Oh no, not another 2012 social media trends prediction post. This is different because I have time travelled back from the future to warn you about what is going to happen this year. Hopefully, telling you this won’t change the future and causing ‘ the butterfly effect’ to happen. It was scary enough to see Ashton Kutcher “almost” giving a guy a….. you know what!
So what’s big this year? Almost the same as last year, actually. However we’ll see a few areas which will be more concentrated than others.
1. Mobile/tablets
I’m putting my eggs into this. I predict that we will be seeing huge growth in mobile until 2015. People will access contents such as news and videos on mobile devices more frequently than ever. Heck, I’ve been constantly seeing 10 year-old children having their own iPhones these days. When mobile devices are already having such a huge presence in one’s life at such an early age, there really is a big potential for future growth, especially if your customers are growing old together with the industry.
QR code will gain more awareness and will be used more frequently… Problem is, people still don’t know what a QR code is. AR will increase slowwwly….
Mobile social network like Path might have grow bigger too. Its growing on me and I see myself using it more frequently now.
Developers, hear me. This is how you monetize. MOBILE. Make it easy for people like me … uh… I mean us, who don’t know a thing or two about coding. Help us!
2. Apps
What’s the deadliest combination? Mobile + Apps. Philip DeFranco, an American video blogger recently launched his mobile app for the iPhone and Android OS. Now more than 50% of his fan watches his Philip DeFranco Show on mobile devices.
It might be crazy but I could imagine companies no longer posting ‘follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook’ messages and instead say ‘download our official app’.
If they do that, they have to make it beneficial for people to use it too. “Why” should people “do” what you say?
I also see 3rd party applications like buffer, sprout social, and others that help to enhance the whole ‘experience’ of connectivity using mobile devices to grow stronger this year.
3. Facebook
Like it, hate it, say what you want about Facebook but it will continue to grow strong. Facebook might also reach the big B by reaching 1 BILLION users. YES! 1 BILLION users out of almost 7 billion people in this planet. Impressive? Well if your company controls 1/7 of an industry it certainly is impressive, but 1/7 of the whole population of the world? That’s simply mind-blowing.
They could also launch several key features such as the ability to send private messages through a Facebook fan page. Mobile ads and timeline ads might come soon as well. The big question is will the ads ruin the experience? Maybe yes and maybe no, but will it help marketers and businesses alike? That’s a definite YES.
We’ll also see more businesses focusing on Facebook this year. Why? It’s where the people are. It’s highly possible that your customers are on Facebook.
4. Social commerce aka social shopping
Social shopping will grow bigger this year. Friends love sharing great bargains and great experiences online. I constantly see friends sharing on their Facebook walls about their great shopping experience before. It did get me to “click” and check out where they got it from.
As followers, likes, friends, Facebook subscribers, and circled friends grow, all this will play a role in decision making. Imagine, in the years B.F (before Facebook), you have a couple friends following you to the mall to help you shop for clothes. You get their opinions and help. Now imagine bringing your friends on Facebook to help you decide. Creepy? Smart? It’s what people are doing. Social commerce is happening.
5. Photos
I can’t get enough of it, I’m addicted to photos network such as instagram because it gives me a sense of getting to know someone and having to see how their life looks like.
We’ll definitely see photographic social networks like Instagram, Pinterest and possibly Fancy growing even bigger.
Extra:
Superbowl ads
I don’t watch THE Super Bowl because I’m from Malaysia, but I do watch the ads on Youtube. Last year I noticed ads failing miserably to cross promote or build long term engagement or interactions with their audiences. It did build great brand awareness, but I noticed that most of the ads never connect or try to continue the engagements on their social media pages. People are watching the game and “tweeting”. Let’s see how it goes this year.
Those are my predictions, but that’s not the end of it. To keep you guys updated, we’ll review it again in the middle of the year and by the end of the year. It’s your turn now, what do you think the trend in 2012 will look like. Share your comments in the comment box below. Love to hear your thoughts!
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