Now more than ever, consumers are searching for authenticity and reliability so big social media influencers are out and employee advocacy is in! Who would have thought?!
It’s clear that social media is constantly changing – it can be hard to keep up! So, here are the top 4 social media trends to look out for in 2023:
- UGC content
- Short-form video content
- Employee advocacy
- Social customer care
If you find social media daunting, let us help you! From engaging with potential leads to posting regular updates and images or delivering pinpointed advertising campaigns; our dedicated Marketing Team will work to place your company in front of relevant key profiles to extend your reach and raise your brand awareness.
UGC (user-generated content)
A 2021 study revealed that 80% of consumers say UGC highly impacts their purchasing decisions. 2023 is the year of authenticity and reliability and it is no surprise that consumers now say they trust peer recommendations over other advertising sources.
UGC is original content created by customers and published on social media. It allows consumers to share their own REAL experiences of a product with brands and other like-minded consumers, placing brands in front of wider audiences for FREE and therefore drumming up engagement and increasing brand awareness.
Here are our favourite UGC campaigns:
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ASOS #AsSeenOnMe
2014 saw the launch of ASOS’ #AsSeenOnMe campaign. This involved them launching a new section on their website showcasing images of ASOS customers wearing clothes purchased from their website. This allowed consumers to get a sense of what the clothes would look like on regular people in everyday situations rather than on models in professionally-lit studios.
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Coca-Cola #ShareACoke
This campaign saw hundreds of popular first names printed on Coca-Cola cans and bottles, encouraging consumers to hunt for a bottle or can with their name on it and share it on social media. This invoked a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and before you knew it, EVERYONE was hunting high and low for a bottle with their names on resulting in an increase in sales!
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Starbucks #WhiteCupContest
The Starbucks cup is iconic within itself but add a cash prize and a catchy hashtag and the crowds go wild! Starbucks launched #WhiteCupContest and invited consumers to decorate their coffee cups in their own unique way. This encouraged people to share their designs on social media in a bid to win the grand prize of a $300 gift card and the chance to have their designs printed on a reusable cup.
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Hounds & Hers
Hounds & Hers is a dog subscription box which provides dogs and their owners with monthly treats. They urge their customers to take photos of their dogs enjoying the treats sent to them in the box. This provides them with promotional content to repost whilst also showing potential customers what they will receive, from real people. This works well with consumers now seeking honest and trustworthy brands
- Hot Tip: A range of platforms are available to assist you with generating UGC, including Snapsea, Shortstack, and Pixlee.
Short-form video content
If you haven’t heard of TikTok, where have you been?! TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media platforms in the world, using short-form videos of under 10 minutes. It has changed the way people view video content drastically.
It’s no secret that we humans have short attention spans. We want things immediately! This is why short-form video content works so well. Short-form video content is considered as any video under 60 seconds. However, the optimal length is between 31 and 60 seconds.
Examples of content include:
- Trending challenges
- Product teasers
- Behind-the-scenes videos
- FAQs
- Hot Tip: Begin to type keywords related to your business in the TikTok search bar to see what consumers are searching for when it comes to short-form video content!
Employee advocacy
If you need a starting point for your social media strategy, look closer to home! Your employees are the window to your brand/company so utilise their skills through employee advocacy. This is the promotion of a brand or company that an individual works at.
Examples of employee advocacy:
- Amplify company messages and promotions
- Positively share about their experiences and work life
- Act as an expert and recommend the company’s products and services
- Company merch
- Internal incentives & recognition (employee of the month)
- Social media advocacy
Social customer care
Yes, it’s important to answer queries consumers have over social media, however, engaging in a fun and casual way can do wonders too!
This is where social listening comes in. Regularly searching for your brand name/keywords can enable you to see discussions relating to your brand that you may not have been directly tagged in. These tend to be discussions that do not necessarily need an outcome, but, immersing yourself in these conversations allows consumers to see the ‘human’ side of your brand, preventing them from seeing you as robotic and unapproachable.
Here are just a few of our favourite examples:
- Hot Tip: A range of platforms are available to assist you with social media listening, including Brandwatch, Brand24, AgoraPulse, and Sprout Social.
Need a hand?
Do you need help keeping up with the latest social media trends? At Nimble Media, we pride ourselves on our ability to understand the needs of all clients – from initial consultation to final briefing meetings – we can manage your social media, saving you time and giving you peace of mind.
With experience drawn from a range of high-profile projects including industry, charity and non-profit organisations; Nimble Media offer exceptional service at an affordable price.
To arrange a chat over a cuppa to discuss your social media marketing, contact Nimble Media today.
We can’t wait to get ridiculously creative with you.
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