5 Social Media Marketing Trends to Look Forward to in 2019

Social Media Marketing is such an important aspect of your business strategy. It allows for a vast demographic to be reached. With evolving trends, it’s vital to be conscious of what’s to come in the new year. In today’s newsfeed, we have literally a matter of seconds to grab the audience’s attention. Below are five trends that I see taking place in social media marketing in 2019.

1. Augmented Reality
So what is Augmented Reality(AR)? Augmented reality is defined as the integration of digital information with the user’s environment in real time. Unlike virtual reality, which creates a totally artificial environment, augmented reality uses the existing environment and overlays new information on top of it. An example of augmented reality is the geo-filters on Snapchat or Facebook. In 2019, you can expect improvements as well as additional features that will become more prevalent on other platforms.

2. IGTV (Instagram TV)
IGTV is the newest feature that Instagram has come out with. It is designed for watching long-form vertical videos from your favorite Instagram personalities. Unlike the traditional Instagram app, the IGTV feature allows content up to 60 minutes in length. According to Instagram, teens are watching 40 percent less TV than they used to but are increasingly watching video on their phones. If you’re looking for a way to expand your social media marketing strategy you should definitely tap into IGTV.

3. Live Streaming
Live streaming takes video channels are going to elevate social media marketing in 2019. Social media marketing managers can live stream what they are doing to give potential customers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at what’s going on around the office and how products are being made.

4. Messenger Apps and Chatbots
Messenger apps offer customers another channel to reach out to establishments and vice versa. Messengers apps allow for increased engagement throughout the customer’s journey. Thankfully, chatbots offer a great way to use these platforms’ messaging features to your advantage. You can customize your brand voice and send personalized content directly to users based on their prompts. Chatbots help you deliver more customized content at the exact right time

5. Stories
We’re all familiar with Facebook and Instagram stories being able to provide valuable content that is short-lived. Stories have become a popular way for users to consistently update their profiles, keep followers engaged, and even increase followers. The best thing about stories from a social media marketing stance is the fact that you don’t need to invest a ton in videos to utilize it. You can share pictures or behind-the-scenes videos that give your audience a glimpse of your values and culture without spending a dime. And you can do so as frequently as you want without overwhelming your followers with half a dozen posts in a day.

10 Social Media Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes that could hinder your social media potential from flourishing:
1) Dismissing Social Media Marketing as an ineffective tool.

Believing that social media is only dedicated to teens or tech savvy is a common misconception. Social media has infiltrated all layers of society and customers young and old are using it. Remember social media is a great way to reach a broader demographic and allows you to build brand recognition among the masses.
2) Not Having a Social Media Marketing Plan
Without having a proper plan of action Social Media Marketing can be a waste of time and energy. Have goals, budgets, and a plan of action that outline what you are trying to accomplish. Most companies fall into the trap of posting sporadically, sharing content here and there and think that will create a strong following. Be deliberate in your post.
3) Measuring the Wrong KPIs
It’s very important to measure key performance indicators (KPIs) when using social media for marketing. KPI’s measure the followers, impressions, and growth. Remember that social media marketing KPIs should measure your impact and influence on social media, not your total number of followers.
4) Treating All Social Media Platforms the Same
Every social media platform has its own customs, language, audience, and content. Be mindful of the differences between the social media platforms so that your efforts are effective. It is important to learn how each platform works and how people communicate on them.
5) Failing to Engage in Conversations
If no one cares, shares, or responds to your post than your social media updates are considered useless. Your content should be designed to invoke conversation with your audience. If you are noticing that you do not get these reactions, revisit your social media marketing strategy. Whether positive or negative, every comment from a customer is an opportunity to communicate and make an impression of your brand.
6) Connecting as Opposed to Networking
Have followers that represent your ideal customers. One of your purposes for being on social media is to attract and engage prospects, peers or professionals who share similar views, and followers who will aide in the success of your marketing efforts. Make your interactions meaningful! Treat the relationships that you create on social media the way as your in-person ones. This will add value to the relationship you create with your followers.
7) Making it All About You
To succeed in social media, you have to speak the language of the audience without seeming self-centered. The content that you post should be high quality and of interest. Make your post about your followers or something that they can closely relate to.
8) Relying too Much on Automation
Relying too much on automatic posting to your social media is one of the most common mistakes that companies make. It’s important to remember that people use social media to interact with others. People can tell when post are automated and that can come off as impersonal which could lead to them distancing themselves from your brand. Your social media presence needs to have a personal touch that elicits inspiration and thought.
9) Having too Many Accounts to Manage
Jumping on every social media platform and setting up an account and trying to manage them all is a common mistake for many businesses. Focus your resources and energy on the “Big Three”: Facebook. Twitter, and Instagram. Your presence on social media is to produce results, so don’t try to stretch yourself too thin trying to be present among all the channels.
10) Not Having a Social Media Policy
It is dangerous not having a company-wide social media policy. No matter who manages your social media accounts, adopt a policy outlining what is and is not acceptable. Make sure that all your employees know the policy and adhere to it. If not it can cause unexpected public embarrassment or backlash.

