Dear Socially Stephanie,
I want to make 2015 my most socially active year yet. If you could focus on two trends for 2015 that will take my social media game up a notch, what would they be?
Resolutions in Raleigh
Dear Resolutions,
Happy New Year! I've never been more excited than I am for 2015. And when it comes to social media marketing, the world is your oyster. Literally, this year we're going to see a ton of new sites come and go and most importantly we're going to see some trends explode. I have my finger on the pulse for you my friend, don't you worry.
There are tons of trends that will shape the new year. But for you, in 2015 I want you to focus on the following two things to get your social media game on fleek. (That means on-point in millennial talk.) You ready? One. Mobile sites and apps. And two. I.R.T.
Since the Internet became available in our hands, it has taken off. In 2010, Morgan Stanley predicted the mobile web to rule by 2015. Guess what? They were right! We're talking about close to 2 billion smart phone users this year. 2 billion! And 83% of Internet usage is predicted to be from mobiles. If that doesn't get you excited about the future of mobile marketing I don't know what will.
Here's what you need to focus on. Instagram first and foremost. Instagram is having one hell of a run. With more active users than Twitter and more engaged users than any other network I've been a part of, Instagram is a place where you'll get a ton of engagement for a little investment. Unlike Facebook where reach is declining at a faster rate than ever, Instagram is reaching more people who actually consume your content. It's the power of visuals and mobile rolled into one and it's unstoppable right now.
So how can you make Instagram work for you? Focus on community building first and promotional content second. So how do you do that? A little something I like to call L.C.S. Like. Comment. Share. It's the equation for most social networks and it works exceptionally well on Instagram.
Now, while we are on the mobile topic, another two networks that you should keep in mind are Vine and Snapchat. Vine is great for customer service in short video format and Snapchat is an engagement powerhouse. Now only can you use it to share flash sales, you can showcase the day in the life of your business through Snapchat Stories. I'm a big fan and the brands that utilize it right will capture the millennial audience.
Mobile, check. Next let's talk about IRT. In case you don't know, that stands for In-Real-Time. Real time marketing is the cornerstone of a successful social media strategy. Because social media acts in a real time manner, your responses should also be in real time. Your customers don't only like it, they expect it. That means keeping up with the trends and responding when you can. Another advantage of real time marketing is that you can put out fires quickly and start buzz quickly. It's the wave of the future and if you haven't embraced it yet, now is the time to do so.
Lastly, when it comes to real-time, posts can be scheduled, although I've found the most popular and reached posts are those that are spontaneous. But one thing that can't be scheduled is engagement.
Well, there you have it. My top two priorities for you this year. Good luck!
Socially,
Stephanie