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4 Key Social Media Trends to Watch Out for in 2024

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Today, marketers around the world use social media to engage their target audiences. Social listening is an effective tool for acquiring customer insights, enabling a deeper understanding of both current customers and potential clients. A reputable social media marketing agency Los Angeles can help you craft a bulletproof social media marketing strategy.

Whether you’re a digital marketer or business owner, watch out for these social media trends that are expected to make a splash in 2024.

The Demand for Short-form Video Content Will Increase

In 2024, there’s an anticipated rise in the popularity of short-form video content, generally considered to be videos less than 10 minutes long, with some marketers advocating for under 3 minutes. These concise videos are ideal for highlighting new products, offering quick tips, or providing behind-the-scenes glimpses.

Short-form videos can help capture and hold user attention, enabling marketers to create an emotional connection with their target audiences. Create concise, engaging videos to tell stories or showcase products and upload them to the right platforms. Explore new formats, ideas, and interactive elements to keep your video content engaging.

Engagement is Moving to DMs

As social media users get bombarded with sponsored and brand-specific content, conversations are happening over DMs. Another reason why direct messaging is becoming popular is that many social media users feel comfortable sharing their opinions within specific groups. In 2022, Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said that more Instagram users are sending direct messages, rather than posting stories to their main feed.

To make the most of this trend, implement automated responses for frequently asked questions. This ensures users get prompt answers without long waits. Leverage social inbox tools to efficiently handle direct messages and quickly address user inquiries across various platforms.

More Digital Marketers Will Leverage AI for Content Creation

A HubSpot study estimates that around 31 percent of marketers use generative AI to create social media posts. Many social media users are wary of AI-generated content. It’s important that content creators lend a human touch to AI-generated content to humanize it.

Create clear guidelines for generating content using AI. Make sure a team reviews AI-generated content to check the tone before it is shared on social media.

Social Media Platforms are Becoming Search Engines

Numerous internet users turn to social media platforms not only to discover new products but also to stay updated with current events and obtain insights about various products. To improve the reach of your content on social media, incorporate keywords into it. Make images accessible for all users by adding alt text to them.  Create engaging content that answers user questions.

WSI Smart Marketing is a trusted social media marketing agency in Los Angeles. We focus on enhancing engagement, increasing brand visibility, and driving growth through various social media platforms. If you’re looking to enhance your business’s social media strategy, learn more about our services by calling  424-429-6366.

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5 SEO Trends for 2024 You Should Know

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Search engine optimization involves improving a website’s visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs). An effective SEO strategy can help expand your reach. Whether you want to build an SEO strategy from scratch or streamline an existing strategy, an SEO company Santa Monica can help. Skilled digital marketing experts are trained in the use of digital marketing tools and are equipped to develop custom SEO strategies.

SEO has come a long way and is still evolving at an unprecedented rate. The landscape of SEO tools and techniques is constantly evolving, making it essential for digital marketers and business owners to stay abreast of the latest trends in SEO. This continual change means that what’s effective today might not be tomorrow, emphasizing the need for ongoing awareness and adaptation in SEO strategies.

Digital Marketers Will Demonstrate Their Expertise Through Content

The field of AI-generated content is rapidly evolving. Numerous digital marketers have already embraced AI tools, while others are actively devising strategies to use AI in content creation . This shift indicates a growing trend in integrating AI into digital marketing practices. As the number of content creators using AI to create content increases, content experts will use real-world examples, case studies, and try to create content that provide insights into real-world problems that their target audiences are facing to demonstrate their expertise. By demonstrating subject-matter expertise, you make your content stand out and build credibility and authority.

Personalization is the new Buzzword

Personalized content is tailored to the specific interests, preferences, behaviors, or needs of an individual user or audience segment. There are several compelling reasons to create personalized content. It can help improve user experience (and consequently increase user engagement), build customer loyalty and improve conversion rates. Personalized content can also generate consumer insights and help you gain a competitive edge.

Follow these steps to create personalized content.

  • Data collection: The first step in creating personalized content is to collect user data related to their browsing and purchase history of users, and social media interactions
  • Analysis and segmentation: The collected data is then analyzed to understand patterns, preferences, and behaviors. Users are often segmented into different groups based on these analyses.
  • Content customization: Based on the analysis, content is then created or modified to suit the preferences of each user or user segment. Personalized content could take many forms including targeted advertisements, personalized product recommendations, and customized news feeds. You can also stream content that aligns with the user’s past viewing history.
  • Delivery: The personalized content is delivered to the user, often using algorithms that continuously analyze user interactions. Algorithms provide actionable insights and can help content creators keep their content relevant and engaging over time.
  • Feedback loop: Algorithms collect data (such as number of clicks on an ad, purchases, likes, or the amount of time users spend interacting with the ad). You can use these insights to refine your personalization strategy.

Content personalization has several benefits and can help you engage your target audience more effectively, but it also raises concerns about user privacy. A reputable SEO company in Santa Monica can help you create highly engaging personalized content while respecting user privacy.

E-E-A-T Matters to Google

Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness or E-E-A-T is a framework used by Google to assess the quality of content on a website. You can demonstrate E-E-A-T to search engines by focusing on user search intent. Include detailed information and author bios in your content to build trust and create value for readers. When creating content, watch out for grammatical mistakes and typos that can make you look like an amateur. Verify any data or information from reputable sources before including it in your content. Use case studies, certifications, and credentials to build authority and credibility.

The Popularity of Voice Search Will Rise in 2024

When you perform a voice search, you request information by speaking, instead of typing your query. Voice search is often faster and more convenient than text search, especially for longer queries. It’s particularly useful when users are multitasking.

Voice search is particularly beneficial for individuals with disabilities, aiding those who face challenges with typing due to physical limitations, vision impairments, or dyslexia. This technology enhances accessibility, making it easier for a wider range of users to interact with and utilize digital platforms. Thanks to technological advancements, the accuracy of voice search is improving with each passing day. The number of voice search users is expected to reach more than 125 million in 2024.

Here are some ways to optimize your site for voice search:

  • Use natural language and questions and long tail keywords
  • Optimize for local search
  • Use schema markup
  • Make sure your site is lightning fast
  • Create FAQ pages
  • Since most voice searches are done on mobile devices, you will want to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly
  • Try to get featured snippets

Video and Image Optimization to Become a Necessity

There are several reasons why you should seriously consider optimizing the videos and images on your site. Optimized images and videos can help improve page loading speed and ranking, reduce bounce rate, and help your content stand out from the crowd. If you are trying to manage high traffic on your website, optimized media can help ensure that the hosting server is not overburdened.

To optimize images, follow these key tips:

  • Use the right format (JPEG for photographs and images with gradients, PNG for images with text, logos)
  • Resize and compress them
  • Optimize thumbnails
  • Implement lazy loading
  • Remove unnecessary data such as camera settings and GPS data

Follow these tips to optimize videos:

  • Use effective codecs such as H.264, H.265, or VP9
  • Use the right resolution and bitrate
  • Optimize video thumbnails
  • Implement lazy loading for videos
  • Compress video files

WSI Smart Marketing is a leading SEO company in Santa Monica. Our team of experts leverages extensive knowledge and innovative strategies to create effective SEO solutions tailored to your business needs. To make an appointment with one of our digital marketing experts, call 424-429-6366.