Social media trends change like *snap*. Which exactly why you need to stay updated to remain relevant. Here are some of our tips:
1. Follow Influencers in Your Space/Niche
Who sets the trends? Influencers themselves of course. Identify and follow the influencers in your industry, because even if they don’t start the trend, they will definitely participate in it. These can be bloggers, vloggers, industry experts, or even micro-influencers with a solid following. To keep up, the best way is to track them.
Regularly like, comment, and share their posts. Engaging with their content can foster relationships and can lead to collaborations that benefit your brand.
Even if you don’t wish to participate (but why would you not? lmao), you can learn from their strategies and apply similar tactics to your own brand.
2. Regularly Update on Trends in Your Niche
Use tools to stay updated on trending topics. Monitoring competitors can also provide insights into what’s happening in your industry. If you miss out on something from the influencers, chances are your competitors may have picked up on it.
Subscribe to industry newsletters, blogs, and forums. Being part of communities like LinkedIn groups or Reddit can also keep you updated with the latest trends.
Hannah Monds at Influential recently told us that they had a weekly meeting to report the ongoing trends in social media, and would reach out to brands to ask if they wanted to participate in the trend. If they said yes, they would produce content around that trend and publish it within the week.
3. Get Your Content Out Fast
Timing is crucial. Like we said, trends pass really quickly. Being too late with the trend is like dabbing in 2024… (enough said). Maintain an editorial calendar that allows some flexibility to add trending content quickly. Plan your posts but stay agile enough to incorporate new trends.
Speed is of the essence, you can use scheduling tools to plan and publish your content efficiently. Develop processes and designate team members to quickly create and approve content related to new trends. Quick and relevant content is better suited to engage your audience effectively.
4. Don’t Participate in Every Trend
Not every trend will align with your brand values and audience interests, so don’t give into the temptation of jumping on every new trend that pops up on TikTok. Be selective about the trends you engage with. Focus on those that resonate with your brand identity and voice to add real value.
The algorithms now seem to favor authenticity and so do audiences, participating in trends just for the sake of it can dilute your brand’s message and confuse your audience.
5. Use Social Media Monitoring Tools
There are many tools available to track your mentions, hashtags, and relevant keywords. One of them is Brandwatch. These tools provide insights into what’s trending and help you engage in conversations as they happen in real time. This way you won’t miss out on important trends, and you don’t need your intern to be watching TikTok every day to keep an eye out for the trends.
6. Keep an Eye on Your Competitors
Keep the influencers close, but your competitors closer. Monitor their social media activities to see what is working for them. We’re not telling you to copy them, but analyze their strategies and adapt successful elements to your own campaigns. This can inspire new content ideas and help you stay ahead in your niche.
7. Engage with Your Audience
More brands are engaging with their audience through the comment section.
Actively engaging with your audience by responding to comments allows you to understand your audience’s preferences and maintaining relevance around your brand. It also helps you to build a loyal community around your brand (engaged audiences are more likely to share content and advocate for your brand).
Additional Tips
- Leverage Data Analytics: Use analytics tools to track the performance of your social media campaigns and understand what type of content resonates most with your audience. This data-driven approach ensures you focus on trends that yield the best results.
Conclusion
Don’t fall behind. Not in the market, not in social media trends. Staying updated requires a proactive approach, but the rewards (engagement and brand loyalty) are worth the effort.
