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Social media moves fast! Remember the algorithm updates that used to freak us out? Now it’s a whole new ball game in 2024. People are using social media differently, spending habits are changing, and a whole new generation is taking over. That’s why we put together this guide to 2024 social media trends. It’ll help you stay ahead of the curve and get your clients on board with the latest strategies!

Short-Form Video Dominates 2024 Social Media Trends!

Remember the days of algorithm update anxiety? Now, the trend to watch in 2024 social media is the rise of short-form video. Users crave quick, engaging content they can consume while scrolling. This makes short-form video the king of social media in 2024!

Leverage short-form video for diverse marketing goals, from boosting brand awareness and audience engagement to driving sales through social advertising in 2024.
- Vishal Baurai

Why Short-Form Video Reigns Supreme

  • High Engagement: Short videos boast higher completion rates compared to longer formats, keeping viewers hooked on your content within the 2024 social media landscape.
  • Accessibility: They’re easy to digest on-the-go, perfectly suited to busy users scrolling through social media feeds.
  • Versatility: Leverage short-form video for diverse marketing goals, from boosting brand awareness and audience engagement to driving sales through social advertising in 2024.

Crafting Winning Short-Form Video Content

Creating compelling short-form videos isn’t complex! Here are some key things to remember for 2024 social media success:

  • Target Audience: Identify who you’re trying to reach and tailor your content to their interests and needs.
  • Goal Setting: Is your aim brand awareness, building deeper connections with your existing audience, or driving sales in 2024?
  • Platform Optimization: Choose the right platform for your video (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, etc.) as each has slight variations in preferred video length and style.
  • Clear Call to Action: Tell viewers what you want them to do next (visit your website, subscribe, etc.) and make it easy to follow.
  • Content Repurposing: Explore opportunities to repurpose your video content for other platforms or formats like blog posts, expanding your reach in 2024.

Beyond the Trends: Focus on Value

While exploring trending content on TikTok and other platforms can be inspiring, avoid blindly following every fad. In 2024 and beyond, the core principle of high-quality content remains providing value to the viewer.

Strategic Implementation is Key

Don’t create content for the sake of it. Ensure each video aligns with your overall social media strategy and marketing goals for 2024.

By following these tips and strategically leveraging the power of short-form video, you can stay ahead of the curve in 2024 social media and achieve success for your clients. The possibilities are endless, making short-form video a leading social media trend to embrace!

Don't Write Off YouTube Just Yet: Here's Why!

Short, vertical videos may rule the moment, but YouTube, the world’s number 2 website, is still a powerful player. Here’s why YouTube matters for brands in 2024 social media:

YouTube Reaches Everyone:

Unlike some platforms focused on younger audiences, YouTube attracts viewers of all ages. This means you can reach a wider audience and connect with more potential customers.

The Benefits of Longer Videos:

  • Plan Ahead: Create a video strategy with lasting value, not just chasing trends.
  • Evergreen Content: Craft content based on what people search for online. This makes your videos discoverable through Google searches, not just dependent on the platform’s algorithm.
  • Repurpose & Reuse: Turn your long video into bite-sized clips for other platforms or embed them in blog posts to boost SEO.

Simple Steps to YouTube Success in 2024:

  • Answer Questions: What do your clients get asked the most? These are likely popular search queries too! Create videos that address these questions.
  • Make it Valuable: Focus on providing real value to your audience with helpful and informative content.
  • Be Clear and Accessible: Use subtitles, captions, and descriptions to make your videos easier to understand for everyone.
  • Keywords & Catchy Titles: Use relevant keywords in your video titles to help people find them in searches. Don’t forget an eye-catching thumbnail that grabs attention! Tools like VidIQ can help with keyword research and thumbnail inspiration.

Long-form video content on YouTube allows brands to build a comprehensive social media presence reaching a wider audience and achieving long-term success in 2024 and beyond.

Leveraging Social Commerce for Success in 2024

Social commerce has been simmering for a while, but 2024 is poised to be a breakout year. Brands and platforms are finally finding ways to turn social connections into sales.

