The pandemic and lockdown have caused more people than ever to turn to social media platforms as a means of staying connected with loved ones, finding new ways to keep busy and to do business. With a global surge of new social media users which grew to 3.96 billion at the start of July 2020, we take a look at some of the latest trends in social media and how new functions could help or hinder your business.
Video and social
A trend, which has certainly been heightened since the popularity of TikTok, is using short and snappy videos to showcase your products or services. With 41% of Tik Tok users between 16 and 24 years old this is quite a specific target audience. It’s not for all businesses, but it’s an indication of the importance of video for reaching out to people.
In fact, 82% of twitter users watch video content. Video stands out in a social feed and can give you the edge of a competitor as more people are drawn to video.
Instagram has introduced a similar segment to Tik Tok called Reels. Think of them as quick insight into your main Instagram feed. This is a great social channel for really showcasing products as it’s totally image led. The stories function also allows you to add video content and this is quite prominently placed when followers scroll through their news feed.
Content marketing
But, video isn’t just about using it on a social media feed. Remember it’s another type of content. All your marketing activity is about generating leads and pushing prospects back to your website. So, when you share content on social media remember to add links back to your website.
Make sure your video content is showing on your website too. Adding them to your blog posts really help to liven up content. It makes for engaging content, builds brand awareness and trust, whilst helping to keep people on your website for longer. Placing a video above the fold towards the top of your page is the best position for it too.
Creating a social media marketing plan as part of your content marketing strategy will help to keep you on track so you don’t miss key dates and you can plan social media posts accordingly.
What social platform should you use for your business?
Unfortunately, the answer to which social media channels you should use for your business is not so easy – how long is a piece of string? Whilst you might think you are extending reach, not all social platforms are right for everyone’s business. Before you create a social account, look at your competitors to understand where they are placed and research what channels your target audience mainly uses.
Only give your time to social platforms which will make a difference to your business. For a professional services firm like an accountancy practice, TikTok isn’t the right channel, this is where LinkedIn, Twitter and even Facebook are much more fitting.
Your website hub
Your website should be the hub of all your activity. It enables you to link all your social platforms and digital marketing activity back to it. Regard it as your digital world. Including a link to your website in social posts is a great form of inbound marketing and perfect for lead generation.
Social media agency London
Get in touch for a free consultation. As a social media marketing company we can discuss social media strategies that could work for you, as well as how social media marketing can fit into an overall digital marketing plan for lead generation for your business.
Smart Cow is a digital marketing agency based in Croydon, South London.