13 Dec 4 Trends Social Media Marketers Should Expect in 2017
The new year is almost here, and it’s time for a new start for many social media trends. We’ve seen plenty of changes and innovations in 2016, with many more certainly in store for 2017. Here are a few things that social media marketers should expect next year.
More Live Video
This one probably doesn’t come as too much of a surprise. Live video, particularly Facebook Live has taken hold this year, and with more brands finding creative ways to take advantage of this, we’ll likely see much more live video in 2017.
Back in September, Clickhole posted a fun video that our office is still talking about in December. Look for more brands and influencers to share brilliant, engaging live video next year.
Employee Advocates
Getting people to talk about your brand can be challenging, and the same goes for finding the right influencers. More and more companies are taking advantage of the fact that often times the best advocates are their employees. Since 2013, interest in employee advocacy has grown by nearly 200%. Tools like Dynamic Signal make it easy for employees to share stories about their business in personalized ways.
360 Degree Content
If live video is engaging, 360 degree content can be immersing. Facebook offers options for both photo and video, and with the increase in VR equipment, brands have an opportunity to provide innovative experiences for their fans and followers.
Last month, the Salvation Army in Canada shared some amazing, and powerful, 360 content showing that there’s more to a holiday card than what’s in the picture. The storytelling options provided by 360 degree photo, video, and VR experiences will most certainly be a factor in 2017 social media campaigns.
Expect the Unexpected
This may sound like an incomplete answer, but as quickly as social media can change, it’s important to expect new opportunities and challenges with a flexible approach. Instagram Stories took many by surprise, and how quickly and broadly it’s been received perhaps a bigger surprise.
We will likely see more ways to send money to friends, ways to purchase through Pinterest and Twitter (already happening to an extent), and we can count on Facebook to change their algorithm… again.
We’re excited to see what 2017 has in store for social media, and we’d love to help your brand shine on social. Drop us a line, and have a happy new year!
