2018 was a totally unforgettable year, filled with plenty of amazing marketing innovations within the social media sphere. Everything from IGTV to shoppable posts played a major role in transforming the social landscape throughout in 2018, changing the way that we engage with our favourite apps and presenting us with boundless new marketing opportunities.
With the New Year in plain sight, we think it’s time to explore which social trends are anticipated to make waves in 2019!
In-Depth Instagram Analytics
While Instagram analytics has always been important for business accounts, word is that you’ll soon be able to keep tabs on additional factors that contribute to the improvement and success of your account. Facebook (who owns Instagram) has recently taken to pouring more funding into their analytics capabilities… which means that their investment in improving Instagram’s tracking probably isn’t far behind.
While you likely already use the Insta analytics info to optimize your business, it’s not going too far to say that you can expect a lot more from that feature in the New Year 😉
IG Stories Will Get More Interactive!
As you all know, Instagram is our favourite app, and we welcome new updates for user experience with open arms. That being said, we’ve got some good news: it looks like Instagram Stories are going to become even more engaging in the next year! Experts predict that that in order to keep up with Facebook and Youtube Stories that have recently arrived on the market, Instagram is going to have to throw a curveball in order to remain the most relevant.
What can you expect in terms of new features? Word on the street is that you’ll be able to publicly comment on a Story (as opposed to DMing the account directly), as well as the probable emergence of ads that you can play with – talk about killer user engagement! Following the success of Facebook’s playable ads that were introduced earlier this year, the likelihood of Instagram adopting the same kind of shoppable posts with a ‘play’ element are quite realistic.
IGTV Will Receive Heavier Investment
It’s been a tough run for IGTV (Instagram TV) so far. After its relatively quiet debut in June 2018, we can only assume that Instagram is going to try to up IGTV’s ante in the New Year in efforts to increase its popularity among users. As Instagram’s first video-only feature, IGTV has so much potential that just isn’t being tapped into as of yet. Instagram expert and digital nomad Elise Darma predicts that Instagram will invest in their newest feature this coming year, possibly attempting to market IGTV as the “new Youtube”.
Guess we’ll have to just wait and see, but we’re looking forward to it!
Authentic Marketing Will Take Over
Followers and consumers typically form their first opinion of a brand based on the brand aesthetic and vibe. These first thoughts are primarily based on the aesthetic and voice of your social media pages, particularly Instagram. Whereas in the past, feeds that were meticulously curated would garner the attention and engagement of audiences, experts predict that consumers’ approaches to discovering new brands that appeal to them are changing. In 2019, it’s expected that brands whose feeds are more “authentic” (in other words, less curated) are what will efficiently draw in today’s consumers. After all, we connect with brands that resonate with our values and vision – and no real person is curated to perfection.
Want to read more on 2019’s social predictions? Read more here!
And THAT, ladies n’ gentlemen, is our LAST BLOG POST OF 2018! Thank you so much for tuning in every week to read our latest posts, and for all of your support – we see you and appreciate you! ❤️
Wishing everyone a happy & healthy holiday season! 🎉 Catch ya in 2019!
Michelle ✨
@serotinamedia
#KEEPSOCIAL
