What will the future hold for social media and why is it important to your brand? There are 3.6 billion active users on social platforms — and this number is expected to grow to 4.41 billion by 2025. Below are just a few key ways your brand can get ahead of the social media trends, and in front of those users, in the year to come.

Striking statistics based on a global survey:

• 77% of people surveyed said the most important community they are a part of operates online
• 53% of global internet users ages 16-24 use social media as the primary source of information when researching a brand
• Consumers spend roughly 15% of their waking lives on social media

So what can your brand do on social media that would drive users towards conversions in 2022?

7 social media trends for 2022

#1. The arrival of augmented reality/mixed reality/virtual reality

The Metaverse is coming. Understanding the use of augmented reality as an extension of the experiences already created digitally and the overlap of the physical and virtual world will be paramount in the years to come.

#2. Social commerce – connect your social media accounts to your online shops

You now have the ability to turn your business’s profile into a central hub for promoting your brand and selling products. Meet your consumer where they are at — social media.

#3. Influencer marketing will evolve from a trend to a common marketing tactic

Influencer marketing creates social proof. It is an extremely strong tool for building credibility within your industry. An influencer should be viewed as a credible individual with a platform, not necessarily someone employed to create content online.

#4. Build a community around your brand’s purpose

When a brand chooses to commit to a cause that resonates with its core consumers, that brand can build an online community of like-minded individuals who use their buying power to prove that purpose matters.

#5. Create short-form video content

Bite-size content is what your consumers are after. You can maintain your brand’s voice and messaging goals while providing easily digestible ideas to your users. Remember that video outperforms photos by 73%.

#6. Break long-form content into micro-content

It’s simple: shorter videos are a better fit for your audience’s attention span. Consider breaking content up into a series that will have your audience wondering when they can see more.

#7. Leverage your leaders as extensions of your brand to humanize it

This creates greater authenticity and trust through educational and relevant content.

#8. Hop on the latest trends with your content

Utilize trends to your advantage while keeping your brand messaging clear. Joining in on a trend allows companies the opportunity to go viral and grow their brand in a current way that feels connected to the community.

So, is social media marketing worth investing in for your business? Considering that 83% of marketers surveyed said they were confident in quantifying the ROI of their social efforts (up from 68% in 2021), it’s time to accept that the above social media trends will help you establish your digital presence, make your target audience aware of your brand and create consumer trust through social proof. If you are ready to maximize your social marketing efforts in 2022, you can use the above tips as a great starting point for an effective strategic approach!

Resources:

• https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/hootsuite-outlines-key-social-media-marketing-trends-for-2022-based-on-18k/610309/
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/11/22/13-social-media-trends-for-brand-builders-to-consider-in-2022/?sh=60a9c2ad3a69
• https://www.luisazhou.com/blog/social-media-marketing-statistics/

Written by Ashley Garcia, Social Media Content Manager

Ashley Garcia is a content creator, photographer, and marketing professional in Fort Collins, CO. She is the Co-Founder of @hungryhungry_hipsters on Instagram and a Social Media Content Manager at Madwire.