10 Social Media Trends To Consider in 2024

If your brand isn’t online, does it really exist? 

Social media platforms allow businesses to connect with their target customers and drive sales. Unfortunately, social media landscape can also be noisy and highly competitive.

Today, microtrends rise to viral popularity fast and die down even quicker. Your social media strategy can dictate whether you build a reputable following, or get left behind. 

So we gathered the top social media trends (backed by industry research and social experts) we believe will play out for the rest of the year.

Wait, why add social media to your marketing strategy?

Social media is an integral part of modern-day life, and the statistics prove it. As of 2023, there are an estimated 4.89 billion social media users worldwide. The average person bounces between seven different social networks per month and the amount of time internet users spend on social media is now higher than ever—151 minutes per day!

This means businesses have an enormous opportunity to connect with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With such a huge number of active users, the potential reach and impact of social media marketing are boundless.

One of the most significant benefits of social media is its ability to provide valuable data on audience behavior, interests, and preferences through social listening, making it easier for businesses to understand the prospects of their target demographics. You can leverage this information to run highly targeted marketing campaigns and build strategic partnerships with other businesses or influencers in your industry.

Social media platforms offer analytics tools that allow businesses to track their performance, including metrics like engagement rates, reach, impressions, and conversions. With this data, businesses can understand what's working and refine their social strategy to improve their results. Further, you can leverage social media management tools, such as Hootsuite, to streamline your social media strategy and achieve more effective results.

Top 10 Social Media Trends to adapt in 2023

Social media should be a part of your business marketing strategy, but before you jump in, make sure you’re using the right methods. 

Here’s a look at the top trends we see in social media today.

1. Short-form video content is here to stay

Video content has been trending for several years, and shows no signs of slowing.

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In 2023, businesses can leverage video content across multiple platforms, including YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Instagram Reels, and more. Video content can range from short-form snackables to long-form videos. Short videos are particularly helpful in providing quick and engaging content that captures the viewer's attention.

By creating engaging and informative videos, businesses can capture their audience's attention and build a loyal following. The algorithm of these websites promotes video content seamlessly.

For example, Last Crumb’s (cookie brand) content strategy combines UGC, studio-produced videos, and unboxing videos. Despite being a new brand, they have amassed more than 200,000 followers, thanks to their outstanding content and hashtag (#client). Here’s an example:

Nike partnered with TikTok influencers to create a viral dance challenge that generated over 6.4 billion views. The challenge helped to increase brand awareness among Gen Z and millennial audiences.

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Video production can be time and resource-intensive for small businesses. On Fiverr’s marketplace, you can hire talent to create video ads and social media videos for your brand. 

2. Niche social platforms for higher engagement

With social media platforms becoming more crowded, people are turning to more niche platforms that cater to their specific interests. Niche social media platforms offer a unique opportunity for businesses to reach their target audience in a more personalized and engaging way and build brand equity.

For instance, Clubhouse is an audio-based platform that has gained immense popularity among professionals and thought leaders. It provides a platform for individuals to host and participate in live audio discussions. As the platform is invite-only, it offers a more exclusive experience to its users. LinkedIn is another example of a niche social platform, known for its professional networking and B2B interactions.

By identifying and utilizing these niche platforms, businesses can tap into a highly engaged audience and build a strong brand presence. In addition, businesses can tailor their content and engagement strategies to the specific interests of their target audience. 

Here are some niche social media platforms to check out: 

• Houzz: Social platform for house owners and renters working on home design and renovation projects 

• Athlinks: Fitness social app for athletes to set goals and challenge friends

• Letterboxd: Platform for film enthusiasts to leave reviews, create watchlists, and discover new films

3. Transforming interactions and sales with Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that allows businesses to create fun and interactive experiences that engage their audience. AR filters have become increasingly popular on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, providing businesses a new way to promote their products and services.

Snapchat and Instagram have already integrated AR filters and effects, which have become incredibly popular among users. One in four social media users follow virtual reality influencers, according to Hubspot’s 2023 report. 

In 2023, more businesses will be leveraging AR to create interactive and immersive experiences for their audience.

