Social media is a dynamic environment, where the platforms seem to change as quickly as your customers scroll to that next post, image, or video in their news feed. Do you want to know which social media sites and trends to keep an eye on for your business in 2016? Check out today’s article to find out!
Live-Streaming Apps Are Growing
Live-streaming apps are letting businesses broadcast their message in real-time to countless people around the world. The emergence of one highly popular live-streaming app (Meerkat) in 2015 spurred the rise of new and increasingly popular live-streaming platforms, such as Periscope (owned by Twitter), Live (owned by Facebook), and Blab.
Haven’t heard of these apps? Well, you’re not alone, and the good news is that we’re here to give you the run-down.
Periscope is a live-streaming app that connects to your Twitter account. When you open the Periscope app on your smartphone, you can start broadcasting a live recording from your mobile device. Launched in March 2015, the app gained tons of traction in a relatively short period of time, as over 10 million accounts were created by August 2015.
Facebook’s Live is a similar app in the sense that you can broadcast real-time video to your audience; rather than broadcasting on Twitter, however, this app lets you share real-time video with your audience on Facebook.
On Blab, you can broadcast live conversations with several other people (think of these people as your co-hosts). If you’ve ever used Google Hangouts, then you’ll likely see some similarities with Blab’s “talking heads” format.
Before you whip out your smartphone and start live-streaming that special event, product launch, interview, or tour of your business, keep in mind that your broadcasts on Periscope, Live, and Blab are happening in real-time. This means that there’s no second cut or “take two.”
And that’s okay! In fact, it’s for this reason in particular that many companies will be too scared to experiment with said platforms and consequently miss out on opportunities to reach new customers there. That being said, it’s essential that you know your strategy, what you want to say (and show!), and what you ultimately want to accomplish with each broadcast before hitting record.
Looking ahead, don’t be surprised if you see hotels live-streaming a tour of their resort and amenities, and giving online travelers an exclusive look at their property. This is the type of broadcast that could supplement (or replace) virtual tours, as the person behind the camera gives a “live tour” or the property’s latest amenities and special events.
Your Customers Are Visual Learners
“Visual learners” are people who prefer to learn primarily through visuals (such as images and videos) rather than through the written word. When you consider platforms such as YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram, you’ll realize that some of the most popular social networking sites are geared towards visual learners.
Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube are just a few of the many dominant visual social networking sites that have grown dramatically over the past few months and years. As people continue to spend their attention on visual social networks, your social media marketing strategy must include fun and compelling visuals that cater to this audience.
Don’t Abandon Your Audience on the Classic Social Media Sites
While it’s exhilarating to jump on the latest social media sites, it’s equally important to maintain your company’s profiles on the social networks where you’ve spent countless hours growing and nurturing a strong and loyal following.
Whether you’ve built an engaged audience on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or other social networking sites, be sure keep your audience aware of the latest offers, news, and special promotions by continuing to post to these accounts on a regular basis.
Strapped for time? Try using a social media editorial calendar to help you keep track of what to post in the weeks and months ahead!
Are You Ready to Reach More Customers on Social Media in 2016?
If you’re looking to capture more attention on social media in the year ahead and need help marketing your business, then contact Mannix Marketing’s Digital Marketing Strategists today to learn how we can help!
