Social media is constantly changing, but staying up to date with current trends without losing sight of your core business goals can be a daily balancing act. At Central Florida Media Group, we help businesses find that balance. Today, we’re covering tips on how to stay current while maintaining your social media strategy.
Have a Plan
It can be easy to get caught up in finding the next big trend on social media, but it can also lead to burnout. Mindlessly scrolling looking for your next idea is not a good way to source content. Decide ahead of time how much effort and resources you’re willing to allocate for trend-based content. We also encourage you to think about your current audience and if they will even respond well to trending memes or audio. When you plan ahead, you can decide which trends will resonate within your industry yet still stay focused on your business goals.
Use Reliable Sources
Trending sounds and styles can change daily, but staying informed through reliable industry sources helps you stay on top of your goals without losing focus. Subscribing to newsletters, reading reputable blogs, and following industry influencers can help you spot trends early without being overwhelmed. Instead of chasing every trend, pick a few that are recommended from platforms like Social Media Today or LinkedIn. This way, you’re able to understand trends in-depth before jumping on the bandwagon. You can even set up Google Alerts for specific keywords related to your industry to help you stay relevant in your niche.
Speak to *Your* Audience
Not every trend that is going viral will be worth your brand’s attention. It is important to filter out styles and memes that don’t align with your business objectives. Prioritize trends that can help grow your audience or keep current customers engaged. Being intentional with what trend you use will help you drive focused engagement.
Use Tools to Track
Don’t spend hours scrolling through social media feeds to find up-and-coming trends. There are a variety of digital tools that can track media trends for you. Tools like BuzzSumo, Google Trends, and Trendspottr can highlight what is gaining traction in your industry and will allow you to jump onboard to relevant movements early.
Don’t Just Do Trends
Trends are great to grab the attention of new followers or engage your current ones, but make sure your content strategy includes content that will remain relevant over time. This helps with your long-term engagement and shows your commitment to substance. Timeless (or evergreen) content remains useful over longer periods of time and will drive traffic to your page long after a trend is over. Feeling stuck about what to use for evergreen content? We recommend FAQS, educational blog posts, or even sharing about your mission and services. At Central Florida Media Group, we help businesses create a content calendar that balances both trends and timeless topics to build sustainable and engaged traffic.
Staying current with social media can be a full-time job and is important for digital success, but it doesn’t mean scrolling for hours or pulling your brand away from your core objectives. By following a balanced approach that speaks to your industry and audience, you are going to set yourself up for success. At CFMG, we help businesses create sustainable social media strategies that prevent burnout and help build your brand. Reach out today to see how we can help give your business a boost online.
