• WDD Crew
• |
• NOV 16, 2022

TOP 5 SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2023

It would be a bit farfetched to believe that the lockdown did not impact social media trends. The new age of digital advertising and communication continues in the post-covid era. The new normal takes some time to take shape, and the past year has been all about that. New Google analytics rules and Meta and Twitter undergoing massive restructuring in the advertising and marketing spectrum have gravely influenced how we engage with the online advertising space.

One thing is certain, however, from 2023 onwards, we can find a solid structure which can truly dictate the new era of social media. 2022 saw a tremendous rise in users engaging with social media content and the brands have been quick at leveraging this new audience behaviour. Let’s check out the 5 social media trends that can build your brand in 2023 (and most probably the next 5 years).

1. Live Streaming for brand transparency

This year, we saw many brands pick up live streaming as a way to connect with the audience. Be it directly or indirectly, brands appeared on social media live streams to engage with the audience about a new and upcoming product or simply to remind the audience that they exist.

Following the Facebook Live update, Instagram and Twitter picked up similar updates. Soon after, LinkedIn also joined in, understanding the impact that the content format resulted in. 2023 and the following years will see brands gradually shifting from blog content to video and live-streaming content formats. This will benefit the brands in 2 ways. One, it will allow an innovative direction of their messaging. Live streaming moves away from the conventional way of communication and gives creative legroom for brands to be engaging. Two, video content is readily accepted and consumed by the followers which allow greater viewership than a blog article.

A brand’s live-streaming gives an identity of transparency and appears to be in sync with the contemporary modes of communication. This is enough for audiences to generate confidence in the brand. This is definitely one of the social media trends to look forward to in the coming years. It will be exciting to see how brands leverage this mode in an innovative fashion.

2. Podcasts can target the youth like never before

Podcasts have become increasingly popular, especially among the youth. At the same time, many famous podcasts generate genuine content which has contributed to the popularity of the mode. We have seen little direct involvement of brand campaigns in podcasts except for funding them in return for being mentioned. In the coming years, however, podcasts will stir up the online marketing space as more and more brands engage with the medium to convey their brand messaging.

Hosting activities, a series of FAQs, online events and so much more, can be executed over a podcast. It is one of the underexplored, but upcoming space in the social media marketing sphere.

3. Chatbot marketing is on the rise

I remember the time when chatbots used to be annoying. Today, chatbots have gained the most due to the lockdown. The role of chatbots extended beyond just information sharing. Across platforms, chatbots become agents of solving queries, completing orders, exploring offers and discounts, and so on. Today, brands will miss out on a large segment of their potential customers without a seamless chatbot program on their platform. In the digital-first generation, people have started taking chatbots seriously, and it is time for brands to start exploring this option as well.

4. UGC is key but only when used wisely

User-generated content has always been a big part of social media branding for years. However, since the lockdown era, the new normal has brought greater engagement on UGC posts. Users feel appreciated because social media has become a large part of their daily lives.

However, it can only be leveraged if you use it smartly. UGC content is not a refreshing switch from your regular content strategy. Instead, UGC must remain in sync with the existing content tonality to remain true to the brand guidelines. Essentially, you are identifying your users as your brand ambassadors and the approach of UGC must remain the same. With this, you are generating a loyal consumer base who will advocate for your brand whenever they get the opportunity. The reason why it is going to take up a large portion of the social media branding strategy in the coming years is that users are gradually increasing the consumption of digital assets and speaking to them and recognizing their digital contribution will be perceived positively, which was not an assured thing in the pre-covid age.

5. Influencer Marketing will see new heights.

We have seen influencer marketing transition in the last decade. In the pre-covid era, influencer marketing has redefined itself to take up the lion’s share of social media trends. Today, a digital product launch, an online or offline event, or even a seasonal campaign is simply incomplete without an influencer. Moreover, in the last few years, we have seen influencers for specific domains. From financial, education, fashion, travel & lifestyle to health & fitness, each domain has its respective set of influencers which cater to its target audience. This has greatly increased the relevance of influencer marketing on social media. Come 2023, if you are planning to launch a major campaign, be sure to include influencer marketing in the mix.

Conclusion

The new age of social media is sure to be exciting. The audience and the brands have great expectations from the online medium, which is sure to make this space highly competitive. In such an environment, it is important for a brand to stay ahead of the trends. If you are looking to create an impactful social media campaign in 2023, this would be the right time to start preparing. Reach out to us and we will help you form the right social media strategy for the new digital-first era.