Social networks have become very firmly rooted in the life of a modern user. Today, there is an abundance of Internet applications that make us spend more time in them. It seems that 24 hours in a day are not enough. If ordinary users do not have enough time, what should companies do? In this article, we will consider the main trends in promotion in social networks, including for organizations.
Not every business is successfully promoted on social networks. This depends on a sufficient number of factors: some topics are not suitable for promotion due to the age of the audience. For example, Facebook has an audience of 35+, while Instagram has a younger audience. Of course, success depends on the products and services offered, but also on the country in which the promotion takes place. It is important to understand that each social network requires an individual approach, strategy, allocated advertising budget, and a team of specialists. Not all factors are listed. However, without specifying the network on your website, it is also difficult. Many people find it convenient to communicate with the service provider “somewhere” there, and not through the website. Therefore, it is worth maintaining “social networks” or video hosting sites. The main thing is to choose a platform and assemble a team.
How Should a Business Choose Social Media in 2023?
What is SMM has long been known to everyone. Social Media Marketing in the global sense is growing every year. Expansion leads to updating applications, improving algorithms, offering various content not even to subscribers, but to random users of the page. Partly, you can rejoice, because in this way you can expand the audience, get a client from outside, a new subscriber.
Testing allows you to understand where it is convenient to communicate with clients, where they are more active. Ignoring media where the audience is poorly developed is also not worth it. Yes, this is an unnecessary waste of time and budget. Nevertheless, there will be interested people there.
Let's remember which social networks are popular in the CIS market:
Facebook – the social network is in demand in some CIS countries. The audience is mainly adult. Therefore, text prevails over images, which allows receiving and providing more useful information. Customizable advertising attracts audiences of different ages;
Instagram. The popular photo platform from Meta is constantly evolving, changing algorithms, increasing its audience. The platform has a fairly lively audience. However, the platform is not suitable for every business. Getting leads, for example, for car services, equipment repair services and the like, may be more difficult, since B-2-B promotion is more difficult than B-2-C projects. Nevertheless, the presence will have a positive effect, because sometimes Instagram remains a working platform for many business representatives;
Tik Tok - the service is so successful that it has united audiences of all ages. Now on the platform you can find not only videos of dancing teenagers, but also interesting popular science and educational ones. The audience is so diverse that it is difficult to single out age;
YouTube – a video hosting service where you can find anything. In part, it can replace a movie theater. YouTube has already reached a new level by adding Shorts – short videos like Tik Tok. So there is something to think about here too;
VKontakte. A project created by Pavel Durov, which has a place to be with its established audience. Now Vkontakte has an analogue of Reels, which has pleased many. Advertising can be purchased both in publics, groups, and from bloggers. In addition to bloggers, advertising campaigns can be created directly through the advertising account.
Separately, we can highlight 2 popular messengers:
1. Telegram;
2. WhatsApp.
Telegram is so popular in Central Asia that every business has one. There is constant movement there. Many stores make sales by receiving applications.
WhatsApp is almost similar to Telegram. You can also create groups, write private messages, but the success of this application is slightly lower than its previous “brother”. And yet, the messenger should not be overlooked.
To choose a suitable social network, you need to measure the audience size for the selected region, identify the average age, competitors. Such actions will not lead to guaranteed success, because competition is everywhere, but the main thing is the niche, audience, offers. The best way to find out the relevant development channel is to register on each site. Next, you need to develop content: pictures, texts, videos, possibly games, contests with and without prizes to attract an audience. Gradually increase subscribers, monitor their activity. Then, using internal analytics tools, compare where there is more interaction with potential clients. Based on the data obtained, set priority sites for promotion.
Having set the priority, we move on to the next stage: setting up and launching advertising. The more people see the ads, the more leads, subscribers will come, the activity will increase (subject to the choice of engagement). In some CIS markets, promotion in social networks prevails over other resources, for example, a website, monitors on the street (the effect is difficult to measure, the budget is very high).
SMM Trends 2023
Every year, forecasts are made about promotion in social media. For the most part, the forecasts are identical. What is there now is carried over to the next year. The difference is that they review general new directions that will not suit every business. Some are recommended to take a course on reels, others on stories. Together, the efforts thrown into the development of reels or stories bring different success. So what will be popular next year and what should we prepare for?
Short videos
Popular short videos of 15 seconds and longer came from TikTok. TikTok is now more popular than Instagram. This rivalry led to the creation of Reels on Instagram and Shorts on YouTube.
