With every new year comes new social media trends. As we approach 2022, it’s important to understand which platforms will be most popular and what strategies will work best for your business.

Here are nine trends you need to have on your radar to make sure your social media strategy is on point.

Get Active on TikTok

Love it or hate it, the TikTok hype is real. The app has over 1 billion users and is only growing in popularity. With its short-form video content and creative filters, TikTok is a great way for brands to show the lighter side of their company and capitalize on trends.

Plus, it can help you reach a younger audience, which is important for long-term success. Plenty of businesses aren’t taking TikTok seriously as a marketing platform, so you have an opportunity to get ahead of the competition. 

Prepare to Spend More Money on Smaller Social Media Platforms

While Facebook and Instagram still reign supreme, research is showing that people are less interested in being sold something while they’re scrolling through birthday party pictures and meme accounts. This is pushing marketers to smaller platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and Snapchat. 

As a result, these smaller platforms are likely to explode in the new year. The more you can build a following on these platforms now, the better off you’ll be as we enter 2022. 

Implement Direct Social Media Shopping

When people are ready to buy, especially on social media, they want as few steps as possible to reach the cart. Direct social media shopping will be one of the top trends in 2022, so your business should prepare to offer this option. If you don’t, you may miss out on sales.

Stop Pushing Your Business Phone Number

As far as customer service goes, talking on the phone with customers is becoming a thing of the past. When people contact you, they will more than likely be looking for an email or live chat option first as it’s more convenient. If you’re still pushing your phone number as the only way to connect, you’re hurting your business.

Prioritize Short-Form Videos

In the spirit of convenience, saving time, and short attention spans, long-form videos are on the way out. 2022 will see a rise in shorter, “snackable” videos that can be quickly digested and provide value without taking up too much time. Unless you’re posting complex, high-value content on YouTube, stick to videos that are two minutes or less. Your customers prefer it that way.

Work with Some Influencers

Just like word-of-mouth advertising, today’s consumers trust their favorite influencers and creators way more than they trust traditional ads. Whether you’re paying an influencer to review your product in a video or you’re sending them a discount code to share with their followers, influencer marketing will be a keystone of any successful social media strategy.

Brush Up on Your Paid Advertising Skills

As effective as influencer marketing is, conventional advertising isn’t going anywhere. Understanding how to structure your paid ads and where they’ll work best is crucial for getting the most out of your ad budget. 2022 will be all about smart ad placement and targeting. If you’re not already well-versed in paid advertising methods, now is the time to start learning.

Implement a Social Listening Strategy

If you’re not familiar with the term “social listening,” you need to get on board. Rather than play another unsuccessful guessing game with your customers, social listening promotes being a part of the conversation so you can understand what your audience wants from you and the public perception of your business. The more you know about your customers and their wants, the easier it will be to give them what they’re looking for.

You’ll Need a Social Audio Strategy

And finally, you can’t ignore social audio. Audio-only content like podcasts and platforms like Clubhouse and Anchor FM are taking social media by storm and establishing themselves as must-haves for any successful social strategy. If you’re not already incorporating social audio into your plan, you’re going to be left behind.

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As your business looks ahead to 2022, these are the nine social media trends you can expect to dominate in the new year. Keep them in mind as you plan your strategy and you’ll be sure to stay ahead of the curve!

If you need some help getting your business prepared for the next year, click here to book a strategy session with SiMar. Together, we can get your business is ready for the future!