In an ever-changing world where technology continues to advance, social media have become an essential part of the lives of millions of people around the globe. So it’s vital to ask questions about their future and their impact on business.
As a communications and branding agency specializing in social media, these platforms obviously have a major impact on our daily lives.
So here are a few predictions on the future of social media according to BDK Agence and their impact on the business world:
1. The rise of augmented and virtual reality
Social media is about to revolutionize the way we interact with our environment. Augmented and virtual reality enable users to interact with products and services in a more immersive and engaging way; indeed, brands can use these technologies to offer a more personalized experience to their customers by creating customizable virtual environments where users become the hero of their environment and can interact with products before purchasing them.
According to a GlobalWebIndex survey, 40% of smartphone users have already tried out augmented reality applications, a number that we expect to increase in the years ahead.
2. The growing importance of social commerce
Social commerce is already revolutionizing the e-commerce industry. Consumers are already making purchases directly from their social media accounts, and most B2B brands are currently using these touchpoints as organic and advertising conversion opportunities.
Did you know that, according to Statista, 30% of TikTok users have already made a purchase on the app?
It’s hard to find anyone among us who hasn’t made a purchase on TikTok. This social platform, known for its short, engaging videos, has dramatically evolved social e-commerce. With features such as integrated shopping links, targeted advertising and influencer partnerships, TikTok now offers a seamless and convenient shopping experience for its users. More and more brands and small businesses are using TikTok as a way to promote and sell their products, taking advantage of the platform’s popularity with a young, engaged community.
According to a 2021 study by Piper Sandler, Generation Z will spend an average of around 20% of their budget on e-commerce sites. According to another study by BigCommerce, nearly 67% of this same generation prefer to shop online rather than in person.
3. Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is already changing the way we interact with social media. Chatbots are already revolutionizing customer service, and brands can also use artificial intelligence to analyze data and improve their branding initiatives.
Some examples of the customer experience revolution:
- 24/7 availability: Chatbots enable brands to provide 24/7 customer support, without the need for real-time human intervention. Users can ask questions, get answers and solve problems at any time, dramatically improving the accessibility of customer service.
- Instant answers: Chatbots can provide instant, accurate answers to common customer queries. Because of their ability to efficiently manage large amounts of data and access knowledge bases, they can resolve queries quickly and efficiently, enhancing the customer experience.
- Automating repetitive tasks: AI assistants can handle repetitive, routine tasks, such as booking appointments, tracking orders, transmitting general information and so on. This enables customer service representatives to concentrate on more complex, higher value-added tasks.
- Personalizing the customer experience: Various artificial intelligence tools can collect and analyze customer data to deliver a personalized experience. By understanding individual preferences and needs, chatbots can recommend products, provide targeted information and offer more tailored customer service.
4. The importance of authenticity
And the last and most important prediction: Authenticity above all! Consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of authenticity in the brands they choose. Brands that have a community and know how to maintain authentic relationships with it will have a major competitive advantage in the years to come.
Social media are already having a significant impact on the way brands communicate with their communities, a trend that will only become more pronounced. Brands will need to be even more responsive on social media to ensure they offer an authentic and relevant experience to their community. As you already know, social media has become the preferred communication channel for the majority of growing brands in 2024.
Why should social media become a preferred organic communication channel for businesses??
- Increased engagement: Social media offers brands a unique opportunity to directly engage their potential customers. An engaged community can be converted into a mobilized community of buyers, and even ambassadors. Maintaining your social platforms is just as important as creating publications. Through comments, mentions, private messages and online discussions, brands can interact in a personalized way with their target communities, understanding their needs, answering their questions, solving their problems and gathering their feedback. This proximity fosters loyalty and strengthens the customer experience and your community’s bond with your brand.
- Targeted content: Social media enables brands to deliver targeted content to their target communities or customers via organic or paid initiatives. Algorithms on platforms such as Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn enable publications to be delivered to a specific community based on demographic, interest or behavioral criteria. This makes it easier for brands to reach their target community and tailor their messages to the specific needs and preferences of each customer segment.
- Improved customer service: Social media offers brands a fast, accessible way of providing customer service. Customers can contact brands via private messages or public comments to ask questions, report problems or request help. This allows brands to respond quickly and resolve issues transparently, demonstrating their commitment to customer satisfaction.
- Trend tracking and analysis: Social media provides valuable insight into emerging trends and the preferences of potential consumers. brands can stay abreast of online conversations, analyze comments and brand mentions to gain insights into the needs and expectations of their target customers. This information can be used to adapt products, services and communication strategies in real time, enabling brands to remain competitive in the marketplace. BDK has compiled a list of important metrics to analyze for social media in order to fine tune your online strategies.
Social media is constantly evolving, so it’s essential for brands to keep abreast of the latest trends and features to optimize their communication with customers. In short, social media are set to play an increasingly important role in everyone’s life, especially in the business world.
Brands will need to adapt to these changes if they are to continue to make full use of these platforms and reach their target communities, and BDK can help you.
**Please note that these predictions are based on current trends and assumptions.