Navigating the social media landscape: trends for 2024

In the ever-evolving world of social media, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for brands aiming to make an impact. With social media marketing becoming the world’s largest form of marketing, this year more than ever, it's essential for businesses to keep a keen eye on emerging trends that are shaping the digital marketing terrain.

Here are some key trends we're focusing on in 2024:

Captivating content: long-form is back baby.

The debate between short-form and long-form content continues and the truth is, there’s no wrong answer. We are however seeing a rise in long-form content being favoured by brands.

While short snippets and trending audio have dominated platforms like Instagram and TikTok in the past, merely jumping on the latest trend won’t cut it in 2024. We're witnessing a shift towards more authentic, engaging content, including talking-to-the-camera, storytelling, and 'day-in-the-life' narratives.

But here's the catch: captivating storytelling isn't just about grabbing attention – it's about holding onto it. By crafting narratives that intrigue and captivate, brands can keep users engaged for longer, ensuring they delve deeper into the story.

In 2024, the winning strategy will be a blend of short and long-form content as user behaviour leans towards seeking entertainment and connection.

Charting new paths: cross-platform campaigns

Gone are the days of simply copying and pasting content across platforms. To make an impact in 2024, brands need to create content for multiple channels that all work together. We’re talking cross-platform campaigns tailored to the nuances of each platform. Each one serves as a guide, leading your audience to consume content differently by creating multiple touchpoints that spark awareness, interest, and conversations, brands will be more likely to be seen and remembered!

 Influencer marketing: the reverse effect

Influencer marketing is nothing new to social media, but the way consumers are responding to it is. Audiences are becoming increasingly selective about obvious product promotions.

In 2024 it’s all about showing why the product is desirable rather than saying it is. Leave the direct sales pitch to the ads. We’re seeing fewer product mentions and obvious tags, and more compelling stories evoking brand connection. Imagine an influencer talking to the camera applying lip gloss, but they talk about everything except the lip gloss. It’s likely the comments will come flooding in asking where the lip-gloss is from. While it’s not an entirely new concept, it is a subtle way to highlight a product and leave audiences intrigued rather than fatigued when it comes to buying.

This subtle, less intrusive approach is pumping up engagement and flipping algorithms on their head.

Navigating by the stars: keyword search + SEO

As the digital terrain shifts, almost half of Gen Z is using platforms like TikTok and Instagram for search over Google. To navigate these crazy times, optimising posts with relevant keywords is crucial. By harnessing the power of SEO, brands can ensure they're discovered.

As we journey into 2024, brands need to navigate the social media landscape with agility and foresight. It’s an ever-evolving world to continuously master.  BUT, if this all sounds a bit too much, jump on a call and chat with us – it’s kind of our bread and butter!