By Tala Amin, social media director, Bruce Clay MENA

With 2019 right around the corner, it is time to analyze the social trends for the coming year. So far, social media has continually stepped up its game when it comes to augmented reality, influencer marketing, and video content. With that in mind, we must ask ourselves, “What does 2019 have in store for us?”

We have done the research for you and summed it up in this article. Here are all the trends you need to know to prepare for 2019:

1. Focus on Generation Z

Gen Z is starting to enter the workforce and make money. Gen Z has grown up with technology and is on top of the latest trends, which is why it is important to target them based on their interests. Basic social media posts do not work for them, which is why we start to see brands doing things such as pop-up stores to cater to this generation’s instagrammable moments.

Market research shows that 85% of Gen Zers learn about new products from social media channels and are 59% more likely to connect with their favorite brands on social media than the older generations.

[Tweet “Targeting Gen Z? You gotta get social… 85% of them learn about new products from #socialmedia.”]

When creating content for Gen Z, keep in mind that they are looking for a personalized and intimate customer experience that is unique and ready for the ‘gram.

2. Snack Ads

Unfortunately, ‘snack ads’ are not about perishable goods but a new age definition of video ads that are less than 10 seconds. With the abundance of video content available, we have developed a much shorter attention span which is why 60-second videos will work less and less moving forward.

As a solution, snack ads will be used increasingly more in 2019 to cater to the audience’s needs. Even when your video needs to be longer, make sure that the message is delivered within the first 10 seconds.

3. Chatbots are the norm

Chatbots were on the rise in 2018 and we have seen many major companies implement them on social media. Toward the end of the year, we are also seeing smaller brands jumping on the bandwagon to show that they are leaders in technology even if they do not necessarily have the requirement for a chatbot.

Moving forward, chatbots will become the norm and consumers will expect instant responses from the brands they are following. This trend will continue to increase over the next couple of years until all brands cave into implementing them.

4. Transparency

Consumers are becoming harder and harder to impress and very reluctant to believe the exaggerated promises that some brands are communicating. With the abundance of information and reviews available online, it is harder for brands to hide the shortcomings of their products. For this reason, brands have to be more transparent online by admitting when they are at fault and addressing the negative feedback directly and publicly.

It is easy to turn a negative comment into a positive one if the brand deals with the complaint in a timely manner and addresses the problem rather than making excuses. You will find that most people complaining online only want the brand to acknowledge them and address their issue. Opening a two-way communication with your audience will help you build trust and form a better relationship.

5. User-Generated Content

We can never say this enough, User Generated Content (UGC) is the way forward! We have seen with many of our clients that UGC posts tend to get much higher engagement than those created by the brand.

In fact, according to a study conducted by Social Toaster, UGC posts shared by brands tend to get 28% higher engagement and 86% of business are already utilizing UGC as part of their marketing strategy.

This trend will only continue to rise in 2019 as brands start to see the value of including their customers in their marketing strategy. Being featured on a brand’s page is not only acknowledgment for the customers but it also opens a door of communication door for your fans and followers who feel they can now relate to you even further.