Social Media Content Calendar

Safe2Save Social Media Content Calendar 10/08 – 10/14

Target Market: 1st Time College Students, The Returning Student, University Faculty

Post 1- Monday

There’s nothing worse than having to be in class, with no cash, and an empty stomach.  

Post 2-Tuesday

Sometimes juggling class, work, and life can seem overwhelming. There are times where it is necessary to disconnect from teching. Use the time while you’re commuting to get back in to touch with yourself without your devices and get rewarded for it. Learn more about the benefits of Safe2Save @Everyone at safe2save

Post 3 -Wednesday

Using the points you’ve earned to reward yourself. It doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Post 4 -Thursday

UHD Safe2Save Event (snapchat)

(geo-filter) swipe up to learn more

Post 5 – Friday

It’s the weekend. Remember to relax, refresh, and recharge. This means from Teching as well. Reward yourself you deserve it. @Safe2Save 

Post 6- Saturday

Double your points when you check-in at a participating location. @Everyone at safe2save

Post 7- Sunday Rewarding Safe Driving at Your Favorite Places.

Community Lens. Geo-filter (Clickable)

 

Social media schedule
October 8 – 14, 2018
Name		Channel	Status	Publish Date	Hashtags	Timeline – Start	Timeline – End
Post 1: Monday	Organic	Instagram	Scheduled	2018-10-08	hungry, Safe2Save, collegedays	2018-10-08	2018-10-08
Post 2: Tuesday	Promoted	Facebook	Scheduled	2018-10-09	Safe2Save, balance	2018-10-09	2018-10-09
Post 3: Wednesday	Promoted	Instagram	Scheduled	2018-10-10	hungry, Safe2Save	2018-10-10	2018-10-10
Post 4: Thursday	Promoted	SnapChat	Scheduled	2018-10-11	Safe2Save, UHD	2018-10-11	2018-10-11
Post 5: Friday	Organic	Instagram	Scheduled	2018-10-12	Safe2Save, theweekend	2018-10-12	2018-10-12
Post 6: Saturday	Promoted	Facebook	Scheduled	2018-10-13	hungry, Safe2Save	2018-10-13	2018-10-13
Post 7: Sunday	Organic	SnapChat	Scheduled	2018-10-14	Safe2Save, HoustonS2S	2018-10-14	2018-10-14

