5 Social Media Trends for 2020

We’re kicking off the New Year by talking about one of the pillars of every businesses marketing strategy…social media. Specifically, about the trends we should be embracing to make the most of social media in 2020 and get the maximum benefits for our businesses.

As Queen Bee is also celebrating its fifth year of business, we’ve decided to simply choose our top 5 trends, guaranteed to get your customers buzzin’ about you.

1.      Social Media Listening

One of the best things about social media is the huge array of analytics at your fingertips. For very little expertise, energy and expense you can understand who is engaging with your brand and what they are saying, as well as what they think about the social media content you are producing! This is invaluable when it comes to assessing your marketing performance.

In 2020, we predict that businesses will get even better at social media listening and engaging with their followers, investing in slick customer care software that enables businesses to easily answer any question posted, as well as invite followers to shape your content by conducting polls, inviting feedback and testing products and ideas.  You can even listen to what’s being said on your competitors platforms….ssshhhhh. Want to know more – check out this article from Social Media Examiner.

2.      User Generated Content

This is not a new trend, but it is definitely a trend that is gaining momentum, as brands realise the power that independent customer endorsement can have on their business, adding a layer of authenticity and trust that is difficult to get through created content.

There are lots of different ways to encourage your customers to create user generated content for you, it could be rewarding tags with a prominent post on your page, or perhaps running a marketing campaign, with a strong hashtag, that encourages people to create content about you. Or even running a competition.

Making user generated content a part of your marketing strategy is a no brainer. Not only is it free, it is more powerful too, being considered way more authentic than content created by the business and much more likely to encourage someone to use your business, products or services. Later’s blog is worth a read to find out more about UGC.

3.      Video Content

This appears on every social media prediction list, every year. But it’s still a biggy! Probably due to the fact that video content is so much more engaging than written or image content.

If you’re new to the world of social media video, then start by just recording yourself speaking to camera. Watch it back and try again until you feel you’re ready to share it with the world! It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that the more real and unpolished your videos are, the more people will engage with you. If you saw our ‘spot the bee’ Instagram Story competition at the end of last year, then you’ll see what we mean! This got more engagement than any of our previous videos because it shared valuable information whilst keeping it light-hearted at Christmas…I don’t know what was funnier, Jane trying to spit out the words ‘User Generated Content’ or talking with a bee bauble on her ear, but it certainly caught people’s attention.

One of the easiest ways to transition into the world of video content is definitely with Stories. This will then give you the confidence to tackle more formal videos for platforms such as YouTube or creating a brand introduction video for all platforms.

Whatever you do, 2020 is the year you must spend some time on integrating video content into your marketing strategy.

4.      Stories

Stories has been available on Facebook, Instagram and even You Tube for a few years now. But it’s set to explode even more in 2020, with more people than ever taking advantage of this unfiltered, spontaneous and dynamic content.

The fleeting nature of Stories is ideal for advertising limited offers or flash sales, as the content will only be available for a short time. This will build a loyal audience of customers switched on to your understanding of the power of social media Stories.

We can also expect to see more from Instagram’s new business features including Growth Insights and “Stories About You”.

5.      Influencers

The rise in social media influencers is testament to the fact that influencer marketing is working, generating sales for big and small business alike. Who hasn’t watched Mrs Hinch and rushed out to buy Minkeh!???

Consumers buy into people and their lifestyles; they want to see the way products are used by those they aspire to emulate. Aligning your business with certain influencers also creates a strong message about your brand and effectively communicates exactly who you are trying to target.

While influencers can charge varying amounts for their services, running an influencer campaign can still work out cheaper than a traditional, paid, advertising and marketing campaign. Here’s a good guide from Buffer on how to get started.

By integrating these 5 Social Media Trends into your 2020 marketing campaign you will ensure your brand is at the cutting edge of social media marketing, staying ahead of the competition and introducing more customers to your brand.

However, if you’re struggling just to keep on top of your social media channels, never mind introduce a new strategy, this is where the Bee’s come in. From competitor and consumer research, to creating strategies, to delivering social media content, we’re here to get people buzzin’ about your business. Just get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.