With 59% of the world’s population using social media and the average daily usage currently at 2 hours and 29 minutes (July 2022), there’s no doubt that social media is an asset to any entrepreneur. 4.70 billion people around the world now use social media, with 227 million of them joining in the last 12 months alone. In 2023, this number is set to grow, offering huge potential for creatives, entrepreneurs and business owners alike.
Beyond the numbers, there is also a huge demand for consumer connection, authenticity and multi-sensory content. After a challenging few years, reconnecting with our audience in 2023 is going to be even more important than it ever was. According to recent insights, consumers are also demanding more customer support and faster response times.
There’s no doubt that you are already using some social media platforms to build your brand but in order to stay relevant and continue to grow, it’s vital that you stay up to date with this ever-changing digital world.
To help you prepare for the year ahead, I have rounded up some of the most significant social media tips and trends for 2023.
Nano Influencers will have their time to shine
There’s a lot of focus on influencers right now, especially those with hundreds of thousands of followers. But what about those with smaller audiences? That’s where the term nano influencer comes in. A nano influencer is someone who tends to have between 1000 and 10,000 social media followers. As entrepreneurs, we can often get caught up on the number of followers we have which can leave us feeling defeated. Well, fear not because it looks like there’s a lot of potential for nano influencers in 2023.
Despite having a smaller audience, nano influencers tend to have a specific niche which in turn produces higher audience engagement rates. In fact, everyone is waking up to the significance of nano influencers with more than 90% of U.S. marketers saying they want to form partnerships with people who have between 5,000 and 100,000 followers. Many brands are now working with these smaller-scale influencers. If you have a smaller following on social media there is actually a lot of potential to make money online in 2023. Similarly, if you are looking to collaborate with influencers, you may find it more cost-effective to work with someone in your niche.
Bite-sized videos, Tik Toks, and lives
How often do you use videos and Tik Tok to promote yourself? Well, if the answer is “not a lot” then you might want to slip it into next year’s marketing plan. In 2021, Tik Tok was the most downloaded app with a whopping 656 million downloads. With the likes of Youtube shorts, Instagram stories, and Facebook lives, the short video trend is certainly growing.
Audiences do not have time to sit through long video footage and are more likely to disengage completely. If you are planning on utilizing these platforms for 2023, the trick is to keep it short and sweet. Focus on the message and find a fun way to convey it.
Augmented reality
Augmented reality (AR) is the process of overlaying audio and visual content on top of the real-world environment. Popular examples of this technology in action include the Pokemon Go app and various fashion and make-up apps, where you can see exactly what a particular product will look like on your face. Though it’s still a fairly new concept for consumers, it’s one that has caught on fast. Companies across the globe are already looking at how it can be used in their marketing campaigns.
According to recent data, by 2024 there will be an estimated 1.7 billion mobile AR user devices worldwide, an increase of 1.5 billion since 2015. As AR is still continuing to grow, there is huge potential for entrepreneurs to get creative and stand out from the crowd. Undertake some research and find out how it could fit into your brand.
With the global rise in the cost of living, it’s no surprise that more and more consumers are looking for affordable products and stress-free transactions. This has given birth to the idea of social media shopping. Much like influencer marketing a few years ago, social commerce is still finding its feet. In 2022, there was a particularly strong connection between shopping and socials. For example, in China, 49.5% of social media users have made a social purchase, compared to 44% in the US. In fact, social commerce in China is estimated to be responsible for around 14.3% of all eCommerce in 2023, compared to just 4.9% in the US.
If you are trying to sell products, you should seriously consider social commerce platforms like Instagram. Not only are you more likely to reach your target audience but you will also boost brand awareness and engagement.
Social media for customer service
According to Zandesk, 60% of their customers said that receiving a fast response was the most important part of customer service support. In fact, it is expected that social media will be the place to go to connect with customers, answer queries and resolve issues. While publicly dealing with customer inquiries may seem daunting, it has many advantages. If followers can scroll through questions and immediately see your reply, then it can actually limit the number of inquiries.
Clients who post feedback will also increase your visibility. Before you make the move, think about which platform will work best for your audience. Notifications will help increase your response times and improve your service.
In summary, there is no doubt that social media will continue to grow in 2023. So how are you going to use it to grow your business in 2023? Also, if you are looking at your Instagram and wondering, “how do I use this for my business” remember to check out my Instagram For Business Handbook.