Sephora S.W.O.T Analysis

S.W.O.T Analysis

Sephora
Sephora is a multinational chain of personal care and beauty stores founded in Paris, France in 1969. They feature nearly 300 brands, along with their own private label. Sephora offers beauty products including cosmetics, skincare, body, fragrance, nail color, and hair care. As of 1997, Sephora was purchased by the luxurious conglomerate Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and as of 2017 had over 400 stores in North America.
Facebook Community:
18,083,895 people like this
17,913,587 people follow this
Twitter Community: (Joined June 2009)
111,000 Tweets
2,360,000 Followers
11,400 Likes
Instagram Community:
4,519 Posts
15,100,000 Followers
Strengths
Sephora has a strong social media presence and a highly interactive website which is easy to navigate. They keep an up to date calendar on their social media platforms to engage customer involvement. With the various brands that are provided at Sephora, they create an informative post to showcase the different brands available. On Facebook, they provide quick responsive customer service and they typically respond within an hour. Sephora has a very cohesive image across all their social media channels which provides consistent signals to potential customers.
Weakness
Sephora is a key player for housing multiple luxury brands in cosmetics and skincare and this can drive up prices for consumers making products a bit expensive. Though they post various brands on their social media platform it creates direct competition against their own private label. Lastly, Sephora creates an in-store experience by being able to try on products and getting makeovers this is challenging to execute on social media.
Opportunities
Sephora has an opportunity for growth potential in the cosmetic industry as more people become increasingly conscious of the way they look and the effects they can create with cosmetics. With the knew Skin IQ Technology that they have brought out they can try to integrate this technology into their social media platforms which can increase customer involvement.
Threat
Due to the cosmetics industry being so vast there are many players that can enter the market with low barriers. In comparison with brands sold at Sephora, these competitors can be a lot less expensive and still do a fairly good job of their intended purpose. For some customer differentiation between products is difficult especially if they are beginners; they would prefer to use cheaper alternatives to practice with then to spend high dollar amounts on Sephora products.

Social Media Professional Q & A

ALYSSA FOREVER – FOREVER FLAWLYSS

 

Before social media started to explode I use to watch tutorials on YouTube about natural hair remedies, make-up, and fashion. One YouTube personality that really stood out to me was the Alyssa Forever. She was the pinnacle of what I thought I wanted to be when I got older. She had perfect hair, gorgeous makeup, and untouchable style, but at the same time, she was so down to earth. I knew she would be the perfect social media professional for this assignment, but I had to figure out the best way of capturing her attention. I started looking at all her social media channels and I saw that she was most active lately on Instagram. As much as she exposed her life on camera I thought I would feel more comfortable reaching out to her, but my nerves seemed to get the best of me when I started typing the message to explain the assignment. To my surprise, she responded and agreed to help me out. We decided it would best to video call each other on snap chat and I must say that she is so gorgeous even during a mist of pixilation on my phone.

Questions
Did you ever think of the success you would get when you posted your first YouTube tutorial?
“I never imagine that people would actually want to see and hear about what I was doing to my hair. When I created my first YouTube video I was actually nervous. “ [I asked why she was nervous]” Nervous of what everyone’s opinion would be. You know I’m from a small town in Indiana so I really did not think my videos would get so much attention.

Do you ever feel like you lost your privacy by being in the social media Limelight?
“ I definitely do, but I must say there are a lot of things that I do keep private for my own sanity. I let the world know what I want them to know. I try my best to have a balance between the two. Just like everyone else, there are days when I don’t feel like being bothered and I myself have to take a break from social media because if I don’t I think I’ll lose myself.

Do you have a target demographic?
“Most of the time I try to appeal to our generation (millennials). When I first started Vlogging my intent was to reach naturalista’s who wanted to share different techniques in doing natural hair. As I got older I started really getting into the makeup scene and when Allure named me beauty blogger of the year I started to tailor my target audience to the teenager and the twenty-something that were looking for inexpensive ways to look flawlyss. I like to pride myself on making videos to INSPIRE.
Do you ever get worried that the fame will go away and if so what do you plan to do?
“I’m not too worried about the fame. Of course, it does have lots of perks, but I do dabble in other things besides social media. Since I’ve moved to LA I have a couple of projects in the pipeline that I feel will sustain the lifestyle I’ve come accustomed to.
Where do you think you would be if you would have not gotten in the social media industry?
“Ohhh that’s a good one. Hmm. I think I’ve always wanted to be a fashionista in some form or fashion. When I had my braces I always use to say ‘once I get these braces off I’m going to model or something.’ My parents were more on you need an ‘actual plan’ side, so I use to tell them that I would go to college and be a pediatrician. I’m not really sure if I would follow thru with it but for the longest, it was the answer that got them off my back.

Would you mind if I used a picture of you in my report?
Of course not, just make sure it’s not too racy!

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton