Today, social media is more than a way to connect with friends and family. It’s also an important marketing tool for businesses to engage with existing and prospective customers. Social media has become an essential tool for market and communication, allowing brands to reach and engage with their audience in new and innovative ways. Keeping up with social media trends can help you tweak your social media strategy as per what’s relevant.  As a leading digital marketing agency in Melbourne,  we share with you some social media trends in Australia:

1. Keeping up with social commerce:

According to a report, spending on social media shopping in Australia is up 700% compared to 2019. This trend is only set to continue, as customers become more comfortable with using social media as a means of purchasing goods and services.

 

Here are some useful social media stats that you have to know:

  • Social media is a popular way for Australians to stay in touch with friends and family. In 2019, Facebook was the most popular social media platform, with 56% of users saying they used it the most often. Instagram was used by 21% of respondents, and Snapchat was used by 6%.
  • Australians use social media for a variety of activities. Over half of users regularly post pictures and videos and 38% of users say they have posted visual content. In addition, social media is also used as a means of communication. 
  • In February 2022, an estimated 82.7% of Australians were social media users, up from 58% just 7 years earlier. This growth is attributable to a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of mobile devices and the ever-expanding world of online content.

 

The above-mentioned statistics show that your business should be on social media to reach out to different audiences.  Testing out a range of functions on social media, from shop buttons to live streams from ads to influencer marketing can help you find out what works for your business and what doesn’t. 

2. Authentic influencers:

There is no doubt that influencer marketing is on the rise. According to Hubspot, 71% of customers in Australia are likely to make purchases based on social media referrals. Most brands are preferring micro-influencers over celebrities as their ROI, engagement and reach are higher. Here are the reasons for that:

 

  • Authenticity: In the age of social media, influencers have become some of the most important voices in marketing. While macro-influencers with millions of followers can be powerful tools for promoting a brand, micro-influencers may actually be more effective. That’s because authenticity is key for consumers and micro-influencers typically have more genuine connections with their followers.
  • More personal: Micro-influencers are social media users with a relatively small but engaged following. They are often more niche than macro-influencers and their content tends to be more personal and relatable. Unlike celebrities or other macro-influencers, micro-influencers generally take time every day to reply to comments,  answer direct messages and like your brand’s content.
  •  Better ROI: Micro-influencers can be a cost-effective way to reach a target audience. They cost a lot less than macro-influencers and are likely to have better engagement on their posts than macro-influencers. 

 

3. VR & AR social media campaigns: 

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) offer a unique way to engage with customers and create an immersive experience that can leave a lasting impression. According to a report, VR and AR in Asia-Pacific are expected to grow at an annual growth rate of 38.1% from 2020 to 2025, making it one of the most promising markets for these technologies. Brands that want to stay ahead of the curve must get creative with their marketing strategies and find ways to integrate VR and AR into their campaigns.

 

  • Kmart Australia’s mobile AR ad campaign lets consumers see its home decor furniture in a real-life context. The campaign allows users to activate the AR experience by pointing their phones at a print ad or product in store. This is a great way for Kmart to engage with its customers and give them a more immersive experience with its products.
  • In 2017, IKEA launched an app which used AR. The app allowed users to place a 3D piece of furniture in their space and see how it would look. This was a game changer for the furniture industry and other brands have been quick to follow suit. 

 

Want to keep up with social media trends? 

If you are looking for ways to grow your business’ brand awareness or drive more traffic to your website or promote your product on social media channels, we can help you come up with a social media strategy that is tailor-made just for your business. Our social media experts can help you run well-defined social media campaigns that yield measurable results. Get in touch with us to grow your business.