It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised. And Frederick the Great knew this lesson, didn’t he? What examples of social change have you noted in the last couple of years? Does your business depend on social media for marketing or any other function? Are you noticing any impacts do these changes?
And pay attention to what Frederick the Great had to say, it is ok to be defeated, just not surprised. So take heed of trends ahead of you.
Before we continue, let me ask you a question.
What social media design techniques work best for your business? We would love to hear what it was. Would you do us a favor and post it in the comments section below? Be the one who starts a conversation.
If you own a company or are responsible for marketing or advertising in any way, shape, or form, you need to understand the way that today’s social media world works. What’s more, you also need to be in tune with future possibilities, and to be ready to adapt to changes in the digital realm.
Related post: 9 Ways Subway Blew a Direct Response to Social Comment
This year is expected to be, and already has been to some degree, a volatile year for social media. And as someone responsible for anything to do with social media, learning new trends should always be at the top of your agenda.
Here are some ideas we suggest on how you should begin to adapt:
You must be flexible.
Examples of social change … be flexible or else
While plenty of talented marketing professionals have made predictions for how the social media marketing world will look in the coming year and the future, in general, no one knows which new sites will spring up and become the next Facebook or Twitter.
However, it is always wise to be constantly checking the current social media predictions as well as being aware of new trends, sites, and applications and anything and everything else that is continually arising on the web. Keeping a finger on the pulse of not just what’s appealing, but what large amounts of people are using, will ensure an audience for any future efforts of your own.
Causes of social change … keeping pace with the social and mobile web
We all know that the internet moves more quickly than any other communication medium, and this presents both unique challenges and opportunities for marketers. Making sure that you’re not only up to speed with the latest platforms, but innovating and figuring out how to take advantage of them is integral.
After all, you need to be where your audience is–whether that is Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, or newer mobile messaging platforms like Snapchat, Kik, or WhatsApp. That starts with actively participating yourself. If you don’t understand how a given platform works on a personal level, how can you actually use it to market your company or brand?
Content marketing, social signals, and search engine optimization
The value of social media marketing extends beyond the actual social media sites that you have a presence on. Having a popular and active presence on social media means much more than the size of your immediate fan base and how they connect with your content.
It can have a powerful effect on your search engine rankings.
Google, Yahoo, and Bing all use social media posts, reviews, and general sentiment as a ranking factor, so having a strong presence can help improve your position in the search engine results in pages for relevant keywords.
Therefore, it is important to keep in mind the fact that today’s social media climate is all-encompassing in the sense that people can not only view your content at any time or anywhere. Take note of Yahoo and Bing as well–new deals are making these sites viable competitors shortly.
Types of social change … going beyond the basics
Content marketing and social media, in general, isn’t really about just written text anymore. Images, video, Vines, and other assorted .gifs might be the most attractive options for brands this year and going forward.
Related post: The Zen of Winning the Battle of the Content Plan
What’s more, users are starting to expect multimedia content on various sites, and that trend will only continue. You can even consider offering services not found on most other sites to attract a new or unexpected user base.
Mark Schaefer is one of my favorite experts in social media. I highly recommend his work. Check out his work to keep up with popular topics.
Takeaways
To succeed in social media of the future, you need to think of your brand or company as a content curator or even as a publisher. You’re creating content that your customers will enjoy and share, regardless of where you post it.
That said, you need to make sure they see it, so the location or platform still matter, along with any associated advertising and making sure it all of the above are optimized for mobile.
We’d love to hear how you are planning on updating and improving your company or brand’s social media in the coming year in the comment section below.
This article was written by Owen Andrew, a journalist from Southern California.
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Do you have a lesson about making your social media better you can share with this community? Have any questions or comments to add in the section below?
Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change. We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. Call us for a free quote today. You will be amazed at how reasonable we will be.
More reading on social media marketing and advertising from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:
20 Recommendations on How to Promote Your Blog
16 Ideas to Employ Marketing Tips for Storytelling and Stories
17 Actionable Ways to Create Small Business Social Commerce
Mike Schoultz is a digital marketing and customer service expert. With 48 years of business experience, he consults on and writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. Find him on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Digital Spark Marketing, and LinkedIn.
