Every year, something new and exciting emerges in the social media space. In 2016, TikTok was introduced, but it wasn’t until a global pandemic hit that it became the social media platform of choice for Gen Z users. In 2019, BeReal launched as a more authentic version of Snapchat and Instagram, causing Instagram to fight back with its own carbon copy feature, Candid Stories. All these changes can be hard to keep up with, and it’s become even harder for marketers and brands to stay ahead.
At the end of 2022, we covered the top four social industry trends that emerged throughout the year. Now, as marketers begin planning for this year’s social media strategies, it’s time to look ahead and prepare for what will disrupt the social media and creator space in 2023.
AR technologies will increase in popularity
With augmented reality (AR) technologies, consumers can try on glasses, test out new lipstick shades, and see how an art piece will look on their living room wall from the comfort of their home, then purchase with a click of a button. According to a recent study, 60% of adults surveyed said they are more likely to buy a product if it is shown in AR. Heading into 2023, brands should embrace this metaverse technology, particularly in retail and shopping experiences.
Marketers will start piggy-backing off NFT buzz
An NFT is a digital asset that can be anything from artwork to music, to videos, and cannot be duplicated. Over the past few years, NFTs have begun disrupting the current marketing landscape and prompting brands to find innovative ways to incentivize their audience to engage. Many well-known brands, like Coca-Cola and Norwegian Cruise Line, have been using the buzz around NFTs to sell exclusive collections to a select group of consumers. And here at Brand Networks, we’ve recently added capabilities to our Creator Communities app for organizations to reward employee influencers in NFTs.
Innovation will appear in new formats to connect with audiences
In late 2022, many Instagram users were surprised and a bit confused by a new feature launched in the app: Instagram Notes. These notes appear in the messages tab and, just like stories, only remain up for 24 hours before they automatically disappear. Brands should consider using this space to announce time-sensitive offers and create buzz around new product launches.
The social audio app, Clubhouse, is another platform you may want to keep your eye on heading into 2023. Despite its infantdom, marketers have already recognized some powerful use cases for the app. Organizations can send their employee influencers into rooms that closely relate to their brand, create their own rooms for potential buyers, or use the app as a space for public announcements and press releases.
AI will augment content creation
Content writers have been using AI tools, such as Grammarly and Jasper, to improve the speed and quality of content creation for quite some time now. The concept of using AI to create better content for both brands and creators, from idea generation to content creation, to text optimization, is not new and has opened marketing departments to a whole new world of strategies and customer touchpoints.
It’s becoming clear for brands that if they don’t embrace new formats, platforms, or trends, they will quickly fall behind in 2023. Our team of software engineers, product developers, and data scientists are experts in keeping an eye on what is going on in the world, both today and tomorrow.
Let’s connect to talk more about how you can optimize your social media initiatives in the year ahead.
