Social Trends in 2016

Marketing Trends 2016

I can't believe it's almost 2016, this year really flew by! With the new year comes new advances and areas of interest when it comes to social media. We wanted to outline what WE think will be hot in 2016.

1. #Content Remains Queen 

Quality over quantity everyone! #Content #Marketing Institute released survey figures that 86% of B2B organizations have a strategic content marketing strategy in place. 

Time for the remaining 14% to get on board - am I right?

Whether you're an insurance agency, yoga studio or chiropractic office; providing your consumers with informative information does two things. Builds trust and brand identity. Also from the CMI, 80% of business decision-makers prefer to get company information in a series of articles rather than advertisements. So time to fine tune that blogger, connect it directly to your website and share your articles via all social media outlets. Continue publishing weekly articles to Google +, where according to Google, articles get the most traction when they're 60 characters OR LESS. So you can always be short and sweet on this platform while elaborating in your blog. But don't forget to ##### !

2. The #Buy Button

Have you noticed the ease it is to BUY things lately?!

this is NOT helping my online shopping addiction...

Now with Facebook you can click the "buy now" feature through sponsored posts and be directed to that product to purchase without blinking an eye. Think it can't get any better? Well, how about Facebook makes it easier to click buy and stay within their app to purchase the product instead of being taken to another website. Instagram is moving in the direction of making it easier to purchase through their sponsored posts, it will be very interesting to see how other apps (including instagram) adopt this feature.

3. #LIVE Social & Video

Ever heard of periscope? A live stream you can record and share through social media, and described by the company as "the closest thing to teleportation". From a rioter in Ukraine, to a cliff diver in Australia, you can go wherever the videos are streaming in from. Experience the world, all via live streaming.

Makes it especially easy for couch potatoes to NEVER move in my opinion ;)

Some things to know about video from a business standpoint before you wonder the importance of it...

Videos average 62% more engagement than photos

Video shares increased by 43% at the start of 2015

58% of consumers consider companies that produce video content to be more trustworthy

71% of consumers say that videos leave a positive impression of a company and help them BUY 

We think in 2016 there will be an increase not only in video usage by companies, but live videos through social. Nothing is more trustworthy than a video taken in the moment. Think of this example... You view pictures of a hotel on yelp or tripadvisor and get to the hotel to find it's nothing like the pictures. SHOCKER... Well now the Hilton would be able to take live feeds, or even customers staying there can share how their room was via video. 

4. #Inbound #Messaging for Social

Messaging a company is going to continue to increase, and companies are going to have to invest more time and man-power into replying. Sprout Social reports that across industries, brands have received 32% more inbound messages this year than last, and 82% of those messages that brands receive, go without a response. 

REALLY?! I would be so irritated if I was ignored and therefore look differently at that brand.

Making things more personal and more interactive with the brand and the consumer are steadily rising. Consumers are craving this, and brands are responding.