LocalSearch outlines 2020 social media trends for SMEs

LocalSearch has published an analysis detailing significant social media trends for 2020, with a specific focus on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can utilize these platforms for marketing. The report emphasizes social media's crucial role in increasing brand awareness, acquiring new customers, and driving sales.

The analysis identifies six key trends for SMEs. A primary focus is on micro-influencers. For SMEs lacking the budget for major influencers, micro-influencers, typically with several thousand followers, offer a cost-effective and often locally relevant approach to reach target audiences. Their perceived credibility is higher, and collaborations can be facilitated through platforms like SWISSPER.

Social commerce is highlighted as another significant growth area. Platforms such as Instagram now allow brands to tag products directly within posts, linking users to online shops. The "Stories" format, where content disappears after 24 hours, is presented as a valuable tool for businesses to engage audiences and promote offers. Instagram's "Swipe Up" feature, which directs users to external websites, is noted as an effective, though follower-dependent, marketing mechanism.

The growing importance of video content is underscored, with platforms like Facebook and YouTube reporting substantial daily viewership. SMEs are encouraged to adopt video marketing to strengthen customer relationships, and the "Stories" format is suggested as an accessible entry point for video production. LocalSearch also points out common pitfalls in video marketing, including poor lighting, inadequate audio, and script deviations, stressing the overall importance of quality content.