11 Actionable Steps How to Stay Ahead of Social Media Trends
Being active on social media is crucial to understanding what’s relevant to your audience, but what if you’re not a social media expert? This article provides 11 actionable steps to help you allocate your time effectively and stay on top of social media trends.
Social media is a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, where new platforms, functionalities, viral memes, and trending conversations emerge constantly, making yesterday’s news seem outdated in an instant. While it’s impossible to predict the next viral trend, there are strategies you can employ to stay ahead of the curve and create relevant content.
In this article, we will explore some helpful tips that can put you at the forefront of social conversations and help you navigate the fast-paced world of social media trends.
1. Be Active
Being actively engaged on social media is one of the most efficient ways to understand what is relevant to your consumers. However, it’s important to manage your time effectively to avoid getting lost in the social media rabbit hole.
We recommend allocating at least 10 minutes each day to explore your brand’s social media feeds, engage with your followers’ conversations, and identify potential trends that can enhance your brand’s image. By staying consistently active, you can gather valuable insights into your target audience’s preferences and behaviors.
2. Subscribe to Social Platform Blogs
To stay well-informed, one of the best approaches is to subscribe to social platform blogs.
Major social media platforms have their own official blogs where they share the latest updates, developments, and tips for optimizing content. Even if you don’t typically use certain platforms, subscribing to their blogs can help you understand emerging consumer trends and gain insights from different perspectives.
By staying connected to the official channels, you can stay ahead of the game and adapt your strategies accordingly.
3. Stay Up To Date With Explore Pages
When it comes to tracking trending topics, it’s crucial to go straight to the source.
Explore Pages, available on various social media platforms, provide a curated selection of popular content and trending conversations. By regularly checking these pages and bookmarking them for easy access, you can ensure that the content you create remains relevant to real-time discussions.
4. Monitor #Hashtags
Hashtags and keywords are powerful tools for tracking and participating in social media trends.
Keep an eye on trending hashtags relevant to your industry or target audience. Platforms like Twitter and Instagram prominently display trending hashtags, allowing you to join conversations and gain exposure.
For instance, Twitter’s “Trending” section serves as an essential starting point to join trending hashtags and participate in conversations as they unfold. It’s important to be discerning and choose only the hashtags that are truly relevant to your brand and target audience. A
Additionally, tools such as Google Trends can provide insights into the popularity and search volume of specific keywords, helping you identify emerging topics and tailor your content accordingly.
By incorporating trending hashtags and keywords strategically, you can increase the visibility of your content and align it with ongoing conversations.
5. Keep a Social Media Calendar
Maintaining a social media calendar is an effective strategy to stay at the forefront of social conversations.
By planning and generating content around national, international, and social media/hashtag holidays, you can align your brand’s messaging with ongoing discussions and capitalize on trending moments.
However, it’s crucial to exercise caution and conduct thorough research before posting on social media days associated with specific communities.
Being mindful of cultural sensitivities and understanding the context of each occasion will help you avoid potential missteps and build a positive brand reputation.
You don’t require a paid calendar plan solely to access lists of social media holidays. Industry-leading social media management tools, like Hootsuite, provide articles that include social media holiday lists.
