As of October 2021, there are 4.55 billion social media users around the world—an increase of more than 400 million or almost 10% over the past 12 months. The report from Datareportal also shows that there is an average of 13 new users every second.

The average user spends around 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media per day. They rotate between 6.7 platforms each month with the most-used being Facebook, YouTube, and Whatsapp. Instagram, WeChat, TikTok, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Twitter also have millions of users monthly.

As more platforms and features emerge, more people are expected to jump on the bandwagon. This is why businesses need to stay on top of social media trends. If you want to reach this large target audience, learn to adapt to the changes in social media.

2022 social media trends

It’s hard to guess what will happen in the marketing industry next year, but it’s possible to keep a finger on the pulse. Stay ahead of the competition by checking social media trends and see where you may apply them in your strategies.

Focusing on smaller networks

Looking at new research on top social media trends, you’ll see that consumers are more receptive to advertising on smaller channels like Pinterest, Snapchat, and TikTok than on bigger platforms. A Nielson study reveals that ads on Snapchat resulted in greater reach and intent than TV advertisements.

Kantar also reports that consumers find TikTok ads more enjoyable and inspiring than those on other platforms. Meanwhile, a Pinterest Business study shows that ads on Pinterest brought cheaper conversion rates and higher returns than others.

What to do: Check your engagement across different social networks and see where you have the most potential in engaging your audience. Ensure that your content matches the vibe that users have on that site. Test out ads or try a new channel altogether.

Getting into social listening

During the coronavirus pandemic, many organisations got into social listening for the first time. They liked being able to respond to queries and address concerns in real-time. They also learned that they may use it to understand changing preferences and avoid PR issues.

Two-thirds of marketers agree that social listening is one of the social media trends to look out for. It allows you to build a solid understanding of how your audience thinks about your brand. It enables you to learn about how you compare to the competition as well.

What to do: Using your preferred social media management tool setup three search streams for brand mentions, competitors’ brand mentions, and industry keywords. Provide access to these to your marketing team or to whoever is able to make decisions for your company.

Investing in social customer care

Due to a combination of labour shortages, lockdowns, and unreliable supply chains, consumers have more questions than ever for businesses. They have also discovered that they may get the answers to their queries more conveniently through social media.

A survey commissioned by Facebook says that 64% of users prefer to message a company than call them. Additionally, Gartner says that 60% of customer service requests are going to be through digital channels by 2023. The problem is that 71% of organisations haven’t or aren’t investing in it.

What to do: Create response templates for frequently asked questions on different networks. Learn how to use a chatbot to improve your response times while reducing labour costs. Train your social marketing team to handle customer support or hire dedicated agents for your various channels.

Outsourcing to creators

Creator economy is one of the top social media trends that boomed during the pandemic as people searched for ways to diversify their income. These refer to more than millionaire YouTube stars but also to regular people monetising their hobbies or finding freelance work on social media.

The term ‘creator’ refers to both professional marketers and amateur content creators. Basically, it includes anyone who makes, edits, designs, or films content to publish on social networks for the purpose of making money or promoting a brand.

What to do: Define the people you want to reach and engage with. Next, find creators with already established fan bases who match your niche. Be ready to pay fair rates for their work as most creators know their worth and will never offer their services for free.

Making social commerce possible

Before COVID-19 appeared, social commerce was something only innovative businesses did. Stay-at-home mandates combined with more social media consumption created the perfect environment for social shopping, among other social media trends to pay attention to.

Research predicts that e-sales will surpass USD 735 billion by 2025. 81% of shoppers are already using social networks to discover new brands and products. In fact, shopping is a priority for almost 50% of users on Pinterest, so why not give them what they want?

What to do: When designing a retail experience, always think about adding social shopping if possible. Consider setting up a Facebook or Instagram Shop if you sell products to people, for instance. Curate the items that you think platform-specific users might like best.

Learn and apply these social media trends

Now that we’ve covered some of the 2022 social media trends, mull over the steps you may take to leverage them and boost your social engagement next year. It takes a lot of work but it’s certain that you will get a return on your investment—with a bit of help, of course.

We at Remote Workmate specialise in offshore staffing solutions to clients from around the globe. If you’re looking to hire a dedicated VA for social listening, social shopping, or social customer care, we will find the best candidates for the job and screen them for you.