site or scrolling past your post altogether.
3. Authenticity
In 2020, many brands and small businesses alike fell from Internet grace for
co-opting social movements as advertising opportunities without aligning their business actions to the cause. This trend of callout culture will only continue to gain momentum in 2021, as activism and political engagement are at a peak. Make sure all of your messaging across social media is authentic, consistent with your business history, and sensitive to the current moment. Consider the
do’s and don’ts of taking a stand on social issues before making a hasty or generic post.