As we wrap up another year, social media platforms have gathered together their analytics to shed some light on our collective interests. Check out this platform-specific data to inform your 2022 social media strategy!

Insights from Instagram 2020

The 2022 Instagram Trend Report focuses on how Gen-Z users are influencing the platform. Though this might not include your specific audience, the introduction of Instagram Reels and the rise of younger influencers have changed how many people experience the platform.

• Influencers: Almost 50% of young people view relatable people with small, loyal followings as critical for setting trends. 80% of them agree that online influencers are more impactful than mainstream celebrities.
• Shopping: The majority of young people keep up with shopping interests on Instagram. 27% of young adults and teens expect to shop directly within the app.
• Holistic wellness: Instagram users are looking beyond just physical wellbeing. Alongside the popularity of at-home workouts, mental health exercises, creative outlets, and eco-friendly homes are trending wellness topics on Instagram.
• Humor: Memes continue to dominate the social scene, with the best performers combining irony and sincerity. Absurdist humor is expected to continue to trend in 2022, with memes about cryptocurrency, astrology, and stocks being popular topics.
• Responsibility: Instagram has risen as a hub for education on social justice issues and sustainability. 28% of young people will follow social justice accounts while 37% expect to donate money to social causes.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

While a lot of these trends may feel like they don’t apply to your business, there are some common threads you can use to your advantage.

• Shopping decisions are made online. Showcase your product through video, reviews from customers, influencer collaborations, and public relations work. Trusted first-hand accounts and authentic, less “produced” videos help people understand your product before they buy.
• Educate through social media. People look to social media for information on sustainability, social responsibility, and what small businesses are bringing to the table. Don’t be afraid to highlight your processes, ingredients, and where you differ from competitors. As users look to become more intentional about purchases, the more information you share, the better.
• Authenticity is key. A lesson learned throughout this year is about authenticity. As Instagram embraces video and Reels, don’t be afraid to show realistic content. The most persuasive way to win over your audience is to let your personality shine!

There’s more information in the full report if you want to dive into specific trends and data for fashion, video games, music, and more!

What’s Trending on Twitter 2022

Twitter’s year-end wrapup highlights the top Tweets of the year and the trends we saw in 2021. The trends prove that Twitter demands a different approach than other social media platforms. With an emphasis on news and daily trends, the best performing Tweets were those that quickly responded to real-life events.

• The news of the day: 2021’s most liked Tweets all featured the events of the day. The inauguration of a new president, the most popular k-pop artist BTS, and the infamous moment when Facebook’s suite of apps went down.
• Wide-ranging events: Other top-performing content on Twitter included themes like popular TV shows, sports matchups, and award-winning music.
• Retweeting as a resource: Some of the most retweeted posts included social justice content. Throughout the last two years, using threads to compile resources for easy sharing lets people educate themselves, donate to causes, and stay up-to-date on current events.
• Brand Tweets: The best Tweets from brands in 2021 were successful for a variety of reasons. Ford’s electric truck struck a chord with an audience interested in sustainability, a message from Blue’s Clues’ Steve hit us with nostalgia, and a sandwich cookie surprised astrologists with the absurd idea of “Oreoscopes”.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses in 2022?

Branded content and personal content share an interesting space on Twitter. So what lessons should you gather from both sides?

• Twitter is a responsive medium. If you’re looking to enhance your Twitter audience, being timely is key. Respond to local news, share your take on the latest text meme, and reply if someone mentions you.
• Find an approach that works for you. Branded content that performed well includes giveaways, absurd humor, product launches, and feel-good content. Consider what aligns best with your brand’s personality, audience, and product.

Find Your Own Trends on Facebook’s Creator Studio!

As reported by social media connoisseur Matt Navarra, Facebook’s Creator Hub has a new feature to drive discoveries daily! After navigating to your Creator Hub, check out the new Inspiration panel on the right side. At a glance, you’ll see a few popular Facebook posts and hashtags to inspire you. After clicking “See More”, you can sort trending posts by time period, content type, and more.

This resource is a great way to hear about the next #IceBucketChallenge before it blows over. By staying on top of trending topics, you can adjust your strategy to increase your engagement on Facebook. And since you have the option to sort by a specific page, you can easily check in our your competitor’s top-performing posts every month.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

This is another great resource from Facebook to understand what audiences respond to. While it displays some top performers that aren’t ideal for brands, the filter feature is great for looking at engaging images and text posts or getting a better look at competitor’s content. Try this one out and see how you can use this inspiration in your next social media posts!

Ok, now what?

