No doubt social media has completely revolutionized the way we market and advertise our businesses and products. Print marketing has not changed in, well, centuries, really, and television marketing has been same old, same old since the advent of cable. Social media, however, is one of those ever-growing content creation tools that changes on a daily basis. For business owners and content managers trying to take advantage of this lucrative advertising venue, the task of staying a step ahead of social media trends can seem like a full time job in itself. There are, however, some sites that can help you stay up to date on the changes that are constantly taking place in the world of social media. Keep in mind that social media research should be part of your marketing strategy on a regular basis.
Social Media Examiner
This helpful website provides tons of information on social media news, trends, and upcoming changes or innovations. They stay on top of national social media conferences taking place, as well as other social media events that those in the marketing world can use to educate themselves and sharpen their social media edge. The information on this site is available through articles, podcasts, and social media marketing industry reports.
Digital Trends
This in-depth website provides information, news, and updates on all things digital, however, there is an entire section devoted to social media developments and trends. This site provides up-to-the-minute news stories that affect social media outlets and explains how changes and innovations will affect marketing via social media.
Things to Remember
Because social media is such a mammoth topic to stay on top of, there are a few tips that can help you avoid getting overwhelmed. First of all, limit the time either weekly or monthly that you devote to social media research. If you don’t reign yourself in just a bit, you may end up spending hours a day reading about new developments…because there are always new developments.
It is also helpful to try and hone in on a specific focus area. Social media marketing has a million rabbit trails that you can rush down at any given time, so focusing on one specific method of reaching customers will increase your efficiency. One of the most important reasons to zero in on a focus area is because it is impossible to become an expert on all of the forms of social media marketing. You will meet marketing objectives better and more effectively if you spend some quality time understanding one niche of social media.
Sarah R is a freelance author, content writer and home educator. When she’s not creating great content for her clients she’s chasing down her hyper children and imparting knowledge to them.