Consumers Were Already Hooked

Long before the pandemic, social media was influencing buying habits. In 2018, a whopping 30% of consumers were already considering purchases through social platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.

The Pandemic Pushed It Further

The pandemic accelerated this trend, but consumer expectations are shifting in 2024. Factors like inflation, supply chain issues, and social responsibility concerns are affecting what people buy, where they buy it, and why.

Social Commerce Stats to Consider for 2024

Here’s how these trends influence your 2024 social media strategy, backed by key statistics:

  • Supply Chain Savvy Shoppers: PWC research shows half of consumers plan to increase online spending in the next six months. They’re also more willing to shop across channels to find what they need. This is your chance to shine if your brand can offer omnichannel experiences. (SEO Optimization: Include “omnichannel social commerce strategy” as a link to a relevant section if possible)

  • Mobile Takes the Lead: Mobile commerce is expected to reach a staggering $620.97 billion by 2024. Nearly half (42.9%) of all eCommerce purchases will be made on smartphones. With app usage booming (especially among Gen Z and Millennials), mobile optimization is crucial for sales growth.

  • The “Shop Now” Revolution: This explains why almost every social platform now has a “shop now” button. It’s a seamless path to purchase for mobile-savvy consumers.

  • Social Proof Matters: Most businesses understand the power of social media presence. Here’s a stat to convince hesitant clients: Social media is where reviews reign supreme. 84% of US online buyers consult social media before buying. This highlights the importance of actively collecting and showcasing positive customer reviews on your social channels.

The Rise of Content Creators: Holding the Power in 2024 Social Media

Gone are the days of polished ads being the social media golden ticket. In 2024, everyday people, bloggers, and micro-influencers – content creators – are the new trusted voices. Here’s why User-Generated Content (UGC) is king:

  • People Trust People: Stats show consumers trust reviews and recommendations from real people who’ve used a product or service, way more than fancy marketing messages. UGC feels honest and unbiased, building trust with potential customers.

  • Reviews Rule: Customer reviews are seen as 12 times more believable than what brands say about themselves. UGC lets real people share their experiences, boosting your brand’s credibility.

  • UGC Packs a Punch: Consumers find UGC nearly 10 times more impactful than influencer content when deciding to buy something. Wow!

Why You Need UGC

Many social media marketers spend ages creating perfect brand content, but potential customers often just scroll past it. Here’s why:

  • Brand Bias: People know brands are biased towards their own products.
  • Real People Power: People trust recommendations from those who’ve genuinely used something.

Simple Steps to UGC Success

So, how can you leverage UGC for your clients? Here are 3 easy steps:

  1. Find Existing Fans: Look at photos, posts, and reviews tagged with your client’s brand. Share these (with credit!) on their social media to showcase real customer experiences.

  2. Turn Fans into Stars: Identify happy customers. Work with them to share their experiences on their own social media channels.

  3. Micro-Influencers Make a Difference: Forget giant followings. Focus on building relationships with relevant small influencers with engaged communities.

The Bottom Line

While influencer marketing is still valuable, UGC is a powerful and cost-effective tool. Just add a few UGC posts per month to your client’s social media plan. This builds trust, attracts new followers, and utilizes awesome content already out there!

Community over followers

Building a strong social media community isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a game-changer! Here’s why:

  • Loyal Fans Drive Retention: A study revealed that 66% of brands with online communities saw a positive impact on customer retention. These are your most dedicated fans who keep coming back for more.

  • Community is King: Global Web Index reports a whopping 76% of internet users participate in online communities. This is where you can connect with like-minded people and build a loyal following.

Unlocking the Power of Community

Here are some simple ways to start building your online tribe in 2024:

  • Be a Conversation Starter: Respond to comments and engage with your audience. This shows you value their opinions and fosters a sense of connection.

  • Go Viral – The Organic Way: Encourage users to tag you in relevant videos by other creators. This expands your reach and opens the door to interacting with new audiences.

  • Turn Negatives into Positives: Address any negative feedback promptly and professionally. This shows you care about your customers’ experience and builds trust.