As we’ve seen, social media works best when you’re providing high-quality content your viewers will enjoy. Liquid Creative is here to help business owners with all their marketing needs, including managing your social media! We can also help you turn those views into sales with a beautiful website, produce ultra-engaging video content, or brand your business from the ground up.

We’re a full-service marketing agency ready to craft the perfect solution for your business goals. Our talented team can pick up your marketing strategy without missing a beat, help you out with a one-off project, or get your business on the digital map. Call, email, or leave us a message to let us know how we can help you!

“Google Business Profiles” Combine The Best of Ads and Maps

Your business’s presence on Google has gone through quite a few name changes over the years. The latest one changes “Google My Business” to “Google Business Profiles”. This name change comes in an effort to simplify the business side of Google’s many platforms. By switching to Business Profiles, it seems the company is looking to encourage users to combine their Google Ads and Google Maps presence.

This change is one of a number of tweaks that are making it easier to connect with an audience right from Google. After claiming and verifying your business with Google, your customers will be able to contact you directly from search results. Brick-and-mortar businesses can let local shoppers know what’s in stock at their location before their visit. For all local businesses, Local campaigns provide a streamlined option for advertising across Google’s services.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

Maintaining your business on Google makes it easy for people to find you with a simple search. The latest updates are rolling all your business needs into one neat little package. Make sure to verify and claim your business if you haven’t already. You can share posts related to your business, show the local audience your stock, and experiment with Local campaigns to make the most of these changes!

What Is Facebook’s Meta-verse?

You may have heard that Facebook recently changed its name to Meta. The internet was quick to share reactions about this VR-driven vision for Facebook’s future, both good and bad. But for those that kept scrolling, here’s a quick recap of what’s changing for Facebook.

Facebook has been diving into the world of virtual reality more and more recently. Their VR hardware, Oculus, has allowed many creators to bring virtual experiences to life. Establishing themselves as champions of a meta-verse is similar. Many different virtual reality experiences will exist, created by a variety of companies. But users will use Meta’s platform to connect and access VR rooms, games, and more.

So what will the meta-verse looks like? The company’s previous project, Horizon Workrooms gives a realistic look at what’s possible today. Facebook Connect 2021 shows a much more immersive experience that we may achieve in the future. Right now, the Meta-verse is still in the works. In the future, this technology may be commonplace enough that local businesses can take part. For now, we’ll continue to rely on Meta’s more established platforms for engaging with our audiences.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

The meta-verse might not be open for business yet, but this shift in direction does give us some new insights into Facebook’s future. First off, this bold move is made possible by Facebook’s audience and range of products. With so many users already using Facebook for shopping, chatting, and sharing their business, adding new technologies onto the list isn’t so difficult to imagine. Second, Meta is continuously looking for new ways to make your account more useful and interconnected. With features like Facebook Neighborhoods, Portal, Shops, and many more, it seems like the company wants to be a one-stop shop for everything digital. If their current trajectory continues, Meta’s platforms will be relevant and irreplaceable for the foreseeable future.

 

Photo by Instagram

New Ways to Post on Instagram

Instagram’s newest updates make it easier for you to post on the app and link to outside sources. Business owners and marketing professionals have asking for it for years and Instagram has finally added desktop publishing for photos and videos under 1 minute. This means a lot less emailing and AirDroping graphics before posting. In another long-awaited change, Link stickers in Stories are now available to everyone, regardless of follower count. We encourage everyone to use this to spend less time changing the link in your bio. Just end your post captions with “link in story” for a linking solution that lasts 24 hours.

Speaking of Stories, a new sticker called “Add Yours” lets you encourage accounts to reply for a collaborative Story experience. Watch out for these prompts and try engaging when relevant to get new eyes on your account. For more about engaging your audience with Stories, check out Instagram’s latest tips. The core of successful Story posts is authenticity, easy ways to engage, and high-quality content.

What does this mean for Florida Businesses?

Maintaining your business on Google makes it easy for people to find you with a simple search. The latest updates are rolling all your business needs into one neat little package. Make sure to verify and claim your business if you haven’t already. You can share posts related to your business, show the local audience your stock, and experiment with Local campaigns to make the most of these changes!

 

Ok, now what?

Social media works best when you’re providing high-quality content your viewers will enjoy. Liquid Creative is here to help business owners with all their marketing needs, including managing your social media! We can also help you turn those views into sales with a beautiful website, produce ultra-engaging video content, or brand your business from the ground up.

We’re a full-service marketing agency ready to craft the perfect solution for your business goals. Our talented team can pick up your marketing strategy without missing a beat, help you out with a one-off project, or get your business on the digital map. Call, email, or leave us a message to let us know how we can help you!

