The fact that social media is constantly evolving isn’t exactly breaking news. Platforms come and go, algorithms change, and new content formats are introduced. It can be hard to keep up with all the changes and trends, and getting stuck in a rut is easy. That’s why we’ve put together three tips for keeping up with social media trends & best practices.

1. Keep up with social media marketing blogs

If you want to keep up with the latest social media trends, the best way to do so is to keep up with the blogs that are covering them. There are more social media marketing blogs out there than one might expect and they not only provide a convenient way to stay up to date with social trends, but even tips and tricks, in-depth analyses, or just a roundup of the biggest news from the past week.

You might be thinking, I have no time to keep up with these blogs every day. I get it – One of the main business owner struggles is the lack of time to get everything done. Staying up to date with social media trends can be as simple as blocking off some time each week to catch up on all the blog content. That could be 15 minutes, one hour, or just whatever best suits your needs. You can even receive notifications when a new blog post is published! Most blogs offer a free subscription option, so it’s easier than ever to try utilizing different blogs and see what works best for you.

Some of my favorite social media marketing blogs include:

• Social Media Examiner
• Social Media Today
• SocialMadeSimple 
• HubSpot
• Marketing Brew
• BuzzSumo
  

2. Check out trends on Instagram’s Explore tab

Instagram is always one step ahead with a built-in tool to aid marketers. Try to form a habit of utilizing Instagram’s Explore tab regularly. Become comfortable with researching different hashtags like #socialmediamarketing or #socialmediamarketingtips, for example, and see where people’s interests are.

• What are people talking about?
• What types of content get the most engagement?
• What’s working well for other businesses?

As you type in a hashtag to search, users can even explore using a list of related topics that appear along with the volume of posts using that particular hashtag. Take advantage of Instagram’s Explore tab and use your learnings to form and optimize a consistently effective social media marketing strategy!

3. Facebook Newsroom

Have you heard of Facebook’s Newsroom? It’s a dedicated place on Facebook where you can access the latest news, announcements, and media resources. Stay up to date on the latest and greatest with endless content to read and learn from. Explore different categories like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and much more. Even sift through topics such as “Company News” or “Technology and Innovation”.

Take advantage of Facebook’s Newsroom beyond the latest trends, and read articles filled with tips and best practices written by the masters themselves such as Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri. Below are a few recent articles that help marketers stay up to date on all things social media:

• Two New Ways to Control Your Instagram Feed
  
• Introducing New Messaging Features on Instagram
  
• New Voice Messaging Features on WhatsApp
  
• New Tools to Help Group Admins Protect, Manage and Grow Their Facebook Groups

Video Transcript

Veronica: What’s just for the moment versus what is something we can take to our business and our clients? Carving out that actual time on your calendar each week is the absolute key!

Ryan: When it comes to the companies that we work with, there are so many choices out there for agencies and 2020 really forced the entire business world into focusing on their online presence. In a space that is rapidly changing, how do you feel our team stays educated when it comes to everything social media and continues to apply best practices as time goes on?

Veronica: Yeah that’s something I am strongly passionate about – making sure that we’re implementing education sessions as a part of our team workflow! Actually setting an hour to yourself, whether it’s watching YouTube videos or going on to Facebook Blueprint and making sure that your certifications are up to date, and just staying on top of the trends and the technology and developments that are coming every day. Also taking from that what’s viable for our clients and what’s not. Some trends are just a flavor of the week and some are really worth investing in our practice and our business and can turn into success for our clients. 

I think it’s important when looking at these educations, being able to differentiate between what’s just for the moment versus what is something we can take to our business and our clients. Carving out that actual time on your calendar each week is the absolute key for keeping up with trends and staying in the know of your space.

Ryan: Absolutely! I think it’s something that can really get lost in the day-to-day and in the more monotonous tasks that everyone has on their plate. Of course, we have the big picture in mind of being able to push the company forward but, as you said, it really does make a difference when you carve out that hour per week; or even articles can be something to share with the team and make a monumental difference with our workflow.