26 May 5 Ways to Future Proof Your Social Media Marketing Strategy

Social media marketing is always changing, but one thing is for sure — it’s here to stay. 

As a startup or as any brand for that matter, ensuring that the wave of change doesn’t pull you under is more crucial for your business. The competition is only getting stiffer, and if you’re not constantly innovating, you’ll get left behind. Adopting a future-proof social media strategy will help you stay ahead of the curve. 

Of course, that’s easier said than done. But there are a few things you can do to make sure your strategy is ready for anything — even for the future of social media marketing. 
Now, what can you do to make sure your social media marketing strategy remains effective in the years to come?  Follow these 5 steps.

1. Keep Up with the Latest ‘Relevant’ Platforms and Trends

Social media changes so rapidly that it can be difficult to keep up. Platforms come and go, and what was popular yesterday may become irrelevant tomorrow. 

That’s why it’s important to have a social media marketing strategy that is flexible and able to adapt to change. Make sure to stay up to date with the latest platforms and trends. This way, you can quickly jump on any new opportunities that arise. 

Regularly check on your older social media accounts as well to see if they’re still active and relevant. If not, then it may be time to let them go.  Trying new things is the only way to be truly innovative in social media marketing. Even platforms that are still huge may have a very different mix of users as the years go by. Are your prospects still on Facebook? Twitter? TikTok? These questions need to be reviewed regularly. 

2. Prioritize Quality Content

Quality content is key to future proof your marketing. 

If you are to look at it today, more brands are investing in quality and evergreen content. It is largely about making sure your demographic continually finds your content useful in some form. 

It’s true that sometimes it can be tempting to put out quick-win pieces that take advantage of trends. However, this generally isn’t the route to long-term engagement. 
At Ignite, we have seen how algorithms are constantly changing and users are bombarded with an endless stream of content. Investing in high-quality, well-crafted content will help you cut through the noise and stay ahead of the curve. So if you’re looking at social media to drive long-term results, make sure you’re investing in quality over quantity.

3. Take a Video-First Approach to Social Media

With the rise of short-form videos and live streaming, it has become obvious that the future is video marketing.

One way to future-proof your social media marketing is to take a video-first approach. Video content is one of the most popular social media formats. Additionally, video is an incredibly effective way to tell your brand story and build emotional connections with your customers. Reels on Instagram and TikTok are both enjoying explosions in terms of audience attention. 

If you’re not doing video marketing now — when is the right time? 

According to a study by Wyzowl’s State of Video Marketing Survey, 92% of marketers continue to value video as an integral part of their marketing strategy, up from 78% in 2015.

Video content has been one of the breakout trends in the marketing world for the past decade. People today prefer watching videos and find more relevance and connection with a video form content. Perhaps most importantly, the platforms themselves are emphasizing video, meaning you don’t have to swim against the tide to get seen.

In the future, we can say that a video-first approach can give you the bandwidth to level up your social media marketing strategy. 

4. Pay Attention to Data and Analytics

Data and analytics are crucial for social media success. By paying attention to the data, you can see what’s working and what’s not.

 
Gone are the days of mass, un-targeted broadcasting. The digital age has brought about widened reach but has also given new opportunities for targeting accuracy. By understanding which posts are performing well, and which ones are falling flat, you can adjust your strategy accordingly and get the most out of your social media marketing efforts. 

Not to mention, social media analytics can also give you valuable insights into your target audience, including their demographics and interests — even the times of day they are most active. Brands that have become data-driven are said to be more successful with their marketing strategies.

If you’re not already paying attention to your social media analytics, now is the time to start. Your business will thank you for it.

5. Use Influencers to Constantly Reach New Audiences

It’s evident how, today, influencer partnerships hold a positive impact on brands and their social media campaigns. As businesses strive to reach more consumers, influencers will play an increasingly important role in social media marketing strategies — even more in the future.

Ignite, with our sister agency Carusele, we have realized the power vested in these social media superstars — influencers. Brands are investing their marketing efforts into partnerships with social media stars who had developed loyal, influence, and engagement online. 

Make sure to work with influencers who are a good fit for your brand and have a following that’s relevant to your business. 

Final Thoughts

By following these tips, you can future-proof your social media marketing strategy and ensure that it remains effective in the years to come. Social media is always changing, but if you’re prepared, you can stay ahead of the curve. You can also take a look into the future of social media marketing in a recent post here.

At Ignite Social Media, we offer social media marketing services that will help you keep up with the latest trends and platforms. We’ll help you create a strategy that remains effective in the years to come. 

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you achieve success with social media marketing.