Sometimes it seems that such short videos are a kind of challenge “Have time to tell in 15 seconds”. They attract attention not only by the time, but also by how succinctly the information is presented.
In fact, creating such videos is a colossal amount of work. But what an effect it brings!
Short videos on Instagram and YouTube attract different audiences and are seen by different people. It is noteworthy that in Instagram, the algorithm itself selects the video and shows it to the audience. The principle of operation is similar to TikTok: if you want to get into the Top selections, choose popular melodies, sounds, song excerpts. But this is not the only thing that matters. The plot of the video is also important. So, many people like to watch life hacks, short unknown facts. With this format, you can tell about yourself, broadcast user experience, share recommendations for using the product, talk about its benefits. This is a great opportunity to get free organic traffic and potential customers without any investment.y.
Target
Nowhere without paid advertising in social media. Despite everything, the growth of campaigns continues. They say that the price per click has become cheaper, but this is more myth than truth. Everything depends on the region of promotion, proper settings, content. In any case, targeted advertising of social networks has been ruling the roost for several years now.
Game mechanics
Interactive stories and pictures are attracting more and more attention. This approach can be especially noticed in the fashion industry. For example, stories ask to find 10 differences or choose an outfit for a character/model. This creative approach does not go unnoticed and increases reach.
Augmented and virtual reality
AR and VR can be singled out separately. Virtual reality is rapidly bursting into the lives of each of us. The creators of social media took advantage of the growing interest of users and began to implement AR (augmented reality). For example, during the time of covid restrictions, many online stores added augmented reality to their pages in social networks, thereby allowing you to try on things without leaving home, and, for example, it became possible to measure your foot and accurately determine the size of your foot.
Virtual reality is a great addition to business promotion. The downside is the cost of implementation. It is easier to come up with an interactive game to start with.
Live videos
Users like to contemplate here and now. Online is a great opportunity to show what is available immediately. Sometimes there is not enough life, real people. And the live video format is ideal for humanizing an account. This approach is acceptable for many business areas. The format is more suitable for offline stores. You can come there, shoot a live broadcast, talk to employees, visitors, give advice, talk about a product or service. However, this mechanism can be applied to all areas. As an example, let's consider a car assembly plant. It is interesting to see how the work is organized from the inside, how cars are assembled, raw materials are prepared, etc. The backstage is attractive. It is worth sharing. Live videos help increase consumer trust.
Visual design
1. Glass textures are translucent. They are gaining popularity with 3D effect;
2. 3D models. Following glass are 3D models, which have long since taken a strong position in combination with 2D elements. The combination creates a sense of reality, as if the product can be touched through the picture. This design inspires confidence among users;
3. Art Deco elements. Here the emphasis is on geometry and symmetry. The style will fit wonderfully into beauty spheres, for interior items due to the combination of ornaments, straight lines, various patterns;
4. Images from the 90s and 00s. As they say, fashion is cyclical. The style from the 90s and 00s is bursting into the feeds again. For some, it’s nostalgia, for others, it’s a breakthrough in design. This style is dominated by graininess, brightness, including neon colors.
The visual component should catch the viewer. In the conditions of tough content consumption, competition for attention only intensifies. It is important to understand that you can combine design styles, periodically changing them, and after some time create something new that was not there before.
Is it worth hiring an SMM specialist in 2023?
Definitely worth it! An SMM specialist is the very guide to the world of content for the consumer of "social networks". He is constantly in trend, monitors fashion trends, comes up with various visual styles, components, entertaining texts, interactivity.
It is better to trust the promotion of an account to a proven specialist with an excellent sense of beauty. To do this, you need to first look at the portfolio of previous works of your future colleague. It will show how well the SMM specialist suits your business.
Today, there are a lot of SMM specialists who have completed courses, but have little experience or do not have time to follow all the trends. A future customer may notice a manifestation of uncertainty, which will lead to mistrust of the project management, quality of work. To avoid awkward situations and not waste money, contact professionals with sparkling eyes, creativity, a beautiful portfolio and successful promotion cases.
Conclusion
Social networks and messengers are growing every year. If something breaks somewhere, the audience immediately moves to another channel. And this means that you will have to monitor the migration of the audience one way or another using different methods. Of course, you will need to adapt to the audience, offer something new, invite them to your page and encourage them to buy. It is not always difficult for a business to advance in social media if you have a competent specialist