You're falling behind on social media trends. How can you catch up and stay ahead of the game?

To stay updated with social media changes, I: I stay active on the biggest and popular platforms, even if they don't perfectly fit my interests. Smaller platforms often adopt the practices of industry leaders, as seen when META platforms introduced reels, which now inspired LinkedIn to adopt a similar format. I follow active influencers across industries, even if their content isn’t my focus, since they often follow new trends first. Subscribe to platform newsletters and Marketing Pro emails for the latest updates and trends. We regularly exchange insights with my colleagues and industry peers in dedicated chats. This collaboration is key to staying ahead of trends.

Scroll actively and follow key figures in your niche. Use trending platforms like Google Trends, Search Engine Marketing Guides, and a lot more. Observe what competitors are doing and how they are executing the campaigns.

To stay up to date, you need to keep an eye on emerging trends on social media. Look at what people are talking about and sharing. Check out what's trending and why. This helps you understand what people like and what works. Platforms like google trends and social mention can help you identify emerging topics and their popularity.

I'll be a little controversial: how "on-trend" do you need to be? I'd recommend focusing on quality over trendiness. Produce content that communicates substance. Sure, follow thought leaders whose content you find compelling. (Better yet, engage with them.) Sure, spot trends and experiment with them. (If they fit your brand voice - not all of them will.) But overall, prioritize style over trendiness. Just because "flowy pants" are in doesn't mean you should replace every trouser in your closet. Stash away your skinny jeans; buy one billowing bottom. But don't fritter a fortune on time and money trying to match every microtrend.

In order to track trending topics you can check the 'Google trends' platform. It provides real-time data on search queries, allowing you to identify what people are interested in at any given moment.

Flexibility is key. I believe in tailoring content to match the latest trends while staying true to my brand’s voice. It’s like giving your followers the best of both worlds.

As much as we have all heard the previous generation say that our phones are practically extentions of our arms, there is unfortunately truth and method in that seemingly old school saying. The truth is the way for one to always be on top or keep up with the trends is to proactively and purposefully be scrolling through various social media platforms. In doing so it gives one the chance to always be reading and consume content as it is published. What I have found lately is that the personalization or customisation of ads, aligned to what one searches,although a great marketing or advertising mechanism , has fundamentaly created a tool where one is exposed to relevant content. In addition, new information is only a new search prompt away.

To keep up with social media: Track trends: See what's popular. Adapt content: Make posts that fit current trends, but stay true to your brand. Experiment: Try different kinds of posts to see what works best. Engage: Talk to your followers. Analyze: Check how well your posts are doing. Stay updated: Keep watching trends and changing your posts as needed.

Leveraging new features is essential for staying ahead. Here's how: - Analyze how your target audience interacts with new features. This helps you understand if & how to incorporate them into your strategy based on audience preferences - Adapt your content format & style to align with the new features. For example, if a platform introduces short-form video, then create engaging video content to capitalize on the increased visibility - Monitor how competitors utilize new features. This helps you identify successful strategies & avoid common pitfalls, staying ahead of the curve

Social media platforms often add new features. Using these features can make your brand look cool and up-to-date. Plus, platforms might show your posts to more people if you use their new features. So, try out new things to reach a bigger audience.

The comment section is a hidden gem. We put too much effort in content creation and we forget that the comment section offers a unique opportunity to boost brand awareness. Numerous companies have achieved viral success simply by responding thoughtfully to their audience's comments. This is where social listening becomes invaluable. By diligently monitoring and participating in relevant conversations, you can seamlessly integrate your brand into the community. JUST Slideeeee into comment sections

To keep people interested, you need to talk to them. Answer their comments, join conversations, and ask them questions. This will make them feel more connected to you and help you understand what they like.

Think of your data as a guide to success. Start by setting clear goals and using tools to track key numbers like reach and clicks. This shows what’s working and what needs to change. Watch how different posts do and change your plan based on what works best. For example, if videos get more likes than pictures, make more videos.

To stay ahead, use tools to track how your posts do. Look for patterns in what works well. Change your strategy based on the data. Don’t be afraid to try something new if it’s not working.

Being proactive about social media trends doesn't have to mean that you take hours out of your day searching for the next big thing. Instead, find a few sources that report on trends and updates (Social Media Examiner is a great one) and subscribe to their podcast or newsletter, or follow their profile. This way, you'll naturally be informed about platform updates. But don't just consume the information, think of ways that you can apply it to the profiles that you manage. Add it to your strategy and then look at the analytics to see how it worked. This will help you make sure that your strategy stays optimized.

To stay ahead, be proactive. Go to events, meet other people in the industry, and always look for what’s new. This will help you see changes coming and adjust your strategy before others do.