snapchat

10 Social Media Trends To Pay Attention To

September 9, 2016 by Marc Guberti 2 Comments

Social media is always evolving and with each new social media trend comes new opportunities to learn and grow your business.

One of the few things that will remain constant in social media’s ever changing landscape is our desire to master new trends.

Social media has changed a lot. And with each new trend comes more opportunities to learn and grow your business. For example, when I created my Twitter account in 2011, Pinterest wasn’t as big a player.

Live streaming and SnapChat didn’t even exist.

Just to give you an idea of how much social media has changed, here’s a powerful video from Matt Banner that shows just that.

Social media will continue to change rapidly and, as it does, it’s better to get ahead of the game. These are current trends to watch:

#1: SnapChat’s Rise To Power

SnapChat is HOT right now. In 10 seconds or less, you can put a snap on your story. Within that snap, you can provide advice, entertain, or literally anything else that your audience will enjoy.

The cool part is that it only takes 10 seconds or less to record a snap.

But even cooler than that is the platform’s unique capabilities. Now you can take a picture of someone’s SnapChat ID and automatically follow that person.

SnapChat’s communication capabilities mesh texting, video chats and phone calls into one. And people can choose which form of communication they prefer at any given time.

For example, if you are in a public place and prefer to use the text feature, you can still see the person you’re texting via video. During a phone call, you can text links to websites in real-time without losing the connection or sending an email.

SnapChat is probably the most advanced social network right now and it’s giving all of the other social networks a run for their money. There’s really no other social network like SnapChat.

#2: Interaction On A Whole New Level

Interaction means more than responding to or sharing other people’s posts. That form of interaction will remain a constant, but other forms of interaction, such as those available on SnapChat, are gradually gaining popularity.

Similarly, the interacting capabilities of live streaming apps, for example, are increasingly leading us towards real-time, face-to-face interaction.

Maybe some day there will be a social network that turns us all into Martian Manhunters that can read each others’ minds. Indeed, big players in tech are developing emotional recognition technology. And we’ve also got Oculus on the loose.

#3: Live Streaming’s Continued Dominance

Live streaming is making interaction more fun and immediate. I especially like Blab, which allows the guest and audience to post in the chat section.

This way, people can add links directly within the chat section so everyone can click on it, rather than try to remember it.

Don’t expect live streaming to go away anytime soon. It may be tricky to get the hang of in the beginning, but you’ll get better with practice.

#4: Podcasting As The Underdog

With SnapChat, live streaming apps, and other social networks dominating the news, it’s easy to forget about podcasting.

The podcast is the cool kid who never gets invited to parties. Every year, podcasts are gaining in importance and attracting larger audiences.

Podcasting is simply audio. So people often choose YouTube because YouTube it is more popular and visual. But podcasting allows you to tap into the iTunes Podcasts and Stitcher audiences (among others) that you won’t reach with other forms of content.

Better yet, if you prefer YouTube over podcasting, why not convert your videos into MP3 files. It’s a very easy way to repurpose your content. Speaking of repurposing…

#5: Repurposed Pictures

In the past few years, virtually every social network want to be that place where you share your pictures.

And including an image in your tweet or Facebook post generates higher engagement. And Pinterest and Instagram actually require all of your posts to include an image.

More of these types of social networks will come into existence. As a result, content and images will continue getting repurposed. We’ve already seen this happening with blog posts. Tell me if any of these tips sound familiar:

Republish your blog post on LinkedIn Publisher.
Republish your blog post on Medium.
Try to republish your blog post on a guest blog.
Better yet, get your blog republished on a big media outlet like The Huffington Post.
Turn your blog into a video.
Make your blog into a book.
Turn your blog into a podcast.

Images are increasingly getting repurposed. How many times are images shared from Imgur? How many Instagram photos are being shared on Pinterest? Popular images are shared across multiple networks, often without attribution. And as more images become repurposed, there is a greater need for photo optimization tools.

Image-obsessed users are always chasing after the perfect shot and design elements.

#6: The Immortality Of Blog Posts

The only places you hear about blogs dying are on other people’s blogs. I find that funny.

Blogs will never die because they offer users a unique voice and home on the web, and everyone needs that presence on the crowded internet.

Think blogging is dead? Take a look at how many blog posts have been published today. I’ll wait.

#7: More Blog Posts About The New Social Networks

I feel this one is inevitable. There are enough blog posts about Facebook and Twitter to keep you, your children, your grandchildren, and your great grandchildren satisfied for the rest of your lives.

Surprisingly, there still aren’t as many blog posts about SnapChat and live streaming. I actually wrote a blog post about SnapChat recently. And people want more of that information.

