Top 9 social media trends in 2022

 

Social media is a part of everyday life for most people, and companies are using it in droves to connect with clients.

Businesses are using social media in innovative ways to connect with clients in order to avoid information overload. Businesses can utilize social media marketing to grow their customer base and connect with consumers across generations.

Social media is used by 58.4% of people worldwide for two hours and 27 minutes each day on average. Videos, customer service, and social listening are just a few of the new ways that social media can be used.

By distinguishing out in a sea of digital noise, staying on top of social media and marketing trends may help businesses reach customers. Here are some of the top social media trends in 2022.

1. Video content will continue to dominate

According to a Cisco study, 82% of all consumer internet traffic will be made up of video content. But as more people watch short-form videos, like those on TikTok, Facebook's Reels, YouTube's Shorts, and Instagram's Reels and Stories, long-form videos are becoming less and less popular.

Additionally, businesses are using live broadcasting to interact with customers. These videos might tell a tale, show a product in action, advertise an event, or share other company communications. According to Hootsuite, social media videos should not be more than a minute.

 

2. Social commerce will continue to expand

Direct product purchases using social media will become commonplace. Social media sites are becoming retail platforms with storefronts and postings that can be purchased. According to Sprout Social, 98% of consumers actually want to make a purchase on social media.

Businesses should concentrate on making the fewest number of clicks feasible in order to achieve the optimal purchasing experience. This can be accomplished by concentrating on their best-selling products rather than opening a whole shop.

The social and e-commerce worlds are also changing due to metaverse shopping. One instance of this is Forever 21's partnership with Roblox to create a storefront where users can purchase clothing for their avatars.

 

3. Augmented reality will go mainstream

Social media will connect with other technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), providing greater opportunities for customer participation. While VR adoption is still in its infancy, AR is currently being used on Instagram and Snapchat to improve shared graphics. For instance, Snapchat employs AR for all of its photo filters to transform people into animals, make them look like they're wearing makeup, give them sunglasses, or give them other aesthetic changes.

However, there are more uses for AR than just photo filters. Additionally, products can be previewed by customers. Customers can digitally put on eyewear or see how the furniture fits in a space.

 

4. Influencer marketing continues to rise

Although not new, influencer marketing isn't going anywhere. Influencers are constantly pushing products on social media.

Influencer marketing may not be as expensive as other types of marketing or advertising, but it still produces results. According to a poll by Influencer Marketing Hub, 90% of marketers said influencer marketing was successful.

Another social media site that provides influencer marketing is LinkedIn. LinkedIn offers Creator Accelerator, a program to assist creators in building their communities, despite the fact that the two are not frequently associated. This demonstrates the company's desire to invest more in creators and influencers.

Companies may achieve more than just lead generation by utilizing influencers. Influencers can aid in fostering client loyalty and engagement.

5. Customer service becomes a big part of social media

Social media as a medium for customer service emerged gradually as people became aware of their direct access to businesses. Companies respond to queries or concerns posted by customers.

According to Microsoft's Global State of Customer Service survey, 54% of global participants had more favorable opinions of businesses that responded to customer service complaints or requests on social media. Customers recognize the significance of leaving comments on postings.

Companies might decide to invest in a chatbot to handle some questions right away or build a knowledge library for customer support, or FAQ, to reduce response times.

6. More companies will use social listening

Social media can be used by businesses to gain information and insights. Businesses can listen to the world of consumers by utilizing social listening solutions. Here are some tools for social listening:

• Clarabridge
• HubSpot
• Lately
• Sprout Social
• Hootsuite

Social listening aims to keep an eye on any online chats and comprehend reactions.

Companies can learn via social listening how advertising, brand perceptions, and other information affect customer demands and wants.

In order to start seeing results, businesses can employ branded hashtags, pertinent keywords, and corporate mentions in social media campaigns.

 

7. Local targeting will grow

Businesses are able to draw in local customers by using location-based targeting. Using geotagging in social media content to reach a target audience is a frequent strategy for locating locals.

Make sure to include a location in the post because social media users can look for content close to where they are. Instagram, for instance, offers a location search feature. Additionally, businesses can "boost a post" on Facebook and choose audience target locations to assist reduce the audience's reach.

 

8. Social audios will gain popularity

Although audio is not new, social media's use of it is. Only the human voice is used in audio to communicate with listeners, allowing them to listen while on the go.

The social audio app Clubhouse was well-liked in 2021, but its invite-only policy made it challenging for all businesses to use. Other platforms, however, now provide audio-only solutions. In order to support audio content, Facebook now provides tools like Soundbites, podcasts, and Rooms.

Live event broadcasting, voice messaging, music, live audio rooms, and meetings are all current social audio trends.