3 BIG Social Media Trends for 2018

It’s a new year, business owners, and with it comes the ever-changing trends of social media. Everyone has their favorite social apps, and it’s become an integral part of digital marketing for businesses. Furthermore, with apps constantly updating, it can be painstaking to stay on top of the latest jazz. Instead, focus on the latest trends and patterns for the new year. Here’s what’s in the social media marketing forecast for 2018!

Live Streaming is Taking Over

Live streaming made a HUGE debut in 2017, with popular apps such as Periscope and social platforms such as Facebook utilizing the format immediately and drawing attention with the ability to share video updates with followers, which studies have shown to be preferred to reading a written update. For 2018, it’s predicted to heat up even more. If you run a business, this is the time to hop on the bandwagon-or should we say- “brand” wagon. Incorporating this new format into your digital marketing plan renders trust and transparency with customers, since it showcases your brand and builds a relationship.

The Rise of Influencers

In the past, having a big time celebrity endorse products was the way to go for brand awareness, but with social media, the times are changing- and fast. Companies are steadily turning to social media stars- those with massive followings- to promote their products in their everyday posts. For 2018, it’s safe to say that this method of advertising is becoming a billion dollar industry, with stars on Youtube and Instagram grabbing the spotlight and shining it on products that thousands of users see and learn about.

Hello Chatbots!

Unreliable online customer service is becoming a thing of the past. In 2018, chatbots are lean, mean customer satisfaction machines that instantly connect with customers no matter where they are located, helping to address their issues via chat. The trend and technology behind chatbots is quickly growing, and is a savvy way to get back to customers easily, while offering convenience for you as a business owner.