10 social media trends in 2023

People use social media on a daily basis, and businesses are flocking to it to reach out to customers.

Businesses are getting creative with social media to reach customers in order to avoid information overload. Organizations can use social media marketing to grow their business and reach out to different generations through the appropriate platforms.

Approximately 58.4% of the world’s population spends an average of two hours and 27 minutes per day on social media. There are numerous new opportunities to use social media in various ways, such as videos, customer service, and social listening.

Staying current on social media and marketing trends can help businesses reach customers and stand out in a world of digital overload. Here are some of the most important social media trends for 2023.

1. TikTok will grow in popularity

TikTok had over 1 billion active monthly users in September 2021 and is still growing.

TikTok is a must-have for businesses looking to reach younger audiences. It is one of the most important platforms for reaching Generation Z and millennial consumers.

TikTok is also a good platform for businesses to advertise using short-form videos, which are popular among younger generations. TikTok also has ad and business profile tools to help businesses utilize the platform in an effective manner.

2. Video content will continue to reign supreme

According to a Cisco study, video content will account for 82% of global consumer internet traffic. Long-form videos, on the other hand, are losing popularity as more people prefer short-form videos, such as those on TikTok, Facebook’s Reels, YouTube’s Shorts, and Instagram’s Reels and Stories.

Furthermore, businesses are turning to live-streaming to engage with customers. These videos can tell a story, demonstrate a product, promote events, or share other company communications. The length of social media videos should be kept to around a minute, according to Hootsuite.

3. Social commerce will continue to grow in popularity

Purchasing products directly from social media platforms will become the norm. Social networks are becoming retail platforms, complete with storefronts and shoppable posts. According to Sprout Social, 98% of consumers intend to make a purchase on social media.

Businesses should concentrate on making the fewest number of clicks feasible in order to achieve the optimal purchasing experience. This can be accomplished by concentrating on their best-selling products rather than opening with a whole shop.

In the social and e-commerce worlds, metaverse shopping is also evolving. One example is Roblox’s storefront with Forever 21, which allows users to buy outfits that match their avatar.

4. Augmented reality will become commonplace

Other technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), will integrate with social media, allowing for greater customer engagement. While VR adoption is still in its early stages, AR is now being used to enhance the visuals shared on Instagram and Snapchat. Snapchat, for example, uses AR in all of its photo filters to transform people into animals, make them appear to be wearing makeup, sunglasses, or have other appearance changes.

However, AR applications go beyond photo filters. People can also test products in advance. Customers, for example, can virtually try on sunglasses or see how furniture fits in a room.

5. Influencer marketing is on the rise

Influencer marketing is not a new concept, but it is not going away. Influencers promote brands on social media.

Investing in influencers is less expensive than other forms of advertising or marketing, but it still produces results. According to a survey conducted by Influencer Marketing Hub, 90% of marketers found influencer marketing to be effective.

LinkedIn is yet another social media platform that facilitates influencer marketing. While LinkedIn and influencer marketing are not commonly associated, LinkedIn offers Creator Accelerator, an initiative to assist creators in building their communities, indicating a desire to invest more in creators and influencers.

Influencer marketing can help businesses do more than just generate leads. Influencers can also assist with customer engagement and loyalty.

6. Customer service becomes an important aspect of social media

People gradually began to use social media as a customer service platform as they realized they could contact businesses directly. Customers post questions or complaints, and businesses respond.

According to Microsoft’s Global State of Customer Service report, 54% of global participants had more favorable views of companies that responded to customer service complaints or requests on social media. Customers recognise the significance of responding to posts.

Companies may want to invest in a chatbot to handle some requests immediately or create a customer service knowledge base – or FAQ – to reduce response time.

7. More businesses will employ social listening

Social media can provide businesses with insights and data. Businesses can listen to the consumer world by using social listening tools. Here are some examples of social listening tools:

The goal of social listening is to monitor and understand social media conversations.

Companies can use social listening to understand the impact of campaigns, brand perceptions, and other insights on customer wants and needs.

To begin, businesses can test the waters with branded hashtags, relevant keywords, and company mentions in social campaigns.

Companies can also use social media to aid in crisis communication and listening to people on their platforms. Consumers expect businesses to be transparent and honest during a crisis, and according to a Twitter poll, 61% of users believe brands should acknowledge moments of crisis when they occur.

8. Local targeting will expand

Companies can attract local customers by using location-based targeting. Geotagging in social media content to reach a specific audience is a common way to find locals.

Because social media users can search for posts near them, include a location in your post. Instagram, for example, has a location search feature. Companies can also “boost a post” on Facebook and select target locations for the audience to help narrow the reach.

9. Social audios will become more popular

Despite the fact that audio is not new, its presence on social media is. Audio only uses the human voice to reach its audience, allowing people to listen on the go.

In 2021, Clubhouse, a social audio app, was popular, but the invite-only requirement made it difficult for all businesses to use. Other platforms, however, are now providing audio-only options. Facebook now supports audio content with features such as Soundbites, podcasts, and Rooms.

Live event broadcasting, voice messaging, music, live audio rooms, and meetings are all examples of how social audio is being used.

10. Artificial intelligence will help with content creation

Forrester Predicts that AI software will grow 50% faster than the overall software market by 2023. Businesses can draft social media posts using AI content generation software such as ChatGPT, CopyAI, and Jasper.

While AI can help with copywriting, it cannot replace personalized and authoritative content created by a human writer. By outlining or reformatting existing content for other mediums such as social media or email campaigns, AI can assist in the creation of new content.

More businesses can use AI tools to customize posts and captions to reach their target audiences by receiving recommendations on increasing user engagement.

Final thoughts

Social media is constantly evolving, and as we head into the second quarter of 2023, we can expect some exciting new trends to emerge. From the rise of virtual reality and augmented reality to the increasing importance of user-generated content, brands and marketers must stay up-to-date with the latest trends to remain competitive and engaging in the online space.

To help your brand stay ahead of the curve, consider partnering with Sunnyday Consulting. Our team of experts can provide you with the strategic insights and creative solutions you need to take advantage of these trends and maximize your social media presence.
Don’t let your brand get left behind in 2023. Contact Sunnyday Consulting today at support@sunnydayconsulting.com or call us at (+91) 79777 31552 to learn how we can help you stay on top of the latest social media trends and reach your target audience in new and exciting ways.