Social Media, like a great movie, elicits a wide range of emotions from people. From exhaustion, anxiety and sometimes overwhelming confusion to excitement, inspiration, and amusement, the digital world has developed into vast personal empires where people constantly export new material and grow the followers and fans of their kingdoms.
Over the last decade, social media has found its way into almost every aspect of life. It was inevitable—your grandma and all her friends are on Facebook now, the hashtag has infiltrated television/print ads, and Vine and Instagram videos have become mini-commercials.
Social Media can be tough to keep tabs on since it’s constantly evolving. What is in today could very well be out tomorrow and the playing field different. So then, where will it go from here? What can you expect? Here are just a few of the top social media trends to be on the lookout for this year:
1. Niche Social Media (Members Only!)
We all know the big dogs like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ have cornered the broad over-arching ‘social network’ field, so it should come as no surprise that niche sites are proving to be more valuable and affordable ways for people and businesses to connect with others. Some existing specialized platforms like LinkedIn already let you target fairly particular audiences for your updates, but even more specific options are surfacing (and thriving!). Some examples include Untappd (social drinking), Ravelry (knitting and crocheting), Gentlemint (manly stuff for dudes) and Meet Pips (foreign exchange traders).
2. Google+ (The Great Hype/Hope)
Google+ seems to have been a pretty big letdown thus far, but it may finally be its time to shine. Over the last few years Facebook has had to monetize itself to appease shareholders and has drawn great criticism with its constant privacy issues, frustrating algorithm updates and constant change, which is great news for Google+ because it’s not a source of revenue for Google and doesn’t truly need to make money. Despite its similarities, Google created the network with the intention of it not trying to become the next Facebook.
Google+ is a different kind of platform and was developed with its key function being the integration of social and search. Unlike any other social network, Google+ provides a direct line into the company’s search engine algorithm, rewarding those who use it with greater SEO. And in recent algorithm upgrades, Google has given greater weight to its social media so all that content and “+1″s can only help your online visibility and traffic. Those search benefits plus the recent increase in user base (more than 300 million) lead many to believe that Google+ isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (despite its “father” stepping down). So as long as the company continues to invest in Google+ and makes new updates, it’s worth it for businesses to stick with the search giant’s pet project.
3. iDating (Making Connections)
Ah, love in the time of social media and smartphones. Dating sites are out the door, but dating and socializing apps are in. Why log on to a computer when you can see who’s around you from the comfort of your phone? Apps like Tinder and Grindr have taken off and don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. There have even been spin-offs of Tinder like At First Sight and Match, as well as a rise in socializing apps like SocialRadar to “check out all the hotties close by” and Highlight and How About We as “icebreakers.” In a world where convenience is key and smartphones have basically become like best friends, these apps are hitting the digital nail on the head.
4. It Takes A Village (Community Sharing)
In a social media world full of #selfies and arbitrary Buzzfeed quizzes, it’s pretty refreshing to see the sharing economy come into its own. Whether you’re looking to find a friendly dog sitter on DogVacay, need to catch a ride through Uber or Lyft, get a cheap meal on LeftoverSwap or PareUp or maybe even borrow a tool from someone in your area using NeighborGoods, the success of home-sharing service Airbnb has proven that social media can help you share more than status updates and pictures of cats… it can even help you earn money! Among the friendliest trends, there are many communities waiting to lend, rent or give to you in your time of need via apps such as Peerby as well as individuals through cost-effective outlets like Fiverr.
5. Now See Here (The Rise of Visuals)
Twitter may allow only 140 characters, but a picture can garner a thousand words (and likes!). With that said, it’s no wonder that visually-based social networks and websites are quickly gaining popularity and are booming. Sites like Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram and YouTube are becoming even bigger players with young demographics, as well as newer visually-based apps like Sakoos and Steller. We know posts that contain images or videos outperform those without when it comes to likes, shares, comments, favorites and retweets, so keep in mind how you can ingrate more visuals when developing your social media strategy and online presence.
6. Vid.(Short Videos)
In most rankings, YouTube stands as one of the top five most visited websites in the world, and its popularity is growing with teenagers and young kids. Today’s children represent a fickle demographic with increasingly shorter attention spans, so it’s easy to understand why websites and apps centered around creating micro videos (1-12 seconds) are catching fire. Outlets like Vine, Viddy, Cinemagram, Montaj, Lightt and Kinotopic are building large armies of loyal followers… and resistance is futile. Even brands are jumping on the trend as TV and online commercials, like attention spans, are getting shorter as they try to find more effective ways of engaging highly segmented and unfocused audiences. Need help making some killer videos? Click here.
Have you noticed a rising trend? What do you think is the next big thing? Share your thoughts with us by tweeting @herofarm or commenting below.
For assistance with your social media, shoot us an email at signal@hero-farm.com.