Michael Kruger, Head of Digital at LEWIS Global Communications looks at social media trends for 2019.
For 2019, Michael predicts:
1. CEOs will get social.
2. Brands will build engagement through user-generated content.
3. Chatbots make it personal.
4. Live Video will continue to grow.
5. Augmented reality becomes more accessible.
1. CEOs will get social.
“Over the recent years, the public’s trust in organisations has fallen, and with all the online platforms we now have available, a lack of online transparency with your audience is unforgivable.
“In 2019, company leaders should embrace social media to share their thoughts, their insights, create relationships with their online community, and, above all, listen to their followers. This will become the norm as community managers will need to incorporate the CEO’s voice in their content calendars. “
2. Brands will build engagement through user-generated content.
“As organic social reach continues to decline, sharing authentic content straight from a brand’s audience and their influencers can help brands connect with their community and build a stronger relationship with them.
“Rather than creating content you hope your followers will like, you can rely on user-generated content to do the job and build higher engagement.
“By setting up simple hashtags, you will be in a good position to find the best and most relevant content from your followers and feature it (obviously giving credit to the owner) on your social channels. This will not only create high engagement, but it will also grow your base and give your followers a sense of community.
3. Chatbots make it personal.
Chatbots make it easy to engage with your audience and let them find what they need in a 1-2-1 manner. This is why brands are increasingly choosing to invest in chatbots as they allow content to be displayed in a more personalised and effective way that drives better service and engagement, all with minimal investment.”
4. Live Video will continue to grow.
“Over the last few years, live video has been a constant trend appearing in the predictions so it’s no surprise that it continues to remain on the list.
“More and more, brands are using video to connect with their audiences. Facebook Live content generates six times more interactions than regular video. 80% of consumers would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog, and 82% say they prefer a video from a brand than a standard social post. However, the live stream needs to be of a high quality with 67% saying this is a key factor when choosing to watch it.”
5. Augmented reality becomes more accessible.
“Augmented reality (AR) has been around for a while now, and more social media marketers are experimenting with it in their content strategy as it allows brands to immerse their audience into the stories they want to share.
“Snapchat recently launched Snap Originals, a feature that uses AR to allow you to interact and watch original television programming created by Snapchat. It allows you to step right into the programme you are watching. The best way to this about this is to remember Pokémon Go, but instead of finding a Pokémon on your street, you discover what could appear next in your favourite Snap Original show.”
By Michael Kruger
Head of Digital
LEWIS