Digital marketing includes every part of your brand’s presence online. That means social media, Google ads, your website, email campaigns, and more! Every one of these helps establish your reputation and influences how someone perceives your business. Whether you’re just dipping your toes in or diving in headfirst, we’ve got some insights on why you should care about digital marketing and how you can make the most of it.

Check out 5 Digital Marketing Myths We’re Ready to Leave Behind.

 

Digital Marketing Can Get You Ahead of the Competition

Every business deals with competitors in their space. To win over customers, you have to effectively communicate why you’re the best option for them. The digital space gives you plenty of opportunities to do so. You can post regularly on social media to show off your brand personality, email out useful resources to establish credibility, or get yourself on someone’s radar with a digital ad.

Finding the right digital marketing tactics – or specific executions like a Facebook ad or an email campaign – can get you closer to your business goals. Reaching someone online is a lot more affordable and trackable than traditional media. (Learn just how much a click costs here!) With digital marketing, you can get eyes on your brand with any budget! When buying ads isn’t an option, you can turn to your business’s social media channels, local Search Engine Optimization, and more without spending a cent.

In summary, digital marketing is a must for small businesses and large companies alike. It can make potential customers aware of your business, amplify the reach of word-of-mouth accounts, and show that you’re a legitimate, personality-filled local business.

 

Why is digital marketing important for businesses?

When someone hears about your business or needs your services, the first thing they’re going to do is search online. What are they going to find? An abandoned Facebook page or beautifully managed social media? Your Google My Business presence or your competitor’s keyword-filled website? Investing in digital marketing means being present where people are searching for your services, informing them about your products and services, and showing a consistent, trustworthy brand on every touchpoint.

Digital marketing is most powerful when you create a strategy based on your business goals. Here are some examples of how your business goals can shape your digital marketing

• Brand awareness: Put a small ad spend behind your organic social posts. Target your local area and the demographics most likely to need your services.
• Build credibility: Post blogs or offer free resources related to your industry. Provide helpful information on your website to show you know what you’re talking about.
• Find new customers: Run digital ads on Facebook, Google, and other social media to have your business promoted to people who may not have heard of you.
• Establish a brand personality: Use organic social media (your business’s own profiles) to show what makes your business unique.
• Generate high-quality leads: Create a contact form on your website that you can link to throughout your site and in all your digital advertising.
• Create life-long customers: Encourage customers to learn more about your business, follow along, and share your content with high-quality content that showcases your business.
• Capitalize on word-of-mouth: Post your best reviews on social media or feature them on your website’s home page.
• Hire new talent: Talk about your company culture in social media posts, add a careers page, and even list available positions on Facebook.
• Reach a new audience: Define an audience you’re missing out on, then craft an ad that speaks to them. With target audiences on digital ads, you can make sure only certain people see your ad.

No matter the size of your organization, you have a variety of digital marketing tools that can improve your business’s position in the marketplace.

 

Quick Digital Marketing Tips

Digital marketing might seem a little daunting at first but it’s really as simple as sharing your products, services, and knowledge in places where people can find it. These quick tips will help you get started!

1. Start by establishing a strong presence on social media. Just by existing on Facebook and other platforms, you can reach customers that search for your name, add a place for people to leave reviews, and list helpful information like contact information and business hours.
2. Consistency is key! Make sure your logo, colors, and personality are present wherever you are online. Every touchpoint adds to the viewer’s perception of your brand, so you want to make sure you’re hitting the mark with every message.
3. Know your goals before you start making content. Your marketing goals should align with how you’d like to grow your business. With strategic and focused digital marketing, you’re likely to make strides towards your goals.
4. Remember just how many people browse on mobile devices! Your website should be mobile-friendly and you can capitalize on people browsing on their phones with executions like click-to-call ads.
5. Contribute to your community. You can find Facebook groups that promote local businesses, interact with other businesses online, and engage with your customers’ content. Doing so can get eyes on your brand – often for free!
6. Repurpose your content. You can pull copy from your website to post on social media, share your blog posts to Pinterest, and grab Facebook reviews to share on your website. Most content fits more than one place online, so share it everywhere it makes sense!
7. Make a content calendar to keep yourself organized. A content calendar can help you work towards your goals without posting the same content every week, keep you from missing fun dates, and let you knock out a month of social media in one sitting.

Keep these best practices in mind as you navigate the ever-changing online marketing landscape.

 

We can help your business with digital marketing!

