What's In, What's Out in 2023
Working in an industry that morphs faster than a Transformer can be tough — the social media landscape is always changing. If you’re wondering what’s in, what’s out, and how to fit new social media trends into your strategy, then you are not alone. That’s why we’re sharing a few trends to help keep you relevant.
What’s In:
Search is going social- Young people turn to social platforms like TikTok or Instagram for answers instead of online search platforms for the best places to visit, where to shop, and local events. Users are looking for a more exploratory experience with curated takes and personal experiences. This means that if you want your content to get discovered, optimizing your posts with keywords is more important than ever.
Short-form videos- TikTok, Reels, Shorts – Believe it or not, everyone seems to think short-form video platforms will be an even bigger deal than they are now. Instagram is still pushing videos hard. For instance, all Instagram videos are Reels now, and Reels are heavily prioritized by the recommendation algorithm.
Personal LinkedIn posts- Have you noticed your LinkedIn feed filling up with more personal posts lately? From CEOs posting photos of their kids, to breastfeeding advice, the platform is remarkably more personal than it used to be.
What’s Out:
GIFs- Giphy, the search engine of gifs, has declined in value by 200 million USD since its peak in 2016. Using stickers as tools on your Instagram Stories isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (yes, they are technically gifs.)
Quality content breaking the bank- Community content creators can help small businesses with their most acute marketing challenges. For resource-strapped small businesses looking to grow their reach and let experts create their content for them, cost-effective creators are well within reach. Check out this food review video that went viral and brought lines of customers to a small pizzeria in Las Vegas.
Hard-selling, brand-forward promotions- People want useful information that they can use in their lives. They want an emotional connection to a brand, and to know that a brand is human and shares their values. Think of your favorite community/event-centered pages (Hello, LiveinLou), they often participate in paid partnerships with local businesses to promote their events, services, special offerings, etc. But they do it in a conversational and relatable way that engages their audience; making the promotional post feel less like an ad and more like a recommendation from a trusted friend.
So what do you do now? Sadly, we can’t control which billionaires decide to buy social media platforms, but we can help you create content that resonates with your audience and tells your story (no algorithm can change that) while keeping you in the know about emerging trends and policies. If you want to get together and chat, let us know!