As 2018 draws to a close, experts are making predictions about the social media marketing trends you’ll see in 2019. As you’re planning your strategy for the new year, these are some things to keep in mind:

• Visuals First

In the past, many marketers focused on text first and visuals second, but things have changed. Visual content like videos, live-streaming and stories have been on the rise and are expected to take over the traditional newsfeed format in 2019. In fact, it’s predicted that 80% of content consumed in 2019 will be videos. The great thing about this shift to a primarily visual medium is that it encourages audience engagement and gives you better opportunities to build your relationships with your customers. Upping your visual content, improving your stories and creating engaging videos should definitely be on your list of 2019 goals.

• Influencers Matter

As the ability to expand your reach organically has decreased, influencer relationships have become increasingly important. In the past, encouraging your customers to like and share your content was enough to spread your message, but that seems to be going by the wayside. Brands are finding social media influencers to promote their brands to make sure their products are seen.
While influencer endorsements can be very successful, they can also be expensive. Luckily for smaller brands, you don’t always need a major influencer to get your product seen. Micro influencers-those with 40,000 or less followers-can effectively share your brand for a lot less money. And for even smaller budgets, partnering with nano influencers-those with 10,000 or less followers-that are a good fit with your brand can be the answer. Building influencer relationships, or even implementing an influencer relations program should be on your 2019 to-do list.

• Getting Personal

Personal, authentic content is a major 2019 trend. Customers, particularly millennials, value authentic relationships with brands they trust, and building that relationship requires content that is personal, authentic, and in-the-moment. Your customers want to see the people and personalities behind the brand. They don’t want slick, corporate, over-produced content. They want live-streaming videos, stories that feature your employees or your process, and behind-the-scenes looks and your facility and your day-to-day activities. Customers want to feel like they’re a part of your brand, and you’ll have to get personal to make that happen. So, in 2019, get ready to show your customers who you are and what makes your brand unique.

• AI Takeover

While your content is getting more personal, one area of social media marketing is going in the opposite direction. Experts agree that we can expect to see a big increase in brands using AI for customer service. More and more businesses are using chatbots to answer common customer questions. As chatbots are improving and their enhanced intelligence allows them to seem more authentic, brands are relying on them for fast customer service to make sure their customers can get their questions answered quickly. Maybe 2019 is the year you introduce a bot as part of your social media marketing team?

Learn more about how a social media manager can create strategies to take your brand into the future!