For example, IKEA used AR filters on Instagram to allow users to place furniture in their homes virtually. This increased sales drastically. In an article, Valdsgaard, Chairman and CEO of IKEA describes a potential uplift in sales from AR as a “dream scenario,” which targeted €5 billion ($5.9 billion) in online sales in 2020, up from the €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) it generated in 2016.

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4. Hyper-personalized and relatable content engages better

Personalization is becoming increasingly important for better customer experiences. One area where they can improve this is in social media marketing. Using data, businesses can understand their audience's behaviors and preferences, allowing them to create hyper-personalized content.

For example, Spotify uses data to create customized playlists for its users, based on their listening habits. This approach helped Spotify build a loyal user base and increase engagement on the platform.

Effective personalization can also play a crucial role in pricing strategies that are well-suited for your target audience.

Thanks to the emergence of B2B2C, business marketing takes a more personalized and human approach. 

“Because of the generational change in B2B buyer committees, I anticipate we’ll start seeing less hyper-targeting and more human/personalized content as we head into 2023,” says Natalie Chaney, Social Strategist at Barrett, in an interview with Kurio.

5. Community-based brands

Social media is beyond just content creation. Building engaging and meaningful relationships with your audience can go a long way through community building. People crave more depth and a place to belong where they feel they matter. 

According to one study, online communities can increase your engagement by 21%. An example of this is the story of an author who persuaded a client to conceal their community for four months to test the impact on its ROI. This trial revealed that it cost the client 72% less to respond to an inquiry via their community compared to using their customer support. Then when most customers turned to customer service instead of the community, satisfaction ratings plunged to one of the lowest recorded levels.

Many small businesses resort to Facebook groups for community building, but 2023 could be an excellent time to examine if a Facebook group is the best option. You have other non-Meta alternatives, such as Mighty Networks, Circle, Slack, Discord, or Telegram.

“Brands are starting to realize that they can’t just rely on the social media platform algorithms because they can change anytime,” says Zahed Khan, VP of Sales at Scenes, a white-labeled community platform. “Building your own community is a great way to incentivize members for engagement and control audience interactions. In fact, a community allows you to make valuable content in any form without worrying about how social-media-friendly it is.”

Sephora, a personal care and beauty chain based in Paris, owns almost 300 brands that sell globally. A couple of years ago, the company launched a new digital initiative called the Beauty Insider Community, a member-only platform associated with the brand's complimentary loyalty program. This community offers members a unique and exclusive social setting to share beauty tips and seek inspiration. First, it was launched for the prestige retail industry and grew rapidly ever since.

Reasons for its success:

People often seek the latest beauty tips from their friends, family members, or Instagram influencers. By consolidating their other community assets, such as Beauty Board, Beauty Talk, and Ratings and Reviews, Sephora created a cohesive, immersive community experience that fuels conversational shopping.

Once you create a community, managing it is an ongoing responsibility. Outsource community management to freelance marketers and moderators on Fiverr. 

6. Creator and influencer collaborations

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Incorporating influencer collaborations into your content strategy can be a game-changer for increasing brand awareness, growing your social media following, and driving sales. This collaboration not only brings fresh perspectives about content ideas but also provides the creative expertise of content creators. These inviduals have a direct connection with your target audience and who know a great deal about them. 

Plus, sharing user-generated content your followers post organically can create a sense of authenticity and help your audience see how your product fits into their lives.

According to Instagram's 2023 Trends Report, more than 50% of Gen Z social media users will look to influencers for fashion and beauty inspiration in 2023.

“Influencer marketing in 2023 won’t just focus on the most popular influencers,” says Paige Arnof-Fenn, Founder of Mavens & Moguls. “Expect to see internal experts, micro-influencers, niche experts, and customers in the influencer marketing mix.”

Also, influencer marketing can be an effective strategy if your business is new or recently added new products. 

You can also collaborate with relevant influencers through Fiverr’s marketplace. These influencers have experience in promotion and creating actionable content for brands. Find influencers and influencer marketing strategists on Fiverr today.

