Social media used to be easy. Each app had a specific purpose. Facebook was the platform where users could socialize with friends and family. Instagram was for sharing photos. LinkedIn was for networking. As apps rolled out new desirable features like stories, likes and shares, competitor apps began popping up and integrating the same features into their platforms. Then, TikTok changed the game when they became the leading platform for short videos during 2020. Other social media platforms grew envious of their explosive growth, and competitors quickly emerged, most notably Instagram Reels. We’ve also seen YouTube and Netflix adopt similar short video offerings in recent months.
TikTok isn’t the only victim of the copy-paste technique other social media giants are deploying. Clubhouse’s invite-only exclusivity for Apple users, celebrities and entrepreneurs makes the social audio app extremely desirable. We’ve seen Twitter introduce a similar model with Spaces and Facebook is in talks to launch an audio-based app, making them direct threats to Clubhouse. With all of these changes and new apps, marketers and brands might feel overwhelmed as to where they should focus their efforts. How do you know what platforms to prioritize and which ones may not be worth your time and money? Here’s a few ways to help navigate the flood of changes we’ve seen with social media recently:
Experience the hype without spreading efforts too thin.
It’s easy to want to dive headfirst into every app and feature all at once, particularly when new launches generate buzz. However, like all social media efforts, you must have a plan in place. Make sure you plan out content, and don’t exhaust yourself from juggling too many platforms at once. Creating a social media calendar to manage brand, influencer and partner content, using online programs or working with an agency can help make sure you’re consistent with messaging without over- or under-posting on one particular platform.
It’s crucial to maintain a presence on multiple platforms to maximize the number of eyeballs your organization can reach. This also helps keep content fresh for all audiences, who might not follow your brand on all social channels. Cross-posting is an easy way to share content across multiple platforms and explore new venues before committing extra creative time and budget. However, deciding to go all-in on a newer platform that proves to be valuable, deserves its own catered strategy. Some social apps now offer comprehensive advertising resources that can help educate you on where to get started in the sometimes-confusing landscape of social media marketing.
Stand out (or fit in!) on an emerging platform.
With brands buzzing about the audio-app movement, taking the time to vet platforms and develop a comprehensive strategy is crucial. This helps ensure your time and energy is well spent and allows you to determine how the functionality of the platform best suits your organization, if it all. Considering which groups to join, and whether or not you want to be an active participant or a listener tracking industry trends is an important approach to consider. If one of your company thought leaders joins these conversations, you gain the ability to not only participate, but gain insight on what competitors and customers are doing.
While it’s important to explore firsthand the new venues that might be impactful for your brand, it’s also wise to gain an outsider’s perspective. Talk to your influencers, what new platforms are they trying out? How are followers responding? Are these venues appropriate for sponsored content? What tactics have they noticed as being particularly impactful on these new sites that could be adapted for brand and influencer posts? These are all good questions to ask your team and influencers if you’re planning on launching campaigns on a new platform.
Popular doesn’t mean necessary!
Before jumping into a new platform, do your homework. Researching social media platforms and exploring different features helps familiarize yourself with how to best utilize these tools. Audio apps in particular fall in this category, since there are many different ways to participate in or even lead conversations. In some instances, brands need to push through their fear of missing out. Truth of the matter is that social audio platforms won’t be a fit for everyone. Just because it’s the focus of conversations in recent days doesn’t mean brands should drop everything to create a new strategy for the hot new platform. Communicating and collaborating with the influencers you work with can allow you to enter a new social platform space with your best foot forward to decide if the platform is a fit for you and your organization after all.
It’s important to keep your organization’s needs in focus when deciding what platforms and social media tactics to utilize and how. If you have a small-sized business in the process of growing, it might be a good idea to use Clubhouse or Spaces for networking purposes. If you’re working with influencers who are trying to promote your product or services through original content, diving into Instagram or TikTok could be the way to go. Across the board, understanding who your target audience is and how they consume social media helps keep you grounded in the vast and ever-changing world of social networks. Consulting with influencers and agencies can help ensure your social media plan is streamlined, targeted and ready to make a splash on your most impactful apps.
Justin Kline is Co-founder ofMarkerly, an influencer marketing technology partner and platform working with some of the largest consumer brands in the world.
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