People aren’t asking me for Twitter tutorials because many of those already exist (I have also done a lot of them).

SnapChat and live streaming apps will soon be as saturated in terms of content and products as Facebook and Twitter.

And because there are more content producers today, especially user-generated content creators, saturation will happen much faster on new platforms than it did for Facebook and Twitter.

#8: More Outsourcing

With new social networks coming out every year, it’s easier and easier to fall behind the trends. That’s why I have outsourced 95% of my Twitter work.

I continue to interact with my audience and make sure everything is running smoothly, but other than that, I do little else. I outsource the work needed to keep that platform active and content rich.

Naturally, you cannot outsource your own live streams, videos or personal interaction with your audience. But literally everything else offers the possibility of outsourcing.

And without outsourcing, it’s difficult to focus on new social networks and opportunities beyond social media.

Expect outsourcing of social media activities to grow.

#9: Increased Need For Diversification

Each social network competes for our time as well our attention.

YouTube wants to keep us on the platform for as long as possible because the more videos we view, the more money YouTube makes on video ads.

Facebook wants to keep us on their site for hours so they can make a big profit from their advertising network. Same thing with Twitter and other social networks.

“Most of the others.”

That phrase has evolved into hundreds if not thousands of different social networks competing for our time and attention. When we put them all under the social media umbrella, that’s a lot of time and attention commanded by social media alone.

People’s opinions will change. Some people are migrating away from Facebook. Others are migrating away from Twitter. Others won’t even give SnapChat a chance.

No matter what your audience’s preferences are, you always want to be present in their feed.

Increased diversification also increases the amount of times our content and pictures get seen and repurposed, as well as the need for outsourcing to keep up with it all.

Managing that many social networks on my own (in addition to everything else) is too stressful for me to even consider.

#10: Constant Changes In Response To Social Media Trends

Every time a new social network with revolutionary capabilities rolls out, the big players try to copy that social network before it becomes too big.

Remember Meerkat? That live streaming app was hot until Twitter slammed the door shut.

The feud between Meerkat and Twitter got ugly. Twitter cut off Meerkat’s ability to access its social graphs in the eve of Periscope’s launch.

Then Periscope became the big live streaming app. But soon after, Facebook launched Facebook live. YouTube also offers live streaming capabilities.

A while ago, Vine was the revolutionary social network everyone was talking about. The six second infinite loop got all of the hype imaginable.

Then Instagram came out with its 15 second infinite loop videos.

Facebook is currently working on a SnapChat-like app. Expect other social networks to follow.

I don’t like the trend of the big social media players trying to copy the new and emerging social networks. The only reason Facebook didn’t bother copying Instagram is because Facebook ended up buying Instagram.

But it is what it is. In the end, we get more and better choices, but still, copying a social network like SnapChat makes no sense to me. It makes more sense to keep innovating and offering users something new.

In Conclusion

Social media will continue to evolve. And as we continue on our quests to master social media, we will have to take action based on emerging trends.

Those who tap into those trends and take action early will enjoy the most success from new social networks.

What are your thoughts on social media trends? How do you keep up and decide where to spend your energy? See any social media trends on the horizon? Sound off in the comments section below.

5 Ways To Use SnapChat For Your Business

July 29, 2016 by Marc Guberti Leave a Comment

Thinking about using SnapChat for business?

With more than 100 million daily active users and 400 million snaps per day, Snapchat has come a long way. What began as a messaging app quickly became the most popular social network among teens and it’s now a powerful force for global companies trying to connect directly with customers on the platform.

More and more influencers are using Snapchat as well. John Lee Dumas shares daily tips and inspiration on Snapchat. Author Daymond John used Snapchat to invite fans to follow him on a recent book tour.

And brands are using Snapchat in creative ways, from teaser campaigns to product launches. Cosmetic company Nars used Snapchat to release a preview of its new collection – individuals had to add NARSissist as a friend on Snapchat to access the preview.

World Wildlife Fund’s Snapchat campaign #LastSelfie raised awareness about endangered species. Audi collaborated with The Onion to Snapchat the Super Bowl live. And GrubHub found a summer intern via Snapchat.

Here are five ways to use Snapchat for your business:

#1: Give Users a Behind-the-Scenes Look Into Your Company

The more people get to know the people behind your business, the more they will trust it. That’s one reason why people include personal information in their bios.

In my Twitter bio, for example, I let people know I’m a Red Sox fan, runner and dog lover. That way I make immediate connections with people who share my passion for the Red Sox, running and dogs.

Snapchat lets you take this information to the next level by providing more context. For example, I can share snaps of my dog or scenes from a Red Sox game.

