Scrolling through social media feeds has now become an integral part of people's lives and daily routines. Some of us are addicted to it so much that the first thing they do after waking up is to check their phone and see what they’ve missed on social media
There are expected to be at least 3.9 billion people using social media worldwide in 2022– a 4.8% increase from a year ago. For marketers, it means that all those platforms are still very much viable and necessary channels to reach out to customers.
The challenge is that it's only getting louder out there on the social media sphere and it can be tough to stand out unless you have a solid insight into the competition and emerging trends. We've listed the hottest social media trends to look out for in 2022, so you can be more equipped in your strategies. Before you start scrolling, you should be aware that every trend has the potential to reach a higher engagement rate, and some might be useful for you, so it’s important for you to examine some of the best digital strategies.
Trend #1. AR and VR Will Become More Mainstream
Augmented Reality (AR) and Oculus Quest leading the way in VR are not new technologies, but their usage is expected to go up significantly in 2022. These two technologies will continue to be popular among users, especially millennials.
You can expect to see more brands using AR and VR as part of their marketing campaigns in 2022. For example, Ikea has already done this by creating a virtual reality version of their stores. Customers can explore the store and select furniture to view in detail, place it where they want, or even try them on for size.
Facebook has also already started implementing AR into its platform and we can expect more brands to follow suit. With AR, you can overlay digital content on top of the real world while VR immerses you in a completely simulated environment. Both offer great potential for brands to create more interactive and immersive experiences for their customers.
Trend #2. Social Commerce Will Become More Popular
Social media sites have already been used as platforms for e-commerce and we can expect this trend to grow in 2022. Shoppers are likely going to drift away from traditional online stores towards sharing unique moments with their friends on social media and buying products they see there.
This is already happening on some platforms. For example, on Instagram, users can now purchase items that they see in posts or stories without having to leave the app. There are even shopping malls that have been set up solely for Instagrammers who want to shop from within the app. Not to mention Facebook also has a Facebook Marketplace where users can buy and sell items.
Trend #3. No Hard-selling Content Needed
People don't scroll through their social media just to see brands trying way too hard just to sell their products or services. Not in 2022.
Instead, people will be looking for useful information that they can apply to their lives. If your content doesn't offer value or help them live better, then you're not going to reach the right audience on social media.
Story-driven video marketing or original content that's relevant to the person viewing it is a good example of this. This way, your content will be more likely to go viral and increase awareness about your brand or business.
Trend #4. Social Media Will Become a Customer Service Channel
Many people already use social media as a way to get in touch with brands for customer service issues and even call centers prefer to use cloud phone systems. In 2022, this is going to become even more common as people continue to shift away from traditional customer service channels such as phone calls and emails.
A study has shown that 67% of consumers have engaged a brand’s social media for customer service needs.
Social media can be a great platform for customers to voice their complaints, feedback, or suggestions. It's also a great way for brands to show that they're listening and care about their customers.
Trend #5. Influencer Marketing Will Continue to Soar
In 2022, influencer marketing is going to be a widely used tactic among brands. In fact, it's expected that nearly half of all marketers will make use of this type of strategy in the next year or two.
When we talk about influencers, we don't talk about popular people with millions of followers. Even micro-influencers (those with less than 100,000 followers) can be very effective in influencing people's purchasing decisions.
Why? Because they have a more engaged and loyal following who trust their opinions. They're also seen as more relatable and authentic compared to celebrities or mega-influencers. Influencers, for their part, have helped fuel some of the most expensive NFT purchases ever.
Trend #6. TikTok Is an Ideal Place to Reach Younger Customers
TikTok has also launched a number of useful tools designed for marketers, like ads and business profiles, aimed specifically at businesses.
TikTok now has at least 1 billion monthly active users-- with over half of GenZ customers and 39% of Millennials are now on the platform. This social media platform offers great opportunities for brands looking to reach younger crowds with short-length, entertaining videos.
Trend #7. Video Content Will Still Dominate
Now that TikTok is here, expect video content to continue dominating the social media landscape. The average person will spend nearly an hour watching videos on social media in 2022-- so it's clear that people will still be largely interested in consuming video content. Videos don't have to be expensive or time-consuming to produce either. You can create simple, short videos with affordable video marketing tools such as InVideo, Powtoon, StoryXpress, which happens to be a great alternative to expensive tools like Vidyard and Wistia.
This is why it's important for brands to invest in creating high-quality, engaging social videos that will capture people's attention. Some of the most popular forms of content include comedy clips, tutorials, inspiring stories, or how-to guides for beginners.
If you want a promising end result, you can also work with a professional explainer video company to create a short introduction video about your business and pin it to your social media feeds. Ask the help of a professional social media designer to create posts and other visual aids. This way, your followers will understand what your business is all about once they land on your social profile.
Wrapping Up
By 2022, social media will still play a crucial role in how people interact with each other and brands. It's important for marketers to keep up with the latest trends and understand what works (and doesn't) when it comes to marketing strategies. With those top trends mentioned above, you'll be on your way to creating successful social media campaigns that reach your target audience this year.
About the author
Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).