In the world of social media marketing, change is the only constant. A lot has changed in the past year when it comes to marketing strategies, the social media platforms themselves, and how consumers engage with content. While these changes can be difficult to predict, we are already seeing some new trends that we expect to continue through the new year. So, if you’re looking to get ahead of the competition and know what to expect in 2023, these are a few trends to keep an eye on.
One trend we’re expecting to see more of in 2023 is big names in the social media space partnering with small businesses. Previously, creator partnerships have mostly been exclusive to brands with huge marketing budgets and corresponding followings. However, as marketing budgets are becoming smaller, creator partnerships have been one of the first things to go. This leaves a lot of smaller influencers without partnership opportunities. Therein lies the opportunity for smaller businesses. It’s a win-win for both parties; the small business gets exposure to a whole new audience, and the creator gets to work with a brand they’re passionate about. We expect to see more of these types of partnerships in the coming year as social media becomes an increasingly important part of small business marketing strategies.
In relation to the above trend, we also expect to see a rise of nanoinfluencers and user-generated content (UGC) creators. Nanoinfluencers are defined as people with a small but engaged following on social media (usually between 1,000 and 5,000 followers). These influencers tend to be more authentic and relatable than traditional celebrities or influencers with millions of followers. This makes them appealing to brands who want to connect with their target audience in a more personal way. Meanwhile, UGC creators are people who create original content that features or promotes a brand or product. This type of content tends to be more genuine and transparent than traditional advertising, which makes it more effective at winning over increasingly skeptical consumers.
The metaverse is a virtual world that’s created by the convergence of our physical and digital worlds. It’s a place where people can interact with each other and with brands in a completely immersive experience. It’s similar to the world of online gaming, but it has wider applications beyond entertainment. For example, the metaverse could be used for education, training, or even online shopping experiences. We’re expecting to see increased investment in the metaverse in 2023 as businesses continue to look for ways to stand out from the competition. We expect that social media will play a big role in how businesses market themselves in the metaverse, so marketers will need to start thinking about how they can create engaging experiences for their customers in this new virtual world.
Artificial intelligence is changing the way we interact with technology, and it’s also starting to change the way we do social media marketing. AI tools are becoming more and more commonplace, and we expect that trend to continue in 2023. This trend is being driven by the increasing availability of affordable AI tools and by the need for businesses to automate repetitive tasks so that they can focus on more strategic tasks. Many of the current AI-powered tools help with things like content creation and curation, analytics tracking, and reporting. Marketers who aren’t using AI tools will need to start learning about them if they want to stay ahead of the curve.
As mobile devices become increasingly popular, we’re seeing a trend towards full-screen content (known as 9:16 format). This trend is being driven by the fact that people are spending more time on their phones. Because of this, they want content that is easy to consume on this smaller screen. Full-screen content is also more engaging than traditional square or rectangular ratios because it fills up the entire screen and thus captures your attention more effectively. TikTok and Instagram Reels are two current examples of this trend in action. Don’t be surprised if other social media platforms also make the switch to full-screen content as well.
This is something we have seen increasing every year for the past several years, but it is worth mentioning again. We expect to again see more of a focus on sustainability and social responsibility for businesses of all sizes. In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness of environmental issues and social injustice, which has led to consumers demanding sustainable and responsible products and services. Consumers continue to become more conscious of how their purchase decisions affect society. We can expect to see more brands incorporating sustainability into their marketing campaigns as well as their everyday business practices. If this is something your business hasn’t made steps toward yet, now is the time.
These are just a few of the trends we think will shape social media marketing in 2023. As always, change is the only constant, so things may look different than we expect. But one thing is for sure: those who are prepared for change will be able to stay ahead of the competition. So start thinking about how you can integrate these trends into your marketing strategy now. You’ll be well on your way to success in 2023!