As we kick off Q3 of 2024, social media marketing trends are rapidly evolving, presenting brand marketers with opportunities to amplify their reach, engagement and finish the year strong. As we move into the latter half of the year, staying on top of these trends will be crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in the ever-evolving landscape of social media marketing.
Here is a quick summary of some of the top trends, and a focus on our number one pick – co-branded content campaigns.
Summary of the Top Social Media Trends in 2024:
- Rise of TikTok and Short-Form Video Content
- TikTok's explosive growth continues, making it essential for reaching younger audiences with authentic and engaging videos. Short-form video content is a must-have in your marketing arsenal.
- Expanding Presence on Smaller Networks
- While Instagram remains a vital platform, smaller networks like Pinterest and Snapchat are gaining traction. These platforms offer unique opportunities for visual and ephemeral content, allowing brands to connect with niche audiences in creative ways.
- LinkedIn for B2B Marketing
- LinkedIn continues to be a powerful platform for professional networking and thought leadership, particularly in B2B marketing. It's the go-to place for sharing industry insights and connecting with professionals.
- Power of User-Generated Content (UGC)
- UGC is a powerful tool for building trust and authenticity. Encouraging followers to create content about your products can enhance brand credibility and community engagement. Run contests and giveaways to motivate customers to share their experiences and feature their content on your social media channels to build a community and foster trust.
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Co-Branded Content Campaigns
Our number 1 pick for going all in on a strategy for the later half of the year is co-branded content. We’re bullish on co-branded content as a powerful, fresh and effective strategy.
Collaborating with other brands allows you to combine strengths, share costs, and reach broader audiences through joint campaigns, shared content, influencer collaborations, and integrated marketing efforts.
Advantages of Co-Branded Social Media Content:
- Expanded Reach and Engagement: Promote each other's content on social media, websites, and other channels for increased visibility.
- Joint Promotions: Partner for giveaways or special offers to leverage each other's audience.
- Enhanced Credibility and Trust: For an up and coming brand, this can be especially effective. You get all the advantages of highlighting the partnership and getting yourselves front and center in each other's feed.
- Creative Synergy: By integrating elements from both brands, the content becomes richer and more multifaceted.
- Cost Efficiency: Access to each other's teams keeps production costs down, and access to each other's audience's keeps promotional fees at a minimum.
- Shared Resources: Develop advertising campaigns featuring both brands to share costs and extend reach.
Co-Branded Content Tactics:
- Co-Authored Blog Posts or Articles: Combine expertise from both brands to add credibility and value.
- Joint Webinars or Live Streams: Engage audiences in real-time and provide valuable information from multiple viewpoints
- Joint Product Launches: Create special edition products that combine elements of both brands, generating buzz and excitement.
- Email Marketing: Feature each other's products in email newsletters to introduce each brand to the other's email subscribers.
- Experiential Marketing: Host joint events like pop-up shops, workshops, or online events to create memorable experiences and foster community engagement.
Tips for Successful Co-Branded Content:
- Align Values and Audience: Ensure both brands share similar values and target audiences.
- Clear Communication: Maintain open and clear communication between partners to align on goals, messaging, and execution.
- Equal Contribution: Both brands should contribute equally to the creation and promotion of content.
- Consistent Branding: Maintain brand consistency while integrating elements from both brands.
- Measure and Analyze: Track the performance of co-branded content to understand its impact and refine future strategies.
- Stop Pitching with Every Post: Focus on providing value rather than constant sales pitches. Share educational content, industry insights, and engage with your audience through comments and questions.
- Consider Niche Channels: Don’t overlook niche social media channels like Reddit, Quora, and niche forums that cater to specific interests and communities. These platforms can be valuable for reaching highly targeted audiences.
- Invest in Analytics: Use social media analytics tools to track your performance and adjust your strategy accordingly. Understand what works and what doesn’t, and continually refine your approach.
Here is an example of one of our successful co-branded social media campaigns:
We created a campaign in which our client, Chef Moussa Salloukh of Culinary Mavericks Restaurant Group partnered with foodie influencer Mike Alfara of Alf's Kitchen. Alf has over 500k followers across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. This co-branded content campaign drove the following results for our client:
- Reach: 5832
- Impressions: 6102
- Interactions: 245
- Likes: 168
- Comments: 37
- Shares: 20
- Saves: 20
All of these metrics are considered "higher than ususal" along with a boost in new followers. Overall, this was a very successful campaign for all stakeholders. Because the "brands" are complimentary there is also the possibility to do future collaborations and build upon this content.
Partnering with TandemTide for full-service social media strategy and turnkey management offers brands a comprehensive solution to enhance their online presence and engagement.
With a team of seasoned social media experts, TandemTide develops customized strategies and handles all aspects of social media management, from content creation to advanced analytics.
Our innovative approach to content resonates with target audiences, while proactive engagement builds a loyal community. Scalable and flexible services ensure tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes, backed by a proven track record of driving growth and positive client testimonials. This holistic approach allows brands to focus on core activities while maximizing their social media impact.
If you're in need of a better social media strategy, and ongoing full-serivce social media management, let's connect. Click here to contact us.