When it comes to social media, trends come and go with the swift pace of technological evolution. From new strategies to evolving content ideas, many are curious about what 2024 has in store for us.
As social media remains one of the most prominent marketing platforms for businesses, understanding recent trends can benefit brands in connecting better with audiences and achieving goals.
So, we've come up with a list of eight social media trends for 2024 that we expect to dominate major platforms. Let's delve into the details.
1. Social Media SEO Go Beyond Hashtags
For the past few years, Google is no longer the primary tool to look for information. In fact, 40% of young users ranging from 18 to 24 years old use social media like a search engine.
For example, people look for recipes on TikTok due to its short and straightforward content. Students also use video platforms to find explanations of their subject materials.
This makes SEO crucial for social media content, especially on video platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Content optimization also goes beyond relevant hashtags.
The role of keywords on titles and captions will play a massive role in making your content appear on search results rather than just hashtags alone. Moreover, enticing thumbnails will attract more clicks and higher engagement.
2. LinkedIn Broadens Beyond Jobs
LinkedIn is no longer a platform for seeking jobs and recruiting talents. It has transformed into a place for sharing experiences. With millions of younger users, the platform has flourished with more varied content.
Moreover, brands and business leaders leverage LinkedIn to show expertise and gain credibility. We'll see more CEOs, managers, and brand accounts share informative posts or even entertaining and more raw content.
LinkedIn has also gradually turned into a lead generator for B2B companies. For example, SaaS businesses and digital marketing agencies can effectively find potential clients and start networking effectively on the platform.
3. Longer Video Lengths On Instagram Reels
Even if it's not yet confirmed, we can expect Instagram to allow longer videos for reels. This will enable Instagram to compete more intensely with YouTube as the largest video platform and second biggest search engine.
Besides, there aren't many social media that allow longer vertical videos. So, more and more users will leverage longer videos to create more creative content and get better engagement from it.
Longer vertical videos also enable brands and content creators to deliver their message effectively. For example, brands can create creative video ads, while content creators can share reviews more comprehensively.
4. Entertainment Will Win More Attention
Every day, countless pieces of content are uploaded on social media, making it hard for anyone to stand out. While valuable content remains essential to educate audiences, entertaining content can win more attention.
Funny content has an irresistible charm that can capture attention and maintain engagement. Sharing fun and creative content can be an effective product promotion.
Better still, this type of content can drive long-term benefits, including loyalty, affinity, and brand awareness. However, finding a balance between educative and entertaining content is necessary to deliver messages effectively.
5. Nano Influencers Gain Prominence
Influencer marketing is a quick way for brands to promote their products. However, influencers with millions of followers don't necessarily translate to higher engagement. Recently, nano influencers have taken center stage.
Nano influencers have around 1,000 to 10,000 followers. Despite fewer followers, nano influencers typically have higher engagement rates and solid communities. Besides, working with nano influencers can be more budget-efficient for brands.
6. AI Tools Enhance Content Personalization
There are many types of AI tools to optimize content creation and performance. The use of AI remains vital this year, as it helps personalize content through social listening and behavior analysis.
AI helps content creators find topics, explore trends, and optimize content more efficiently. With powerful insights, brands can stay alert to recent trends and adjust strategies accordingly.
Moreover, AI-powered tools can help manage social media ads with targeting capabilities. Brands can precisely target audiences of specific groups based on their online behavior, locations, ages, and more.
7. The Rise of Authenticity
This shift towards authenticity is a response to consumer preferences and a strategic move to build a more authentic brand image. Unique storytelling and unfiltered experiences may rise as a new trend this year.
Not to mention, user-generated content can also drive more engagement on social media. Encouraging users to share their experiences humanizes the brand and leverages genuine testimonials' authenticity.
As social media will remain dynamic, brands prioritizing authenticity will likely see increased trust and loyalty from their audience. This strategy is also a way to invest in meaningful connections with social media users.
8. Videos Remain the Content King
There are many types of social media content, but the one that engages the most is video. Compared to pictures and infographics, video content provides a more dynamic and immersive experience.
However, as attention spans shorten, lengthy videos will become less attractive. Viewers need short and straightforward content, which is also suitable for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
Sharing bite-sized videos across various platforms can enhance real-time interaction between brands and their followers. Along with keyword optimization and high-quality visuals, video content is highly expected to dominate in 2024.
Takeaway
Those eight trends are what we can expect to dominate social media this year. Trends like using AI tools, sharing personal experiences on LinkedIn, creating videos, and collaborating with influencers have been progressing since 2023.
However, those trends seem to stay with us longer, as there's no sign of them fading away soon. Meanwhile, social media optimization and updated features on specific platforms are new trends worth anticipating.
As 2024 hasn't flipped too far, brands and content creators must be aware of these social media trends. The above points can help them stay competitive and stand out amid countless content online.
Author Bio
Andre Oentoro is one of the co-founders of Milkwhale, an internationally acknowledged infographic production agency. He helps businesses increase visibility on.
