Social media trends are constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success in the social media marketing business. With over 4.59 billion social media users globally, it’s essential to keep your followers engaged with trending content to drive traffic and capitalize on the latest big thing.
In this article, we will explore the importance of social media trends, what influences and shapes them, and provide you with practical tips on how to stay on top of the ever-changing social media landscape.
What Are Social Media Trends?
Social media trends can be defined as waves of content that rise and fall in popularity across various social platforms. These trends range from widely shared pop culture moments to new meme formats or the latest TikTok dance routines.
Keeping up with social media trends is crucial as they often rise to prominence quickly and fade out just as fast when the next big thing comes along.
What Influences and Shapes Social Media Trends?
Understanding the factors that influence social media can help you stay ahead of the game. Outside influences, including global news events, pop culture phenomena, and political movements, can shape social trends.
Global News Events
Global news events have a significant impact on social media trends. Take, for example, the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to a surge in social media use, particularly for short-form video content.
Users shared their experiences during lockdowns, resulting in trends like baking banana bread. Tracking global news events can help you identify trends and align your content accordingly.
Pop Culture Events
Pop culture events generate a wealth of content, both from artists and fans.
For instance, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour has led to an increase in fan videos, concert fashion content, and the use of her tracks in TikToks, Instagram Reels, and YouTube videos.
Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour has even influenced a boom in sales of silver clothing on Etsy. Keeping an eye on pop culture events can inspire your content strategy and help you tap into relevant trends.
Political Events
Political events also play a significant role in shaping social media trends. Content related to LGBTQ+ events like Pride Parades and protest movements like Black Lives Matter receives enormous engagement.
While aligning yourself politically can be a risky move for a brand, customers nowadays expect authenticity and social responsibility. Monitoring political events can help you identify opportunities to engage with your audience on important issues.
Why Should Social Media Strategists Keep Up With Trends?
Keeping up with social media trends is essential for effective social media marketing. The rapid turnover of trends means you must strike while the iron is hot to avoid appearing outdated.
Incorporating the latest high-engagement content into your strategy can help drive traffic and leverage social media algorithms to your advantage.
Now that we understand the importance of staying up to date with social media trends, let’s explore some practical tips on keeping your finger on the pulse.
Spend Time on Social Media Every Day
Engaging with social media platforms is vital to gaining expert-level knowledge.
By actively participating in social media communities, exploring new apps, and observing trends, you can stay updated on the latest developments. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Twitch are excellent places to discover emerging trends and influential content creators.
Utilize Google Trends
Google Trends is a powerful tool to enhance your social marketing strategy. By tracking what people are searching for at any given moment, you can identify trending topics and incorporate them into your content.
Leveraging available data from Google Trends can save you time and help you make more accurate trend forecasts.
Create a Twitter (X) List of Influencers in the Industry
Influencers play a significant role in shaping social media. Creating a Twitter (X) list of relevant influencers allows you to curate a personalized area where you can easily access content from the accounts that matter most to your brand.
By following and engaging with these influencers, you can stay informed about the latest trends in your industry.
Set Up Google Alerts on Terms and Influencers
Google Alerts is another valuable tool that can help you stay informed about trends and influential figures.
By creating alerts with specific search terms or influencers’ names, you’ll receive personalized notifications whenever new content related to your keywords appears online. Setting the frequency to once daily ensures you stay up-to-date without feeling overwhelmed.
Join Industry Groups on LinkedIn
LinkedIn Groups provide an excellent opportunity to connect with other industry professionals and share best practices for keeping up with social media trends.
Engaging in discussions, sharing insights, and learning from others’ experiences can help you stay ahead of the curve. Consider joining groups like Social Media Marketing with 2 million members.
Listen to Social Media Marketing Podcasts
Podcasts are a valuable source of inspiration and information for social media professionals. Industry experts regularly share tips, tricks, and advice on staying updated with social media trends.
Tune in to podcasts like Creator Club by Katie Steckly, Social Media Marketing School by Ethan Bridge, and Social Minds – Social Media Marketing by Social Chain to gain insights from seasoned professionals.
Keep an Eye on the Competition
While it’s important to develop your unique brand and voice, monitoring your competitors can provide valuable insights. Observing their strategies, the platforms they use, and the effective hashtags they employ can inspire your content creation.
Additionally, reading customer comments and reviews can help identify areas for improvement and niche markets you can target.
Explore What’s Trending on YouTube
Despite the rise of short-form video content, YouTube remains a dominant force in social media. With 122 million daily visitors, it’s an excellent platform to tap into current trends.
