Did you know? There are 3.2 billion daily active social media users. That equates to 42% of the world population! No doubt, social media activities engage users with infinite possibilities, making it easy to access various social media platforms, wherever you are and whenever you want. Furthermore, most of the mobile apps have been optimized for a better mobile browsing experience, so that users can access their favorite sites with one click. It is not hard to understand why three-fourths of marketers believe social media is an effective part of any business and has become an integral part of people’s lives and their daily routine.  

Social media has opened new doors for marketing and brand advertising, providing marketers with an innovative platform to mesmerize consumers and develop a diversified customer pool. It’s not wrong to say that social media has the potential to evolve a brand into something great, and if pursued correctly, aid in lead generation, sales, and revenue growth.

Social media gives marketers unrivalled access to real-time customer and prospect feedback. Hence, social media can also prove to be an effective way to support your account-based marketing strategy as well.

Social Media Networking Sites Statistics for 2020

A social media marketing strategy isn’t just about posting content on the social media platform in hope of connecting with target customers but utilizing the user base of those social media sites that can be fruitful for your business. Since content overloading on social media is a reality, and the competition stakes are very high, brands need to focus on amplifying their presence using popular trends for social media channels. Below are some statistics to show the reach of social media:

  • Facebook, launched in 2004, currently has 2.4 billion monthly active users and 1.6 billion daily active users.
  • YouTube, launched in 2005, currently has 1.9 billion monthly active users and 149 million daily active users. The average duration of YouTube visits is 40 minutes.
  • WhatsApp, launched in 2009, currently has 1.5 billion monthly active users and 1 billion daily active users. 
  • Instagram, launched in 2010, has 1 billion monthly active users and 600 million daily active users. 

The Social Media Statistics You Need to Know in 2020

Every social media platform is unique in its way of interacting with the customers. Social media networks let brands engage with customers beyond the geographical boundaries. But it is worth it for brands to invest in social media marketing services? The following statistics will give you an insight into various social media channels and also explain why social media marketing is a must for your business. 

  • In terms of social media users by generation, millennials lead the tally with 90.4% of active social media users, followed by Generation X (77.5%), and Baby Boomers (48.2%). 
  • An average of 2 hours 22 minutes per day is spent on social networks and messaging. 
  • 73% of marketers believe that social media marketing has a ‘somewhat effective’ or ‘very effective’ role in business. 
  • 54% of social media users and browsers use social media to research products. 
  • 71% of consumers who had a positive experience with a brand on any social media channels are likely to recommend the brand to their friends and family. 
  • 49% of customers consider influencer recommendations about a brand or a product on social media.

Current Social Media Trends

Social media trends predict the behaviour of the audiences when a new feature is added to the networking channels. These trends alter the dynamics of social media, content consumption, increase connections, and maximize the online marketing performance of a brand. These trends serve as the cornerstone of all the social media marketing strategies devised by marketers. 

The following are the social media trends to look out for, which will fuel social media marketing strategies for better customer experience. 

Say Adieu to the Like Button on Instagram

Brands using social media, especially Instagram, fixate a lot on the likes, comments, and followers, to depict their popularity with the customers. But, the obsession with Instagram likes is said to harm our mental health and disturb the free flow of user-generated content strategy as well. 

Instagram is one of the social media sites that recognize the ongoing addiction about the number of likes and, in 2020, will make their site less like-specific, and more customer-oriented. Although you won’t be able to see the likes of someone else’s posts, you can still see the likes on your posts. 

The implementation will try to combat issues related to fake likes and followers and let brands reach out to a wider audience base. Since the likes of any product will not be visible to the customers, marketers will devise strategies, focussing on transformative ads. 

Video Content Will Rule the Channels 

Videos are estimated to comprise 80% of the consumer traffic in 2020. They are already the most engrossing form of content consumed by users. Video content can include anything, ranging from a short TikTok story to long YouTube content. 

For brands that are not creating videos as a part of brand promotion, it will become increasingly vital to include video in their social media marketing strategy. 

To stay ahead of the trend, start creating your own video strategy

The Inclusion of Social Commerce on Media Platforms

Social shopping has transformed social platforms and is now an integral part of social media. For brands trying to garner the attention of users, they can use videos and influencer marketing to cater to the interests of users through creative and engaging posts and stories. With the right video marketing strategy, you can invite the customers to enjoy a frictionless and seamless shopping experience where they can buy products from the brands’ social page only. 

Although many brands have already added the ‘Shop Now’ feature to their social media handles, many brands are yet to follow into the same trend. With time, social shopping will become, as much a reality, as a shopping website or retail store. 

Augmented Reality will Raid the Social Media Market

The perception of a parallel world created by AR results in an interactive experience for the user. AR is already a part of social media, with its filters, lenses, and other features that let users capture videos and photos that take the consumer interaction to the next level. 

In 2020, AR will bring forth an entirely new and profound era, letting customers enjoy virtual showrooms of brands. The feature will give a real-life experience to the customers, lure into the look and feel of the products, and aid in their buying process online. Some brands, like Sephora, have already implemented AR to aid in the online shopping experience of the customers, and the others are quick to follow. 

Influencer Marketing will Continue to Grow

With the sheer rise in the number of influencers on social media, various marketing strategies are looking to invest in such influencers, to run cheaper ad campaigns and achieve better results. Since social media users consider product recommendations made by influencers, tapping into this segment will aid in lead generation. With time, influencer marketing will become bolder and stronger, and an important part of the social media market as well.

Brands are not working with just 1-2 influencers but have a good niche of such influential people, working towards the common goal of brand promotion and higher customer engagement.

Wrapping it up

With the ever-changing nature of social media marketing trends, it becomes important for brands to start progressing with the said features to stay in the competition. Such strategies will not only help in promoting the brand on social media channels but will play a pivotal role in B2B marketing as well. 

Author Bio

Name– Yash Chawlani

Yash Chawlani is a Digital Marketing Strategist associated with UnboundB2B, who specializes in SEO, Social Media Optimization (SMO) and Content Marketing. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.


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