Trendspotting In Social Media - CenterlineDigital - #MoThoughts - June 2016

TRENDSPOTTING Keeping up with the latest social media platforms

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Can you name these platforms?

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How about these?

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…and all of these? (The ones without the name in the logo!)

The task of identifying the social media platforms that make the most sense for your brand can be overwhelming in such a crowded (and growing) landscape.

But discovering the platforms where your audience is engaging (before they become over-crowded with your competitors) is worth the investment.

How do you do this?

SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDSPOTTING

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WHAT IS TRENDSPOTTING?

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The identification of new “things” before they become mainstream.

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Like social media platforms & trends

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NOTA guessing game Looking into a magic ball A short-term investment

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WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?(When done correctly)

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GE - CASE STUDY

PROMOTED ON MAIN WEBSITE ACTIVE

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GE has mastered the art of trying early and often. They prominently promote eight “core” social channels on their website, but are actively posting customized content on many more “beta” platforms.

This allows them to take risks and experiment without having to fully commit or risk reaching audiences with specialized content that won’t resinate.

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GE - CASE STUDY

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PROMOTED ON MAIN WEBSITE ACTIVE

GE has mastered the art of trying early and often. They prominently promote eight “core” social channel on their website, but are actively posting customized content on many more “beta” platforms.

This allows them to take risks and experiment without having to fully commit or risk reaching audiences with specialized content that won’t resinate.

Tried and true “core” social platforms

“Beta” social platforms that may or may not eventually move to the core lineup

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HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING?

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1. LISTEN

2. MONITOR

3. TRY

KEY STEPS

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TO PROSPECTS AND CUSTOMERS ABOUT WHAT PLATFORMS THEY LOVE AND WHAT CONTENT THEY NEED

LISTEN

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• Influencers

• Advocate Programs

• Focus Groups

• Interviews

• Events

THE LANDSCAPE USING TOOLS AND TREND REPORTS

MONITOR

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• Online & Social Media Listening Tools Sysomos , Radian6 , Hootsuite, Cision, Spinklr

• Industry Reports & Trade Magazines IBISWorld, EBSCOhost

• Online Tools BuzzSumo, Google Trends, AdWords Keyword Planner

• Online Awards FWA (Favorite Website Awards), The Shorty Awards

• App Stores Monitor the iOS & Android social categories for trending apps

• Eliminate platforms that don’t make sense for your content or business

• Try things on a small scale

• Only fully adopt platforms that are showing results and effectively reaching your audience

PLATFORMS EARLY AND OFTEN

TRY

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Each new social platform is an opportunity to think of new ways to engage your audience and challenge your team.

The earlier you join, the more forgiving the audience is and the better chance you have to start a trend instead of following one.

Happy Trendspotting.

HAVE FUN!

BONUS

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THANK YOU! Monique Simpson, Digital Strategist

Twitter: @mothoughts

Linkedin: /moniquejsimpson

Centerline Digital

509 W. North St | Raleigh, NC 27603

919.821.2921

centerline.net