Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, Pinterest. The list of social media sites can be overwhelming for brands that seek to use their marketing funds wisely. In 2019, social media trends reveal that the best use of a brand’s time and money is powerful storytelling, engaging video and an undying passion for customer service excellence.
Facebook Maintains Popularity – for Some
It’s going to be hard for any social platform to outrank the popularity of Facebook whether you’re in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or Asia. Holding strong as the most used social media site, Facebook is a must for most brands’ social media strategies.
However, how it’s being used and the future of Facebook is uncertain (particularly among young adults) given a rash of privacy concerns and data mining rumors. Still, if your audience consists of older adults your best bet is to reach them on Facebook.
Visual Media Dominates
Second only to Facebook, YouTube is the most popular video viewing platform on the web. But it isn’t the only one. While 2019 will continue to see brands using YouTube to showcase testimonials, behind-the-scenes videos, events and demonstrations, visual media works best to build brand awareness and customer engagement when used strategically.
More brands are turning to social media sites like Snapchat and Instagram to bring users content that tells a story. Regarding the importance of brand storytelling, Anna Crowe from Search Engine Journal states, “Stories create a more transparent and meaningful relationship between the user and the brand.”
Canadians Love Snapchat
More so than their U.S. counterparts, Canadians love to engage with others on Snapchat. Greater than 100 million users engage with the platform daily (leaving sites like Twitter in the dust) and brands are finding new ways to connect with their audience. The launch of features like Discover, which highlight friends’ stories, help users instantly view fresh content. In keeping with the importance of storytelling, brands use the platforms Stories feature to publish the next interesting piece of their journey.
Customer Service is Key
Regardless of which platforms you choose to invest your marketing budget in, a focus on customer service will be the key to unlocking success in 2019. Brands are expected to be responsive and customer-focused via direct messages or chatbots, and that trend is only projected to continue. Is your brand using social media trends to i