Three Top Social Media Trends of 2022

2021 was a doozy of a year for social media, with Instagram reaching over 2 billion monthly users, TikTok reaching over 1 billion monthly users, plus the announcement of “Meta,” (previously known as Facebook).[i] It is clear that social media is anything but static. As we march into the new year, what is 2022 looking like on the social media frontier, and is your marketing plan ready for it?

Videos

Videos have made their mark in 2021 and will undoubtedly be even more influential in 2022. TikTok’s popularity is not stopping, and Instagram is hopping on the video bandwagon with their video overhaul this past October. While those audiences tend to be on the younger side, video will also be important on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Not only will video content continue to be the most sought-after content, but many companies are also going to start emphasizing video. According to the Hubspot Blog, 64% of companies will be leveraging short-form videos and 51% will be leveraging long-form videos in their social media marketing strategies for 2022.[ii]

Snackable Content

Snackable is the newest term to describe what we already know: bite-sized, enjoyable pieces of content that keep us coming back for more. Think easily digestible and perfect for on-the-go. This would be content like infographics, gifs, and short-form videos. With the sudden popularity of TikTok, most viewers are used to videos 15-seconds or shorter. Have you noticed every other platform following suit? Facebook has Stories, Instagram has Reels, and YouTube has Shorts. We need to embrace short-form videos and other snackable content because they are here to stay for 2022.

More User-Generated Content

This year will be all about the people, so make sure to focus on the social aspect of social media. According to SproutSocial, “User-generated content will continue to grow, taking a larger role in overall marketing strategy and campaign development. Audiences will become part of brand images and voice.”[iii] How often do you engage with your audience? Do they comment on your posts, or do they see you as an impersonal, faceless brand? Your audience also includes your employees. Some top-performing content can come from the friendly faces of the company, whether it is lunch together or some community outreach. Are they sharing company posts and driving engagement? Or do they have posts that the company can share? Keep in mind the best content might just come from your audience!