Top 5 trends on social media

Can you believe we’ve reached the halfway mark of 2022? Umm, come again? Yep, I feel that… So time is of the essence! Let’s get your social media accounts working for you not the other way around.

Social media is an ever-evolving digital world that can be hard to keep up with. We’ve said goodbye to simple status updates (we miss you!) and hello to selling products and growing digital communities. While new social media features and trends can feel never-ending, they also give us the opportunity to experiment and connect with new audiences in a different way!

Given the importance of social media in consumers’ lives, marketers and businesses flock to social platforms to leverage these powerful networks. But this does create a content overload on social media, and the competition is fierce. It can be challenging to stand out unless you have a clear social media marketing strategy. Staying updated on the latest social media trends can help fuel your strategy and make you stand out in the crowd.

Here are a few trends to capitalize on and integrate into your social media strategy for the second half of the year:

#1. TikTok is dominating the social media space

If you haven’t already, you better jump on the TikTok bandwagon. During the past two years, TikTok has also launched a number of useful tools, like ads and business profiles, aimed specifically at businesses. So, it’s no longer just a platform where young creators can show off their cool dance moves. 

TikTok has seen undeniably fast growth. In fact, the term ‘TikTok’ saw a 61% increase in mentions year-over-year during the beginning of 2021 and was the first non-Facebook app to reach 3 million global downloads. 

Users are enjoying the quick stackable video content to engage with. Through trending audios, dances, memes, and more, TikTok is the place to get creative and push the boundaries! With 60% of TikTok users being Gen Zers (the ultimate trendsetters), we predict more brands letting loose and trying to tap into that market.

#2. Short-form, high-quality vertical videos are here to stay

Short-form vertical video has boomed, thanks to the rise of TikTok and Instagram reels. Not only is video content an engaging form of storytelling and a way to drive sales, but it’s also a major growth hack. 

Taking advantage of creative trends and trending audios you can quickly reach new audiences with captivating quick videos.

We think we’ll continue to see a lot of new vertical video trends and creative content pop up – whether it’s fun editing transitions or in-depth tutorials. 

So get creative and start prioritizing short-form vertical videos to connect with your audience on a deeper level, spotlight products, and raise awareness about causes your business cares about.

#3. The “No Filter” feed takes over

Presets are old news! 

Creators and brands alike are shifting away from the perfectly curated feed aesthetic, and choosing to share less filtered and more in-the-moment content. 

There has been a big push on social media for authenticity and breaking down the insta perfect world we use to all idolize. 

While you still want your feed to reflect your brand there is less of a push to have a perfect “preset” feed. That being said high-quality photos and content is a must.

#4. Rise of the Linkedin Influencer

LinkedIn and influencer: two words you likely never thought would work together.

Linkedin is no longer the boring job board you may have thought it was. Creatives and influential business savvy people are leveraging Linkedin with great success!

The shift from office life to working from home culture has reminded people of the importance of creating a memorable personal brand outside of the one you have with your company. Plus Linkedin has made some big changes including their creator mode rollout to global creator programs. Making it easier to share content and grow an audience/community!

So what will we see in the second half of 2022? We predict more creators will leverage the platform, professionals growing their personal brands, and CEOs positioning themselves as experts in their field.

#5. Augmented Reality (AR) will become consumers’ preferred way to try-on products

Augmented Reality (AR) has been around for a few years now, and it’s becoming increasingly common for brands to use AR to enable consumers to test products before purchase. Pretty cool right? 

In fact, AR can improve click-through rates to purchase by upwards of 33%.

Brands are using AR for users to test out products such as decor items, makeup, clothing and more!

Snapchat is utilizing this innovative marketing the most! So if you are thinking of implementing AR in your product marketing strategy, Snapchat could be a good look for your business.

The trend is here to stay, and it’s only going to continue growing. We believe augmented reality (AR) will become consumers’ preferred option when trying on products in 2022 and forward.

So it’s time to get creative and jump on these trends. Remember, you’ve got nothing to lose. Test things out, and see what works for your business!

Feeling a little overwhelmed with developing and/or implementing a social media strategy? Capital Content is here to help. Let’s connect and get your business thriving on social media rather than eating up all your time for little results.

Z

STEP 1: RESEARCH + AUDIENCE + CONTENT PLAN

Clarify your ideal audience and how you best stand out to them (i.e. what makes you unique in their eyes?), research and craft detailed personas that will make your message resonate, and create a content plan focused on connecting with that audience and positioning you as the expert they can trust.

STEP 2: PLAN YOUR BRAND REFRESH

Clarify your ideal audience and how you best stand out to them (i.e. what makes you unique in their eyes?), research and craft detailed personas that will make your message resonate, and create a content plan focused on connecting with that audience and positioning you as the expert they can trust.

STEP 3: BRAND VOICE GUIDEBOOK

Refine your brand message, personality and voice, then create a brand voice guidebook to keep your communication consistent, clear, and customer-focused at all times. (Perfect for bringing on a team!)

If you’re struggling to think, “what content should I be posting?”, or “what copy should be on my website and social media accounts?” or you’re having a hard time articulating what your business is trying to achieve with its marketing, it sounds like you may need a brand revamp. It’s time to layout the founding strategy for your brand identity. Hit us up! We can help you develop and/or revamp your brand so you can start showing up the way you’ve always wanted to, baby!