It’s no secret that social media has become a huge part of our lives. With the high penetration of smartphones, we tend to spend a lot more time on social medial platforms than we used to some years ago. It’s hard to imagine a day without scrolling through Instagram or scrolling through Twitter or whatever else it is that you do.
In fact, according to a recent report from the Digital 2022 Global Overview Report, the average user spent 2 hours and 27 minutes on social media per day in Q3 of 2021. This figure indicates that people have a lot of time invested in social media and that they’re spending it with their friends, family, and other people who are important to them.
Not just that, the number of people joining various social media platforms is consistently growing. Social media has roughly 3.9 billion users in 2020 which is estimated to reach 4.89 billion by 2023, as per the data compiled by Statista.
With so many people spending their time on social media, there are bound to be trends that hit the mark. Some of these trends have been around for years now and continue to be popular among users, while others are new and trending upward in popularity.
We took a look at some of the most popular social media platforms out there, and we found some pretty interesting trends that gained immense popularity in 2022.
User-Generated Content
User-generated content is an important element for today’s companies because it helps them understand their customers better and build trust with them.
It allows companies to get direct feedback from their customers and make improvements based on that feedback. It also gives customers a chance to be part of the brand’s story by sharing what they like about it or how it has helped them solve a problem they had been facing.
According to the State of User-Generated Content 2022 report, 72% of consumers think that customer reviews and testimonials are more reliable than what a company says about its products. This figure indicates that companies must engage with their customers and build trust by providing them with an opportunity to share their experiences with the brand.
Being a major social media trend of 2022, UGC is also important for today’s companies because it allows you to connect with your customers and show them that you’re human. It empowers you to tell your brand’s story and show people what makes you unique.
People want to feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves, and UGC can help you give them that feeling by showing them how much they matter to your company.
Niche Communities
Brands are now focusing on connecting with their customers through niche communities.
Niche communities are groups of people who share a common interest or passion and have formed a community around that interest and communicate via online forums. These groups provide an opportunity for brands to connect with customers on a personal level, as well as offer value to them by providing resources and opportunities for learning.
Niche communities are led by micro-influencers, people who have a smaller following but are extremely effective at what they do. Micro-influencers have an average of 1,000 to 100,000 followers on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
However, the majority of their followers are engaged and interested in what the micro-influencer has to say. This makes them more trustworthy than other types of influencer marketing programs because they have built relationships with their audience over time. In fact, 82% of consumers would pay more attention when a micro-influencer recommends something.
People in these communities often post selfies in customized and printed clothes. For example, if there is a “pet lovers” community, then they will love to wear pets’ themed clothing such as cat ears or dog paw prints on their tops and pants. These animals are very cute and popular among pet lovers, so many designers produce thematic clothing for this community.
They often purchase clothes from a maker who uses different vinyl equipment and materials to beautifully print and design clothes that resonate with the collective interest of these communities. As vinyl material comes in many different colors, sizes, and shapes, it helps makers to print different themes and colors on T-shirts, hoodies, backpacks, bags, phone cases, and more.
Use of TikTok as a Marketing Channel
TikTok’s popularity has witnessed exponential growth in the last few years. The app had one billion users globally as of September 2021, making it one of the most popular social media platforms.
According to Insider Intelligence, TikTok users in the US would spend an average of 38 minutes on the app every day in 2022, which is more than any other social media platform. This means that marketers can reach a large audience and build a brand’s image by creating engaging content on TikTok.
Moreover, 45% of companies leveraged TikTok in their influence marketing campaigns, as revealed by the Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2021. It’s no surprise that this trend picked more force into 2022, with a growing number of marketers leveraging it for their benefits.
As a marketing channel, TikTok allows for the quick and easy creation of content that can be shared with a large audience. It’s also interactive, meaning that you can interact with people who watch your videos in real-time, making it an excellent way to engage with customers and fans.
TikTok’s features make it easy for users to share content with their friends and family in real-time, and if they like what they see, they can easily repost it. If a video goes viral on TikTok, it can garner millions of views within a day.
Live Streaming
Live streaming has been a social media trend for a while now, and it’s only getting more popular in 2022.
In fact, 82% of social media users prefer to engage with a brand through a live stream than reading a social media post. This figure means that brands who want to stay relevant need to give their audiences what they want: quick, personal interaction.
Live streaming is the best way to do that because it allows brands to interact in real-time with their target audience and make them feel like they’re part of the conversation.
Brands need to use live streaming as an opportunity to build trust and loyalty with their customers, which will help them gain followers and ultimately be successful in the long run.
Brands can use live streaming to show off their products and services in action, or even host Q&A sessions where customers can ask questions about their products. They can also use the platform to give behind-the-scenes tours of their facilities or offices, which is great for building customer loyalty and trust.
In Conclusion
The top social media trends in 2022 are the ones that focused on the customer experience. The customer will be at the forefront of all your marketing efforts, and you’ll need to be prepared to give them what they want.
We believe these trends will help you build more meaningful relationships with your audience and make your content more accessible.
