Brands are continually trying to find new ways to connect with audiences across a range of platforms. As competition increases, it becomes exceedingly more difficult for brands to effectively catch their audience’s attention via social media.

The issue is that on average, each person scrolls through 300 feet of content each day – that is a lot of information to take in – which means that brands have a miniscule amount of time to catch their audience’s attention.

In 2018, when it comes to social media it is all about speed of the feed and making an impact – below are 10 ways that you can do that!

1. Utilise chatbots

Chatbots are no longer mechanic, clunky machines that they were once. They are now a much more reliable form of communication – they are able to provide an instant connection with users from all over the world. Chatbots can be used to automate customer service – they give brands the chance to interact more quickly with their audience in a more personal way.

We are glad to say, this year Creative Digital will be offering a chatbot building service for all your marketing and sales needs!

2. Incorporate short-term content

Short-term content, also known as ephemeral content, can be useful for boosting engagement. This type of content usually lasts for no longer than 24 hours and then disappears forever. Popularity of this kind of content has risen thanks to Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram stories where a video or image is share for a set period of time, between a few minutes and a few hours, and then disappears forever. Because of the nature of this content, your audience knows that they have to act fast to see it, boosting engagement and increasing brand awareness.

3. Invest in influencer marketing

Consumers want authenticity from brands, which is why influencer marketing, where consumers are able to read or watch real reviews of products, are becoming increasingly popular. This year, brands should focus less on numbers of followers of influencers and more on who they are and what their values are, as this will lead to a more engaged audience.

4. Video content is king

Mobile culture has become a thing, with 80% of consumers using mobile devices to browse the internet, rather than computers and laptops. Video is the main content that is now being consumed by audiences, with 90% of all content shared by users on social media being video.

5. Live streaming

Pre-recorded video aside, one of the other more relevant marketing trends of 2018 is live streaming content. The possibility of sharing content live with followers are choosing to interact with them is amazing, which is why it is a form of marketing that every business needs to take advantage of.

6. Augmented reality

Virtual reality is becoming increasingly popular, which is why so is augmented reality. Augmented reality may move out of gaming and onto social media very soon – this year, in fact – which means that businesses of all shapes and sizes need to be ready to take advantage of it.

7. Follow what Generation Z do

Generation Z are the generation after millennials, they are around the age of 22 right now and are always up to date on all of the hottest new social media trends. By following what technology they are using, you can stay up to date on what all of the newest pieces of tech are that your business should be using.

8. Create more mobile-ready content

It’s no secret that smartphones and tablets are how most consumers go online these days, which means that the more mobile-ready content your brand has, the better. With consumers on their smartphones more, an increasing amount of content should be mobile-friendly.

9. Richer content

Richer content drives more engagement, which is what businesses need. The more engagement content gets, the better. Rich content is any content that facilitates user interaction and makes users more inclined to connect with brands.

10. Taking advantage of user-generated content

Consumers trust other consumers, so if they see a review of a product by another consumer, rather than the brand themselves or an influencer, many consumers are more likely to take it seriously and believe it. Creating a hashtag for your brand and asking your customers to use it when sharing content about your products or services, will allow you to track and follow what’s being said about your brand and utilise anything positive.

There you have it, 10 trends in social media marketing in 2018. If you would like advice on and to implement any of these trends for your own business this year, drop us a message.