2024 Social Media Trends: Small Businesses, Big Opportunities

As 2024 begins, the landscape is shifting, ripe with exciting trends brimming with potential for small businesses and social media managers alike. These are some of the biggest trends I think we'll see come up on social media in 2024 for small business owners and personal brands.

1. Long-Form Content Takes Center Stage: Attention spans are evolving, and platforms are taking notice. TikTok's 10-minute option paves the way for deeper dives, vlogs, and "a day in the life" stories. 2024 is the year to show your personality on your brand page. Let your audiences get to know you and feel that authentic connection!

You can easily embrace this trend! 

Repurpose blog posts into bite-sized threads on Twitter, craft captivating YouTube series showcasing your work, or host live Q&A sessions that offer genuine connection.

2. AI Integration: Friend or Foe? I have covered this in another blog post but the short take here is AI is your friend - but it is not your slave.

I think businesses and brands will begin to use AI more widely across social media but those who fall into the trap thinking AI will do everything for them without their input, will fail pretty quickly. Even now, it's super easy to tell what was written by generative AI and what had human input. By all means, use AI to help create content and map out strategies but it should never replace the human touch.

Let AI be your brush, not your canvas.

3. Nostalgia Core Warms Hearts: Gen Z is embracing the past, and brands should follow suit. Dust off vintage vibes, repurpose old marketing materials with a modern twist, and tap into the nostalgic goldmine. 

Share childhood memories, highlight your brand's heritage, or create content that sparks a sense of familiarity and comfort. Remember, nostalgia is a powerful emotional trigger, so use it wisely to forge deeper connections. Emotional marketing and storytelling on it's own will have a big moment in 2024.

4. SEO Takes Root on Social Media: Keywords aren't just for websites anymore. Optimise your social media profiles and captions for relevant searches, leverage trending hashtags strategically, and create content that answers user queries within platforms. 

Bonus points to make sure your image names and alt text is filled out correctly to describe the image. But don't keyword stuff!

Social media managers, this is your time to shine! Research trending topics, tailor your content to relevant keywords, and help your clients climb the social media search ladder.

5. Micro-Influencers Rise to Power: Forget celebrity endorsements; micro-influencers with engaged, niche audiences are where it's at. 

Think about how quickly you yourself tune out when you know you're being sold to. When someone comes across as disingenuous, you won't want to buy from them. The same thing is happening in influencer marketing. Audiences want authentic content from people who look like them.

Partner with influencers relevant to your brand and target market, leverage their authenticity to reach new audiences, and build genuine collaborations that resonate with your values.

6. Gated Content Entices: Offer exclusive content like early access to products, bonus tutorials, or behind-the-scenes glimpses in exchange for email signups or website visits. This incentivises engagement, builds email lists, and drives traffic to your other platforms. Remember, give them something valuable in return for their valuable information.

7. Live Commerce Explodes: Interactive product demonstrations, real-time Q&A sessions, and flash sales during live streams are captivating audiences and boosting sales. 

Embrace live commerce and dust off your sales hat! 

Showcase your products in action, answer customer questions live, and offer exclusive deals to loyal viewers. Make your live streams an event, not just a sales pitch.

8. Customer Stories Lead the Way: Let your customers be your superheroes! Encourage user-generated content, share customer testimonials, and feature real-life experiences with your brand. 

If you don't have a lot of customer reviews yet, or customers aren't tagging your business account, look at paying for user-generated content. This is a super affordable way to get an everyday person demonstrating your product or service and showing how it solves a problem.

This builds trust, authenticity, and social proof, attracting new customers and inspiring existing ones. Remember, happy customers are your best marketing team.

9. Social Media Takes a Stand: Consumers are more conscious than ever, and brands must reflect that. 

Advocate for your values, support social causes, and engage in meaningful conversations around pressing issues. This resonates with socially conscious audiences and builds loyalty on a deeper level.

Almost every day you can log on to social media and see a brand receiving backlash for something. A lot of the time, it's because the brand did or said something (to a customer, to a staff member etc) that went against their company message. The lesson isn't to be scared of backlash when you act on something, but it does well to think about how it will be perceived.

10. Community Cultivates Loyalty: Don't just broadcast, build communities! 

Create online spaces where your audience can connect, share experiences, and feel like part of something bigger. Host challenges, organize online chats, and foster a sense of belonging. Remember, engaged communities are the foundation of thriving social media presences.

Embrace the Future, Conquer the Digital Jungle:

As 2024 unfolds, stay curious, keep experimenting, and adapt your strategies like chameleons in a neon forest. Remember, the most successful social media presences are the ones that evolve with the times, connect on a human level, and offer genuine value to their audience. 

What trends have you spotted?