The field of Social Media Marketing (SMM) this year, and likely in the years to come, is poised to become one of the most significant components of digital marketing and advertising campaigns, with increasingly larger budgets allocated to it. This is not particularly surprising…
Below is a brief overview of the most relevant trends in 2013 dedicated to Social Media Marketing (SMM).
1. Increased Budgets for SMM
Small and medium-sized businesses will actively leverage social networks for promotion. The key will be the ability to connect with the target audience and build communities. A crucial budget allocation will be towards creating high-quality content, as the demand for the community will heavily depend on it.
2. Monitoring and Analytics
A global challenge in collaborating with social networks is the lack of high-quality analytics. As reposts, likes, and retweets gradually cease to be seen as the primary indicators of effective social media advertising, analytics are becoming more complex.
3. Commerce
Monetizing social media audiences is a critical trend for 2013. Virtual stores operating through social networks are being actively created. This direction is continuously evolving, with products being sold and target audiences being attracted via social networks.
4. New Advertising Format
Contextual ads, which were recently the main advertising tool in social networks, are giving way to banners. Significant efforts are being made to transform and increase the effectiveness of these banners.
5. Mobile Devices
Analytical data strongly suggests that soon, mobile devices and social networks will be inseparable. Social platforms are being actively optimized to meet the needs of users accessing their pages via mobile devices. Relevant services, applications, and new advertising formats are being developed.
6. Development of Niches
Nowadays, finding social groups that unite lawyers, doctors, or teachers is not a problem. Next in line is the active development of social groups formed based on user interests—such as a love for travel, playing the guitar, reading, and so on.
7. The Era of Photos and Videos
Text publications will not entirely lose their leading positions, but the importance of photo and video content is growing daily. The webmasters who can provide their audience with numerous high-quality photos, illustrations, and videos will win the competitive battle.