While your homepage is personalized based on your past searches, the YouTube Trending tab offers a snapshot of what’s popular right now. Exploring trending videos can spark ideas for your content and keep you informed about the latest trends.
Tools for Tracking Social Media Trends
If you prefer automation, several tools can help you track social media trends efficiently. These tools monitor and analyze online conversations, activities, and sentiments to identify emerging topics and trends.
Incorporating these tools into your workflow can keep you informed and enable you to adapt your strategies accordingly. Here are a few tools to consider:
- Top-Hashtags: Monitors trending hashtags on Instagram and TikTok.
- TubeBuddy: Provides trend monitoring specifically for YouTube.
- Feedly: Aggregates news, curates content, and provides trending topics from across the web.
By utilizing these tools, you can enhance your ability to stay on top of social media trends and make informed decisions for your marketing efforts.
How to Keep Up with Social Media Trends
Now that we’ve established why staying updated with social media trends is essential, let’s explore how you can do it effectively.
Follow Industry Leaders and Influencers
Many experts and influencers in the social media and marketing fields regularly share insights, tips, and trends on their social media channels and blogs.
By following them, you can stay informed about the latest developments and gain valuable knowledge. Engaging with their content and participating in discussions can also help you build a network of like-minded individuals.
Attend Webinars and Conferences
Webinars and conferences focused on social media and digital marketing are great ways to stay current with the latest trends.
These events often feature expert speakers and panels discussing best practices and emerging strategies. They also provide opportunities for networking with professionals in the field.
Join Online Communities
Online communities, such as Facebook Groups, Reddit threads, and LinkedIn groups, are excellent places to discuss trends, share insights, and seek advice.
These communities are often filled with industry enthusiasts willing to exchange knowledge and experiences. Be an active participant, ask questions, and share your insights.
Experiment and Adapt
To truly understand social media, you must get your hands dirty. Experiment with new features and strategies on different platforms.
Be open to adapting your content and approach based on the data and feedback you receive. A willingness to learn from your successes and failures is key to staying ahead in the social media game.
Use Analytics and Insights
Most social media platforms provide analytics tools that offer valuable insights into your audience’s behavior and preferences.
Review these data to identify trends and adjust your content and strategies accordingly. Tools like Google Analytics and social media management platforms can help you dive deeper into your performance.
Stay Informed About Platform Updates
Social media platforms frequently update their algorithms, features, and policies. Subscribe to platform blogs or newsletters to receive the latest news and updates. It will help you adapt to changes and make the most of new opportunities.
Consistency Is Key
Consistency in posting and engaging with your audience is essential. This consistency not only helps you maintain your presence but also allows you to test different strategies and analyze their impact over time.
Let’s Wrap Up
Keeping up with social media trends is essential for social media marketing success. Rather than relying on a crystal ball, utilize the available tools and strategies to stay informed and adapt quickly.
By spending time on social media platforms, leveraging tools like Google Trends and Google Alerts, engaging with influencers and industry groups, and exploring trending content, you can stay ahead of the curve and achieve social media success.
Remember, time is your most valuable asset when following trends, so make the most of it.
Conclusion
Staying current with social media trends is an ongoing process, but it’s essential for achieving social media success.
By following industry leaders, attending events, participating in online communities, experimenting with new strategies, using analytics, and staying informed about platform updates, you can adapt to the ever-changing social media landscape and effectively connect with your target audience.
Remember, the key to success is not just keeping up with trends but also using them to your advantage in a way that aligns with your goals and brand identity.
What are social media trends, and why are they important for success?
Social media trends are emerging patterns, behaviors, or features on social media platforms that gain popularity.
They are important for success because they can significantly impact how content is seen, shared, and engaged with, and staying updated allows you to optimize your strategies for better results.
How can I keep up with social media trends efficiently?
To stay efficient in keeping up with social media trends, follow industry leaders, attend webinars and conferences, join online communities, and use analytics tools to monitor your performance and identify trends.
Are there specific tools or resources that can help me stay updated with social media trends?
Yes, there are various tools and resources. You can follow industry blogs, newsletters, and social media accounts of experts. Additionally, social media management platforms and analytics tools help track trends and performance.
What are the consequences of not keeping up with social media trends?
Keeping up with trends may result in a decreased reach and engagement on your social media channels, a lack of adaptability to changes in the digital landscape, and a potential loss of competitive advantage in your industry.
How do I measure the impact of following social media trends on my success?
You can measure the impact using analytics tools to track engagement, reach, and conversion rates. Compare your performance before and after implementing trend-based strategies to gauge their effectiveness.