  • Partner Up: Show some love to relevant content creators in your niche. Consider collaborations or shout-outs to their communities, fostering valuable connections and reaching new audiences

By building a strong online community, you’re nurturing a pool of loyal supporters who will be your brand champions. Invest time in engaging with your audience, and watch your social media presence thrive!

Narrow-targeted social media ads

Targeted ads can still be a powerful tool, with 31% of consumers (especially Gen Z) responding positively to them in a PWC study. Even better, 37% are swayed by ads with direct offers and promotions, and 34% find sponsored social media ads appealing.

However, social media advertising presents its own challenges in 2024:

  • Balancing Personalization and Privacy: 54% of people get annoyed by ads for things they already purchased. Striking a balance between targeted ads and user privacy is crucial.

  • Standing Out in a Crowded Space: With stricter regulations and a saturated market, creating effective paid ads requires a focus on retargeting and building lookalike audiences to reach the right people.

The Power of Social Media Advertising

Despite the challenges, social media advertising remains a key player in online sales success:

  • Purchase Power: Studies show 80% of online consumers have made purchases from social media ads, and 84% have bought a product after watching a marketing video.

Building a Winning Social Media Ad Strategy in 2024

Here’s how to create a successful social media ad strategy for your clients in 2024:

  1. Know Your Audience: Define your client’s ideal customer and their key performance indicators (KPIs).

  2. Engaging Content is King: Explore creating new or repurposing existing video content to capture attention.

  3. UGC: The Trust Factor: Consider incorporating user-generated content (UGC) in your ads to build trust and authenticity.

  4. Understanding the New Consumer: Consumers today prioritize a seamless omnichannel experience, ESG practices (environmental, social, and corporate governance), online security, local supply chains, and competitive pricing. Align your social media strategy with these evolving values.

Social media advertising remains a valuable tool, but understanding the changing consumer landscape is crucial. By focusing on audience needs and tailoring your approach, you can create effective ads that resonate in 2024.

Is LinkedIn Losing Its Luster? Why Building Trust Matters in 2024

The online world is built on trust, but a recent report by Insider Intelligence shows that trust in digital spaces is going down. This shift is impacting LinkedIn in a big way!

Goodbye Pushy Pitches, Hello Authentic Connections:

Gone are the days of generic, self-serving posts. People crave genuine connections and valuable content. Here’s how LinkedIn is changing:

  • Focus on Value: The platform now rewards content that educates and informs. Share industry trends, thought leadership pieces, or helpful tips related to your expertise.

How to Win on the New LinkedIn

Ready to thrive on the “new” LinkedIn? Here are some simple tips:

  • Become a Mini-Expert: Share valuable content that positions you as an authority in your field.

  • Engage and Connect: Don’t just post – actively participate in discussions, comment on relevant posts, and network with others in your industry.

  • Showcase Your Skills: Publish articles, share presentations, or participate in LinkedIn Live events to demonstrate your knowledge.

  • Be Real, Be You: Authenticity is key! People connect with genuine personalities, not overly promotional profiles.

While LinkedIn is still a powerful professional networking tool, building trust is crucial in 2024. By focusing on authenticity, value-added content, and genuine interaction, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and connect with your target audience.

Don't Sleep on Social SEO: Why It Matters More Than Ever in 2024

Social media isn’t just about likes and shares anymore. In 2024, Social SEO is key to reaching new audiences and ranking higher in search results. Here’s why

New Search Engine, Who Dis?

The New York Times calls TikTok the new search engine for Gen Z, and Google acknowledges this shift. Search engines are paying attention to social media activity!

Beyond Hashtags: Optimizing Your Content

Hashtags are still important, but social SEO goes deeper. Here’s how to optimize your social media content for search engines:

  • Keyword Research is King: Do some keyword research to understand what topics and formats resonate with your audience. This helps you create content people are actively searching for.

  • Keywords in Your Captions: Include relevant keywords naturally within your social media post captions to improve search engine discoverability.

  • Make Images Accessible: Add alt text to your social media images. This helps visually impaired users and improves search engine understanding of your content.

  • Optimize Video Captions: Don’t forget to add keyword-optimized captions directly to your social media videos.

