Social Media Strategies Trending in 2013
Social media strategies are constantly changing, and we can expect to see some new ones grow in popularity in 2013.
Social media has brought about quite a few changes in the way companies conduct their business online. With the advent of social media strategies in business, brands have completely restructured their approach to online marketing. Below are a few of the rising trends in social media strategies that we can expect to see pick up steam in the new year.
1. Customer Surveys No Longer Anonymous or Confidential
More and more we are starting to see brands transitioning away from conventional customer service approaches and incorporating this facet of their business into their social media strategies. This shows two major changes: customer satisfaction is no longer measured at a fixed point in time and it is no longer a measurement that is hidden from public view. We have often stressed that engaging with your customers in real time, be it for positive or negative comments, can do wonders for your business, and several companies are starting to realize that. No longer will companies wait for a crisis to arise before addressing an issue en masse. Instead, issues can be dealt with in real time using social media, which the public can see and appreciate (be they customers or not).
2. Social Analytics Result in Higher Efficiency
Considering every word posted on social media is stored in a virtual database, it is no wonder that there are virtually endless insights to sift through and analyze. What does this mean? Companies can use these analytics to conduct business more efficiently. Self-reported demographics, sentiment analysis and precision monitoring of activity allow businesses to see exactly how they can modify both their social media strategies and conventional marketing strategies in order to generate the highest results at the lowest cost. Social media is no longer simply about driving traffic and revenue (although that it still a major part of it) but also about smarter business.
3. Expect More Competition
Corporate espionage has often been a shady grey area when it comes to moral business conduct. Well, whereas in the past it required undercover operatives infiltrating a company (pardon the melodramatics) social media has not only made corporate espionage easy, but free and legal. Studying a competitor has never been easier than with social media, and we can expect to see several businesses using it to their advantage. By studying a competitor’s data, client feedback and successful campaigns, brands can manipulate their offers and promotions to mimic or even best a competitor’s in order to poach business. While this may not be the most ethical way of building a social media program, the hurdle of morality has never stopped businesses from profiting in the past.
Can you think of any other trends we can expect to see pick up momentum in 2013? Do you plan on implementing any of these tactics in the coming year? Tell us in comments below or on Twitter!