The top 10 social media trends to watch in 2024

 Welcome to 2024! Are you ready to jump back in?

At the start of the year, I often have clients ask me, ‘Sam, what do I need to do with my social media management this year?’ or ‘What are the latest trends for social media?’.

And they’re great questions to ask.

As you’d know, social media trends tend to change quickly. And in the space of 1 year, there’s a lot that can change.

So, to help you stay current and relevant in 2024, I’d like to share my predictions of the social media trends that will feature heavily during this new year (and we’ll keep an eye on them as the year passes!).

My predictions for social media trends that will rule 2024

As a social media manager, part of my role is keeping up with all the latest trends in social media. As we’re starting 2024, I can predict, with some certainty, how social media will shape up this year.

Here are my top 10 predictions:

1.     You need video content

Over the past couple of years, video content has become the king of social media. And as my first prediction, video content will continue to dominate in 2024. I also believe that longer videos will make a comeback.

 Even if you’re shy about being on camera, it’s time to realise that almost everyone is doing it and to keep up, you’ll need to jump on the bandwagon at some point. Honestly, the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

 To find out how to create video content for your social media channels, pop over and read this blog, ‘Why video content is wildly popular on social media’.

 2.     Video captions will be essential

With more and more people watching videos with their sound off, video captions are now considered to be vital when you’re producing video content.

 People tend to scroll social media at work, when travelling, on the couch watching TV, etc., so they have their sound off so they don’t annoy others. But videos capture attention. If someone can watch your video without sound (and read what’s happening), they’re more likely to continue watching.

 3.     Engagement will be through DMs

Social media engagement is almost guaranteed to move away from feeds to DMs (which are quickly becoming the new social feed!). More people are choosing to share their updates with their inner circle within DMs rather than posting on a public forum.

 Using DMs is a great way to connect one-on-one with your audience and form a stronger connection. It’s become a common practice, particularly on Instagram and LinkedIn, that people won’t reply on feeds but react to stories or respond to DMs.

 If you’d like to learn more about DMs, you’ll enjoy this blog, ‘The power of the DM on LinkedIn’.

 4.     TikTok will continue to grow

It’s no secret that people love TikTok, and businesses have embraced it for creating, connecting and celebrating authenticity. According to TikTok’s newsroom, 2024 is going to ignite ‘Creative Bravery’, and brands that embrace this will perform exceptionally well.

 Brands are being encouraged to foster the curiosity and imagination of their audience by showing their vulnerability and courage. TikTok is encouraging brands to pique curiosity and flip traditional stories to deepen the trust with their audience.

 To find out what TikTok is predicting for 2024 and to learn more about Creative Bravery, read their blog, ‘TikTok – What’s next 2024 trend report’.

 5.     Social media will become the new search engine

Move over Google! Social media is quickly becoming the new search engine of the generation. When people are searching for genuine, user-generated content (more on this soon!), they’ve moved away from Google to search on social media.

 With social media almost being a must-have in our lives, users are relying heavily on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and Twitter to find what they need. Rather than trust a major (non-human) search engine, people tend to trust social media platforms due to the user-generated content, peer recommendations and influencers. 

 So, with these social media platforms having a treasure chest of content and nifty features, it’s no wonder why over 42% of people are now using these over a Google search.

 6.     User-generated content will increase

User-generated content (UGC) is that produced by your customers, followers and fans. It’s created when anyone shares their experience on social media, writes a review or shares a blog post about you.

 For example, if you sell a product and someone shares a photo using your product, posts a review, or tags you on their socials, that’s UGC.

 To boost your UGC in 2024:

• Create campaigns that encourage your audience to get involved (contests, giveaways etc.)

• Ask your customers to leave reviews or testimonials

• Host events or run webinars

The biggest trick to encouraging UGC is to be authentic and raw. Don’t control the content that is posted. And showcase stories (not just products) while you engage and interact with your audience.

 7.     SEO will play a big part

If you have a website, there’s no doubt that you understand the importance of SEO. The same goes with your social media channels – it’s called Social Media Search Engine Optimisation (SMSEO). With more people using social media to search, the trick is to optimise your socials.

 Here’s a few tips:

• Create visually captivating content (videos and images) that your audience resonates with and shares with their audience

• Create content that addresses search intent, is relevant to your audience and is as entertaining as it is educational

• Keep up with the social media algorithms, new features and trends to adapt your content to suit (or put it in the hands of a social media manager – wink wink!)

• Collaborate with influencers to reach a wider audience

• Use branded content and feature interactive campaigns

 8.     LinkedIn users will become more personable

Over the past couple of years, you may have noticed that LinkedIn seemed a bit ‘less stiff’, with people sharing personal anecdotes and selfies. Well, LinkedIn has hinted that they’ll be returning the platform to a more professional one, focusing on knowledge and advice.

 You’ll need to work on building your network and followers, then share valuable expertise on your unique topic. People will respond better to your content if they know you (online or in real life). And LinkedIn rewards those who share valuable content with ‘Top Voice’ badges.

 9.     Authenticity will be the key

I’ve always been a big believer in brands (and people) staying authentic on social media. And that’s because it's what people want! People connect with people – not faceless brands.

 Millennials and Gen Z, in particular, will spot fakes from a mile away. They much prefer to see genuine brands over flawlessly packaged, polished brands.

 Using influencer marketing is a great way to create authentic relationships online. But choose influencers who are also authentic and have an audience who’ll relate to you and your brand.

 10.  Micro-influencers will rise

Micro-influencers are people with smaller or niche followings (typically around 1K to 100K followers). As they’ve built an authentic following with brilliant engagement rates, brands are seeing them as a valuable asset.

 Micro-influencers tend to be more relatable and trustworthy to their audience.

 If you’ve got a niche product or service, look for a micro-influencer who will partner with you and promote your brand to their niche audience. Then, watch your social media boom in 2024.

Need a hand keeping up with social media trends in 2024?   

As I’ll be keeping a close eye on all my social media trend predictions for 2024, you can trust that I’m keeping on top of the latest trends.

I’d love to chat with you about how we can create and promote content your audience needs during 2024.

To find out how I help my clients with social media, you can see my services here or email me to connect.

If you have any questions, comments, or feedback to share with me, please feel free to pop them in the comments below.