The year 2023 has brought with it a number of fascinating concrete social media trends. During the summer, in the realm of social media, live broadcasts, user-generated content (UGC = user generated content) and particularly niche content rose to even greater popularity, and they have revolutionized the way social media users consume content on social media platforms. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at three social media trends that are at the surface at the end of 2023 and examine why they have won over the users of social media platforms.
Live streaming, or real-time live broadcasts, have become established in the daily lives of 2023 social media users on TikTok, Twitch and Instagram platforms thanks to their ease, authenticity and addictiveness. Nowadays, making a live broadcast no longer requires heavy equipment – just a phone, a good microphone and a calm environment are enough! Live broadcasts also enable a unique way for users to participate in events, discuss with followers and share moments in real time. Lives also enable deep interaction between users and brands, which builds trust and commitment. Brands use interactive live broadcasts, for example in product launches and interviews.
UGC (User Generated Content) or consumer-created content has risen strongly in Finland's social media field in 2023. Many brands have decided to use ordinary people instead of or in addition to big influencers in their social media advertisements. Often as part of a campaign, the target audience is challenged to create their own content in which the brand or product is central and thus participate in, for example, a giveaway. The reason behind the popularity is that consumers trust the authentic recommendation of a peer more than the company's own communication. On the other hand, authentic user-generated content enables brands to easily scale the way to produce advertisements or content to the brand's own channels.
The name UGC may nowadays in some cases be misleading, as UGC content for companies is often also created by paid UGC content producers focused on it rather than ordinary consumers. A brand must choose its UGC content producers very carefully, as they must profile themselves to the target audience of the brand and the advertised product or service. On the other hand, it is good to make sure that the content producer is not simultaneously the face of multiple brands, as this can easily undermine authentic and credible recommendations.
If UGC marketing interests you, contact our team. We will find suitable UGC content producers for the brand.
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Content creators producing niche content focus on specific topics or target audiences, and it has been noticed that due to great competition, it is good to narrow down the niche of your own channel very precisely. This approach has proven to be a very effective way to engage your target audience. Precisely targeted niche content has the ability to reach a narrower but more engaged audience and create a community that is interested in a carefully selected topic or theme.
There are core niches and sub-niches. For example, one large core niche on social media is food and cooking. Its sub-niches can have accounts dedicated entirely to affordable everyday food recipes, dessert recipes or, for example, vegan food. Another large core niche on social media right now is fitness and wellness. Its sub-niches can be, for example, yoga & meditation, gym & bodybuilding and healthy nutrition & everyday movement. From niches that are compatible with each other and combined, which have a similar target audience, an influencer or brand's brand image builds on social media.
The number of social media content creators has grown enormously and Finland alone has creators suitable for the brand for almost any topic. This enables brands to access different cultural traits and bubbles. Whether the topic is wellness, cooking, mountain biking or artificial intelligence.
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What these end-of-2023 social media trends have in common is one thing – They are ways to engage and build community on social media platforms credibly. The real-time interaction offered by live broadcasts, the authenticity of UGC, and the precise targeting of interesting niche content have made the social media experience increasingly personal. Brand success on social media platforms depends on the ability to understand and leverage these trends that have dominated the social media world at the end of 2023.
Looking for a partner to create your brand's own media? Contact our team!