I know this will sound crazy, but even the clothing you wear gives users a better idea of who you are as an individual. You may wear a suit or collared shirt in your YouTube video, for example, but when you’re using Snapchat throughout the day you will likely capture those moments when you’re still in your sweats or a t-shirt.

You can provide your audience with snaps of your company culture by sharing moments of a team-building exercise, people working on a product, funny moments at the coffee or Xerox machine, practical jokes, staff spotlights, your founder’s work habits, etc.

The result? You’ll connect with people on a personal level.

#2: Provide Daily Tips

I really like what John Lee Dumas is doing on SnapChat. He shares what he refers to as “JLD rants” in which he provides his followers with interesting insights.

The great thing about Snapchat is that its bite-sized format is easily digestible. Each snap can expand upon one tip or offer a new one. Or you can combine multiple snaps into stories throughout the day resulting in an ongoing video message.

It’s easier for you, and more useful to your audience, if each snap provides quick insights that can be understood in 10 seconds or less.

These short insights facilitate sharing, keep your audience interested and provide a new level of interaction. Users can also send you 10-second videos, text messages, and pictures via Snapchat.

#3: Host a Q&A

To encourage people to engage with your snaps, host the occasional Q&A. Simply post a story inviting your audience to pose questions. You’ll receive notifications containing pictures, texts, and 10-second videos of people asking questions.

You can choose answer questions directly (i.e. to the person who asked a particular question) or share several 10-second stories with all of your followers to introduce the person who asked the question, and provide your answer.

You can also use the platform to offer access to live events and for crowdsourcing ideas. Your fans will appreciate having a say in your business decisions and will be more motivated to participate. Ask users to come up with a new product name, for example, or provide feedback on a new campaign or promotional idea.

#4: Inspire Your Followers

No matter what your niche, users are always looking for inspiration, so make a point of doing something every day to inspire your followers.

It can be something as small as reading one of your favorite motivational quotes. Or it can be as big as creating an ongoing story about your brand, a new product or service, or asking people to share their own experiences with your brand.

You can also offer promo codes or discounts to the fans who watch your entire Snapchat story, or ask them to take a snap while holding your product.

People crave inspiration and something to believe in, and there is always a way to deliver. Tune-in to the daily lives of your followers and try to be there when they need a dose of inspiration.

#5: Communicate With Other Snappers In Your Niche

Right now, top people and brands in your niche are engaging with their followers on Snapchat, even though they may have millions of fans spread across multiple social networks.

It’s actually easier to engage with your followers on Snapchat than Twitter. Why? It’s easier to connect with your followers on Snapchat because they are likely interested in your brand and will respond to your messages.

Many individuals and brands with millions of Twitter followers are trying to grow their Snapchat following to the first few thousand. Interactions on Snapchat help you target your most valuable ambassadors and build stronger relationships.

The 10-second or fewer formats make people more likely to engage with your snap while already on the platform; people are willing to spend a few seconds engaging with your content. And it is also more likely that you will catch the attention of an influencer.

There is a marketing rule that says it takes between 7-13 touch points to make a sale. A qualified lead is more likely to convert if he or she is exposed to your content 7-13 times.

Here’s how that applies to SnapChat: if you engage with influencers 7-13 times on Snapchat, you’ll build key relationships as they get to know you.

Continue interacting with influencers after the 13th touch point, but never make direct requests to share your content, Indeed, take the focus off how you can convince influencers to share your content and focus instead on how you can make yourself or your company interesting enough to get to know on a personal level.

If you view relationship building as a way to make new friends instead of simply trying to gain exposure to bigger audiences, you’ll master relationship marketing. And you might even find yourself in front of bigger audiences in the long run.

To build relationships on Snapchat for business, think of connecting with influencers as ways to build partnerships. Partnering with influencers will let you spread awareness and reach a demographic that is hard to access via traditional media.

Tip: only recommend one piece of your own content, and only if you truly believe it will benefit the influencer.

In Conclusion

As Snapchat continues to gain momentum, it will become just as saturated with advertisers as Facebook and Twitter. Now is the time to get on board.

It’s exciting to think about what Snapchat will look like a year from now. The rule with any social network is that the best time to strike is when the network is new and growing. So don’t waste time!

So if you’re focused only on sending out tweets and optimizing your Facebook ads, you may be missing out on an even bigger opportunity.

Also check out: 10 of the Best Brands on Snapchat Right Now (And Why They’re So Great).

What are your thoughts about using Snapchat for business? Have any tips for growing Snapchat followers? How do you engage with your fans and influencers? Sound off in the comments section below.