Digital marketing is always evolving. Nowadays, high-quality social media content, information-filled websites, and engaging social media videos are key. The team at Liquid Creative can help you with all three – and anything else you could need! We act as an extension of your own team, bringing strategic insights, digital marketing expertise, and professional content to businesses of any size. Contact us today to learn more about how our digital marketing services can help you!

We scroll through Facebook. We scroll through Instagram. When those are down, we scroll through Twitter. Our thumbs want to swipe up whether it’s because of short attention spans, FOMO, or something else entirely. With people consuming so much content every day – for better or for worse – how do you get them interested enough to interact with yours?

In the digital world, you have fractions of a second to reach your audience before they keep scrolling. These tips can help you create engaging content, lower the cost-per-click of your digital ads, and make the most of your social media following.

 

Offer Real Resources

After seeing and hearing advertising all around us, many of us develop a subconscious ‘screening’ that blocks out advertising messages. One way to overcome this hurdle is by offering something to your audience: inspiration, information, or resources. Some businesses are scared of ‘giving away their secrets’ online, but sharing a piece of your knowledge often proves your worth while intriguing your audience!

Ideas To Get You Started

• Create blogs about topics your audience is interested in
• Answer frequently asked questions on your social media
• Experiment with a small digital ad spend promoting your existing blogs or resources
• Create a PDF resource or tool that requires the viewer to fill out their contact information

 

Know Your Audience

Your messages will resonate the most when they’re targeted at just the right audience. If you haven’t identified your target audience yet, start by evaluating your customer base or social media following to see who’s interested in your business. Knowing you’re speaking to that audience, brainstorm the messaging they’d respond to. What are their paint points? Why would they need your services? What do they interact with online? With the hyper-specific audience targeting available with digital advertising platforms, you can craft specific messages made just for your niche – or even run simultaneous messages to different audiences.

Ideas To Get You Started

• Identify different sub-groups within your customer base (organized by interests, age, gender, etc.)
• Run a digital ad campaign focused on the biggest pain point caused by your competitors or the problem your business solves
• Create content starring someone who looks like your target audience (feature your customers, use carefully chosen stock photos, or step into the spotlight yourself)
• Craft a relatable headline that reflects your audience’s daily life

 

Jump On The Latest Trends

Yes, it’s okay to jump on the bandwagon. When people see a new take on something they recognize, they’re more likely to take their time to see what you have to say. Make sure to be clear about the trend you’re following to capture attention fast. Then use that attention to tie in a message about your brand. Using trends often helps social media post performance and might even get you promoted to accounts similar to your current followers.

Ideas To Get Your Started

• Post your (tasteful) take on the latest meme, focusing on your industry or offerings
• Take inspiration from businesses you see on your Instagram explore tab, Pinterest, and more; most of these posts are there because they’re performed well
• Think about how you can relate a news event, TV show, or other phenomenon to your business, then turn it into a blog post

 

Make A Joke

Humor is a great way to grab someone’s attention. The effort to incorporate humor goes a long way here – even if your jokes don’t land, you’ve still bought yourself a few moments of the reader’s time. And if your humor does hit the mark, your content is much more likely to be remembered, liked, and shared.

Ideas To Get Your Started

• Post a joke setup where the user needs to interact or read on for the punchline
• Talk about your selling points in a specific, lighthearted examples; instead of saying “we save you time”, say “we give you more time for meetings that could’ve been emails”
• Poke fun at your own business, your industry, or common client pain points

 

Catch Them With A Hook

You want all your copy to be snappy and attention-grabbing, but that’s especially true on the front end of your content. Whether it’s an email subject line, a Google search headline, or bold text on a social media graphic, whatever comes first is what’s most likely to be read. If you can grab their attention there, you can get them to keep reading. Give them a cliffhanger, a helpful insight, or an intriguing statistic to capture their interest.

Ideas To Get Your Started

• Start with a common question; if they’ve thought about it before, they’ll want to read on
• Feature the benefits first, then explain how your product/services offers that benefit
• Break up longer copy with subheadings, bullet points, graphics, and more to encourage reading
• Use numbers and adjectives to capture your content, such as “8 surprising benefits to hiring a digital agency”

 

Quality Rules Everything

In general, the secret of getting someone to stop scrolling comes down to the quality of your content. Well-written copy, eye-catching graphics, and strategic campaigns will get you the most engagement and clicks every time.

 

Need some help stopping the scroll? Liquid Creative helps small businesses manage their social media, run effective digital advertising campaigns, and more! We can help you enhance your presence both online and off, with strategic ways to reach your business objectives. Our team crafts solutions for any business goal. Call, email, or leave us a message to see what we can do for you!