7. Social commerce is the future of eCommerce

Social commerce is the integration of social media channels and e-commerce, enabling businesses to sell products directly on social media platforms. According to Statista, the social commerce market size may hit $1.3 trillion in 2023, surpassing the $1 trillion threshold for the first time ever. This represents a growth rate of 30.8% compared to the previous year, when global social commerce sales totaled $958 billion.

Expect to see more businesses adopting social commerce, as platforms like Facebook and Instagram continue to roll out new shopping features. 

For example, Instagram's Checkout feature allows users to purchase products directly from the app, making the buying process more convenient and streamlined.

“A big trend is incorporating customer testimonials in social media posts,” says Robert Johnson, Senior Director of Merchandising at Coast Appliances. “These posts serve as social proof, alongside trust signals, including star ratings, product reviews, and customer feedback, to boost your brand authority and credibility.”

Here’s an example of a social commerce post from Coast Appliances:

8. The Emergence of Social Audio

Social audio is rising amid the emergence of platforms like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces. Social audio allows users to connect with others through live audio conversations, creating a more intimate and engaging experience.

For example, Spotify introduced new social audio features in Spotify Live, allowing users to connect with their favorite artists and creators.

9. Leveraging AI for content and design inspirations

Brands can use AI tools, such as ChatGPT to get ideas for content, and Midjourney to design images to improve their social media presence. With ChatGPT, you can get inspiration to craft engaging captions, headlines, and hashtags that resonate with your target audience. 

According to a study, 35% of companies are using AI, and 42% are exploring AI for its implementation in the future.

Midjourney, on the other hand, is an AI tool you use to design images for social media networks. It uses deep learning algorithms to analyze brand logos, color schemes, and other design elements to create customized images that align with your brand's visual identity. This can help you create consistent and visually appealing social media content that grabs the attention of your target audience.

10. Up that SEO game for video platforms

In recent times, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and other similar social media platforms are evolving as search engines. For instance, many users go to YouTube when looking for recipes or learning how to play an instrument, instead of relying on search engines like Google. Upping your SEO game on social channels will help you reach your audience better.

According to Tech Crunch, almost 40% of Gen Z use TikTok and Instagram for search instead of Google:

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For post distribution, Instagram’s Creator Community recommends limiting your hashtag usage to three to five at most. Additional hashtags don’t increase discoverability, and the platform suggests including keywords in the caption to enhance the possibility of their content appearing in search results. 

This new strategy presents a low-risk, low-effort approach to improve social media discoverability. But that’s just scratching the surface. 

Hiring a Social Media Manager and an SEO Manager can result in more exhaustive brand strategies that can increase discoverability, engagement, and sales!

Examples of brands successfully implementing social media trends

Successful brands leverage social media marketing campaigns to drive real business results. For example, Wendy's ‘Nuggs for Carter’ campaign generated over 3.4 million retweets:

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Wendy's also created a viral social media trend with its ‘Roast Me’ campaign. The brand asked followers to roast their menu items, and the results were hilarious. This campaign was successful because it aligned with Wendy's brand identity of being witty and bold:

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Sephora, the beauty brand, leveraged the popularity of skincare routines on TikTok and created a hashtag challenge called #sephoraskincare, demonstrating a clever use of content marketing. This campaign encouraged users to showcase their skincare routines, and Sephora reposted the best ones on their Instagram accounts.

The fashion brand, ASOS, launched a successful TikTok campaign by partnering with influencers and creating a dance challenge called #AySauceChallenge. This campaign generated millions of views and engagement, showcasing how the brand effectively tapped into a popular trend to promote its products.

Hire a social media manager today

Implementing social media trends into your marketing strategy can help your brand stay relevant, increase engagement, and reach a broader audience. 

However, it's crucial to consider your brand identity, target audience, and relevance to the industry before jumping on a trend. 

Social media continues to evolve, and businesses need to stay on top of the latest trends to leverage these platforms effectively. By identifying and using niche platforms, incorporating the latest trends, businesses can build a strong brand presence and connect with their audience in new and innovative ways.

Hiring a social media manager can ensure you stay on top of recent trends and make strategic social media decisions. Sign up on Fiverr today to find the right social media expert.