Currently, there are polarized opinions about the evolution of social media: A group of people believe that it still has a wide horizon ahead and we will see significant changes in social media environments in the future. However, another group is convinced that the era of social media has passed and there is something new on the way, such as virtual reality platforms. Both predictions can be valid, but given the fact that the world’s richest person – Elon Musk’s efforts provoke more interest in social media, we are prone to think that this industry is yet to bring something new to our screens and virtual lives.
Social media trends come and go, and it is important to keep the finger on the pulse of continuous developments. It is important to keep in mind that there are no universal rules for all social media websites since each of them has different principles and algorithms. You can never apply the same marketing strategy to both Facebook and X, since not only do the algorithms work differently, but also the users have varying expectations.
In this article, we will cover the main social media trends and strategies that currently work effectively and serve as key elements to boost brand awareness for different companies.
Live Stream by Online Gaming and Gambling Companies
Internet users like being immersed in virtual events and even in the personal lives of their favorite celebrities. Several years ago, it was hard to imagine that one day we would be able to enable a live stream with a snap of the fingers. Today, the live stream content is highly in demand and brings lots of engagement to businesses. Some of the most active companies that adopted live streams as a primary way of conversation with their users are gaming and gambling companies.
After the wide acceptance of cryptocurrencies, and the growth of crypto casino platforms, online gambling became highly digitized, integrating new channels of user interactions. In the meantime, streaming websites like YouTube and Twitch occupied a significant portion of the internet space, allowing businesses to stream games, competitions, and tournaments.
Not only gamers but also general internet users turn into viewers of this type of digital content, afterward sometimes becoming fans of casinos and video games. Live streaming on social media, by the example of gaming companies and online casino platforms, proved to be an effective method and something worth being included in the marketing strategy of various types of businesses.
Content Is the King, Particularly the Video Content
You may or may not like TikTok, one of the most controversial social media platforms, but one thing is certain: It fundamentally changed the principles of content marketing, pushing video content to the first rows. Reports and analyses showcase that not only businesses but also customers prefer video materials on social media. The latter ones “expect to see video content from brands – and use it as a key part of their research and purchasing decisions”, according to a report.
After the successful debut of TikTok in 2016, much older platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube, decided to prioritize short videos as an important part of their news feeds. Not only those, but even the streaming giant Netflix integrated a new section into its mobile application, called Fast Loughs, which generally has the same principle as the reels on Instagram and Shorts on YouTube.
Being Present Not Everywhere, but at the Right Place
Those days when businesses were struggling to be present on every social media platform were in the past. Websites have found their main topic of conversation and the segmentation of internet users that are part of their community. As also mentioned above, users on Snapchat don’t want to see the same as the users on X (previously known as Twitter).
Several factors are considered by companies to choose the right platforms for their business, and 2 of the most important facts are the demographics and the type of the business. It is not a secret that Apple, for instance, “doesn’t love” Meta platforms. They are not active on Facebook and Instagram. However, they prefer X, where not only the company itself but also the CEO Tim Cook is an active user.
Nowadays, companies align their characteristics with the social media brand and its voice. This strategy is pretty much typical of the rules of marketing, where targeted decisions are better than random approaches.
Without a doubt, the aforementioned strategies will still change, along with the appearance of new technologies next year, such as virtual reality headsets, that aim to change how people interact, make shopping decisions, and much more. We can assume that live streaming will continue to dominate, but the way businesses and influencers do it will be changed, according to new capabilities of VR headsets and the new rules of content marketing that are yet to be declared.
