Social media has become a constant in modern daily life. This means that marketing on social media is beginning to have fewer limits on possible target demographics, and increasingly greater reach as the number of users on major social media sites rises. This is why understanding a few different aspects of the current social media landscape is key to online marketing success.

Social Commerce, or sCommerce

Integrating online shopping and e-commerce into social media has been the logical next step

  • People are now used to the idea of making purchases through their smartphones or tablets, beyond just buying new apps, software, or similar digital items.
  • Including web-based sales, a component can encourage both sales and engagement

Private messages = 1-on-1 marketing communications

Users expect more of a custom experience even when communicating with large brands

  • Social media platforms allow for targeted messages to benefit the public
  • Address your customers’ needs first, but if you go above and beyond, your audience will pay attention

Mobile payments via branded platforms

Allow customers to interact with your brand on mobile through apps, a third-party application, or simply a mobile browser

Agility isn’t an option anymore, it is essential

The speed of the social web means that marketers need to be empowered to act quickly and respond to relevant current events

  • Agile marketing means adapting marketing campaigns to sudden, brief trends or hyped-up topics on social media
  • Stay up-to-date even with fleeting trends

Understand the changes that social media has brought about

Being ahead of the trends and innovating yourself can be what makes all the difference for your company, or the brands you work on.

  • Knowing which trends and concepts will dominate social media in 2015 is essential knowledge that will help further your career.

Content is king

Creating the type of content that inspires users to pass it on is quickly becoming the most important method of marketing in general

  • Paying attention to what’s being shared on sites like Buzzfeed or Upworthy can provide a snapshot of characteristics that inspire people to share

Source