For the past few years, social media has moved steadily from a plaything for onliners to use to keep track of friends, family, and co-workers to a multi-billion dollar hallmark for business marketing. Guided by the likes of Facebook, social media has shown that they can not only connect individuals, but can make a bundle while doing it.
As such, the social media have become a premier tool for any business wanting to expand its outreach to potential customers. That is one trend that will only build in 2014, with new and different approaches gaining favor among users and the marketers chasing them.
According to specialists who keep track of cultural trends and movements in marketing, these are seven emerging social media trends to watch in the coming year:
- Google+ – Even as the social media watchers weren’t watching, Google+, the social network produced by the search engine giant, has been gaining ground and is considered the one to watch in 2014. The company said it now has more than 300 million active users monthly. Experts say its draw is its visual appeal as interest in showing content in more visual terms increases.
- YouTube – This platform will continue to be the leader in the visual market. With its connection to Google+, the two are combining more directly in order to grow as a duo. In order to make comments on YouTube content, for example, a user must have a Google+ account or have a channel on YouTube.
- Selfies – “Selfie,” or taking a digital photo of yourself, was named the word of the year by the Oxford English Dictionary. The selfie also is expected to become a major social media marketing tool, with companies encouraging their customers to send in images of themselves using the company’s product for use in their advertisements as user-produced content.
- Pinterest – Continuing on the visual theme, this platform that was once only considered “cute” is now making its mark as more and more of the computer audience expects visuals to be in place as they surf the Web. This year, for example, people are being advised to visit their friends’ Pinterest boards for the perfect Christmas gift idea.
- Mobile apps – Applications for use on mobile devices like smart phones and computer pads will proliferate throughout 2014 as smaller and smaller businesses find this is the best place to connect with their clients on the go and get them to visit an actual brick-and-mortar location.
- Facebook – The godfather of social media, Facebook will continue to attract users and marketers through 2014 with new revisions that will allow their users to share even more with even more people. It recently removed a privacy setting and now allows teens to share publicly. People have become used to the digital lifestyle, according to experts, and are not as concerned with maintaining privacy, nor do they necessarily want to.
- Twitter – Now that it’s gone public with a stock offering, Twitter will continue to garner attention in 2014 as its audience continues to grow. More users are recognizing that they can get brief messages out to an almost unlimited audience with just a few keystrokes. In fact, Twitter is the preferred social network among teens.
The social media landscape is constantly changing with new players being added all the time. And while there may be other new trends yet unseen, these are among the top ones predicted for 2014.
