When it comes to being a social media content creator, it is so important to constantly look at social media trends that are happening in real-time.
In 2020, the world definitely changed some for the better and some for the worse. However, brands took a hard look at the content that they were creating, and really wanted to evaluate if it was the most serviceable aspect of their brand to their consumers. For me, I had to look at my personal brand and exactly what it was that I was creating while looking at social media trends, to really make sure that I was providing the most thoughtful and engaging content that was also serviceable.
Yes, you should not always follow the trends, but rather look to see how you can be innovative and new in the space. But utilizing some social media trends can work in your favor, especially when you are trying to get your foot in the door, establish brand credibility, or grow your following and reach your target market.
So here are two social media trends that I think everyone can get behind.
Last year, a lot of brands spent less time posting just for the sake of posting and really began focusing on creating more thoughtful and meaningful content for their consumers. This “less is more” approach is extremely applicable to the modern consumer nowadays, especially those of us who are quickly on our phones and then transitioning as we go to and fro. Honestly, I think a lot of this has become part of our new world. People want to feel engaged and part of something, and a lot of people can smell inauthentic nature from a mile away. Especially with the racial reckoning and protests of 2020, consumers want to know that when a brand posts, it’s meaningful and engaging.
I definitely recommend that if you are posting just to post, that you stop and re-evaluate your “why” in this situation. Specifically, how can you get your point across in fewer posts, captions or iterations of the context? This should actually be a relief for many brands, many of whom were keeping up with others at their own peril.
So remember, create meaningful and engaging content instead of content just to say you made it. Even if that means posting less, you should be more focused on actually being selective and curative with your content.
Secondly, your value will trump production quality.
Yes, I know in a day and time where YouTubers and 12-year-old content creators are shooting on $5,000 cameras that you may not want to go back to the basics, but…
Seriously, people nowadays are looking to see if your content adds value instead of necessarily the production quality of it. This is a trend we’re seeing across all platforms, but especially on visually-driven social media channels like TikTok and Instagram. Sure, I do believe that once you hit a certain threshold that you should begin investing in better equipment or operational costs, but you don’t NEED that in order to start.
What does this mean for business owners? It means to focus on the quality of what you’re saying instead of necessarily how you’re saying it. Keep your consumer in mind but also know that, overall, the trend is pulling away from high production costs and focusing more on what you want to say.
Storytime: A lot of my beginning stages of content creation were shrouded in fear. I was afraid that if I didn’t “look the part,” I wouldn’t be taken seriously for my skillset or what it was I wanted to do. I forced myself to spend a LOT of money trying to make sure everything was perfect for social media. However, take a lot nowadays at some of the highest-performing social accounts and influencers, and what you’ll find is a majority of them take a “less is more” approach and really focus on the quality of their content.
Did you find these tips helpful? If so, let me know and always feel free to reach out if you want to book a consultation for your business!
