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Supercharge Your Social Media Marketing with These 4 Trends (2022)

December 22, 2021

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The ever-changing world of social media never stops. While new trends replace old ones, ambitious marketers need the right insights to stay ahead of the competition and engage their audience with the best strategies for a thriving 2022. 

That’s why, in this article, you will unearth 4 marketing nuggets that will help you succeed. 

Read on to discover what the new year has in store for us and what you can do to supercharge your social media initiatives

1. Facebook is still king (dethrone it at your own risk)

Numbers don’t lie. With 2,9 billion active users, the platform is still the unrivaled epicenter of social media engagement and advertisement campaigns. 

True, Facebook is losing popularity among the younger generations, and 60% of interactions come from users over the age of 45. But its first-mover advantage, the constant addition of valuable features like the Facebook Business Suite, and its renewed efforts to attract young users (such as the implementation of Reels) will keep this platform at the top in the years to come. 

And that’s true without even considering the recent Metaverse hype, following Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that the company will be renamed Meta. Regardless of the niche or the industry occupied by your brand, Facebook appears to be the safest bet to maximize your ROI, and the one social media pillar you can’t ignore. 

2. Convert customers with their own content

Sure, user-generated content (UGC) is nothing new under the sun, but consider this: 93% of marketers recognize that customers trust UGC above most types of script produced directly by a brand—be it a video, reviews, social media posts, or more.   

In addition, the importance of user-generated content is predicted to grow in the near future, as it’s shifting from text-based forms (i.e., reviews and comments) that can be easily faked to rich social media content (videos, photos, audios, etc.), which is perceived as much more authentic and informative. 

The result? Businesses leveraging this transformation are boosting the return rate of online visitors by 20%, while experiencing a 90% increase in the overall time spent within their website. 

3. The rise of long content & streaming

We have all heard that the attention span of the average user is shrinking, and (consequentially) that content should become shorter and shorter to be engaging. However, new trends in social media seem to show almost the opposite.  

For instance, just over a year ago, Twitter implemented Spaces; Reels expanded to 60 seconds and TikTok to 3 minutes; Facebook introduced Live Audio Rooms and podcasting, while video streaming on YouTube and Twitch remains more popular than ever. Long content is back for good

A reason for this could be that social commerce is becoming increasingly ubiquitous, and that long forms of media are particularly well suited for selling. But that’s only a part of the story. 

Long, unfiltered content such as video streaming is also a unique driver of customer engagement, as it guarantees mutual interactions (between audience and creators) and more authentic relationships with brands.  

Marketers harnessing this raw potential will always be one step ahead.  

4. Social media & ecommerce are now inseparable

In a world in which buyers trust referrals more than they trust ads, and in which they are spending more and more time online, traditional retail is naturally morphing into social commerce.

Thus, in 2021 alone, sales generated through social media increased by 34.8%, exceeding $36 billion, and the overall industry is predicted to grow another 37.9% in 2022. Now, that’s a trend you shouldn’t ignore—especially considering how relatively inexpensive this type of marketing can be, compared to traditional advertising. 

Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube also confirmed to be the best platforms for social selling. However, as big celebrities are losing their marketing appeal, it’s time to leverage the services of micro influencers (with 25k followers or less), who are generally seen as more authentic and trustworthy, while displaying a more engaged community of followers. 

In conclusion…

Social media will continue to be the cornerstone of modern marketing endeavors—and to provide an engaging, cost-effective way to achieve your most coveted business goals.  

However, new trends are always emerging within this shifting landscape, and keeping up with the latest strategies will ultimately be the difference between success and potential shipwreck.

This article offers a provisional look into the conditions that will ensure a prosperous 2022. Make sure to stay tuned to be ready for the next big trend!