  • Subtitles are a Must: Include subtitles on your videos – not only for accessibility but also because search engines can crawl and understand video content with subtitles.

Social SEO isn’t a complicated beast. By focusing on relevant keywords, optimizing your content, and making it accessible, you can leverage social media to reach a wider audience and improve your search engine ranking in 2024.

The rise of AI-generated content

AI content creation is taking the social media world by storm! These tools use artificial intelligence to craft posts, videos, and even images – a dream for busy marketers who need to churn out high-quality content fast.

Here's How AI Can Help You Win on Social Media:

  • Faster Content Creation: No more writer’s block! AI tools like Chat GPT can generate social media captions in seconds, freeing up your time for strategy and engagement.

  • Personalized Power: Tools like Lexica can create unique images based on your descriptions, allowing you to tailor content to specific audiences.

  • Cost Savings: AI can cut down on the time and resources needed for content creation, potentially saving you money in the long run.

But Before You Go All-In, Here's a Reality Check:

  • Creativity Calibration: While AI is getting smarter, it can lack the originality and human touch that truly resonates with audiences.

  • Error Encounters: AI-generated content can have factual errors or biases. Always double-check before posting.

  • Ethical Considerations: Using AI content responsibly is crucial. Ensure it aligns with your brand voice and avoids misleading users.

AI can be a valuable tool for social media marketers, but it’s not a magic bullet. Use it strategically, keep an eye on quality, and focus on maintaining your brand’s unique voice. By using AI effectively, you can achieve your content goals faster without sacrificing authenticity.

Instagram Threads are here to stay

Remember Instagram Threads? Launched in 2023 with a bang (over 150 million users!), it aimed to be the go-to platform for close friend connections and disappearing content. But is it worth your time in 2024? Let’s break it down:

The Threads Story: Hype and Hurdles

  • Fast Start: Threads took off quickly, attracting users with its focus on close friends and temporary posts.

  • Privacy Concerns: Data privacy issues in Europe slowed its rollout, raising questions about trust and user adoption.

Is Threads Here to Stay?

  • Meta’s Support: Instagram’s parent company, Meta, still supports Threads, hinting at potential long-term plans.

  • Changing Trends: User preferences can shift quickly. The disappearing content feature might not be as hot in 2024.

The Takeaway: Should You Use Threads?

For now, Threads is still finding its footing. Consider your target audience and content strategy before diving in. It’s worth keeping an eye on, though, as it could evolve into a valuable tool in the future.

Here's a Bonus Tip (Especially for Instagram Users):

Since Threads connects easily with Instagram, you can leverage your existing presence! Here are some ideas:

  • Repurpose Tweets: Share interesting Tweets on Threads to reach a new audience.

  • Promote Your Articles: Share quotes from your articles with a link back to your website to drive traffic.

  • Celebrate Social Media Holidays: Join in on trending social media events to boost engagement.

Remember, building a community takes time and effort. But with its connection to Instagram, Threads might be worth exploring!

The latest social media news

Social media moves fast, and keeping up with the latest trends is crucial for business success. Here’s a quick rundown of the hottest news to inform your social media strategy:

  • Longer content is in: TikTok tests 30-minute uploads, while X (formerly Twitter) explores native articles.
  • Brands flock to BeReal: This authenticity-focused app is attracting celebrities and businesses with new “Real” accounts.
  • Drafts get a boost: Threads might soon let you schedule posts from drafts.
  • YouTube refines thumbnails: A/B testing expands to more creators for better audience engagement.
  • LinkedIn empowers all users: Creator Mode features become available to everyone.
  • Music licensing struggles: Universal Music Group removes music from TikTok in a licensing dispute.
  • Bluesky takes flight: The decentralized Twitter competitor opens to all users.
  • Facebook turns 20: The social media giant celebrates two decades of connection.

By staying informed of these updates, you can adapt your social media strategy, experiment with new tactics, and create content that resonates with your audience.

Conclusion

Social media is always changing! Stay ahead of the curve with these hot updates and create content that keeps your audience engaged.