It’s unavoidable: algorithms and updates can happen overnight. And while we can always wish for a fortune teller to give us a heads up before things change, we can’t always plan ahead. So while we can’t yet pinpoint what 2017 will hold for social media, we can focus on predictions and bracing for the changes we can plan for based on the knowledge we’ve built over the past few years.
Instagram Predictions
Considering Instagram is owned by Facebook (and taking into account the Facebook changes we’ve seen in this past year alone), it is more evident than ever that there will be changes in 2017. While 48.8% of brands are currently on Instagram, in 2017 it’s estimated that this will rise to 70.7% which is continued good news for hopeful advertisers. We can expect Instagram advertising and analytics to expand their capabilities in the year to come. In recent months, Instagram has also unveiled their story feature which aligns very similarly to that of Snapchat.
In 2017, Instagram’s global mobile ad revenues is expected to reach a whopping $2.81 billion. They have already simplified the process of running ads, most likely to get more brands to begin using them. In order to stay profitable, they will want to continue to offer brands a variety of options to promote their posts. Analytics and advertising go hand in hand, so with the increase of ad options we are sure to see an increase in the analytics we have access to. Analytics currently focus on impressions, reach, engagement, and audience while with new developments we hope to have more data which provides more insight into our audiences.
Pinterest Predictions
In recent months, the traffic-driving platform has seen upgrades and improvements that will change the way marketers strategize pins and promotions. Promoted video, a new feature for the site, will take over in 2017. Did you know that 67% of users say video on Pinterest inspires them to take action? Put a pin in that- your community may be longing for video content right now! Promoting pins is now simple and fast, so we’ll see marketers use this feature more often. Plan ahead for this and strategize your Pinterest tactics so that your promoted pins stand out from others. Check out this guide to gain a better understanding of what kinds of visuals, descriptions, and content perform the best.
Did you know that 40% of new Pinterest sign-ups are male? The site, which has consistently appealed to a mostly female audience, is seeing growth in the male market. Why? Well, Pinterest is actually a very strong search engine, and men tend to search more often than browse. In fact, Pinterest functions a lot like Google- SEO is pivotal in what content is served to users. In 2017, you can expect to see more engagement on your pins that are optimized for search. Make a plan to use features like Rich Pins to make the most of your efforts.
Though there’s no way of knowing precisely what will change in 2017, it is important to understand the potential for the future of your social media marketing efforts and strategize now for success. Understand that as technology develops, being flexible with your social strategy will set you up to respond to changes with ease. At DMA Solutions, we are committed to monitoring trends and pioneering change through social media. If you are interested in amplifying your social media strategy, reach out to us to discuss how DMA might help.
