Keeping Up with Social Media Changes in 2024
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media and social media marketing strategies, staying ahead of the algorithm can seem like a never-ending race. The algorithms that dictate what content gets seen and what gets buried are in constant flux, and marketers can either keep up or get left in the dust. For brands and content creators, understanding and adapting to these changes is crucial to maintaining visibility and engagement across every platform.
At Burning Stick Creative, our social media experts offer tailored, customized strategies to create engaging content, leveraging the latest features and trends to maximize your online presence. However, if you’re on your own out there in the social media sea, here are some tips to stay afloat and even thrive amongst the perpetual wave of algorithm updates.
Stay Informed!
The first step in navigating social media changes is staying informed. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn frequently revise their algorithms, often with little fanfare. If you don’t anticipate changes, these updates have the potential to derail campaigns and waste marketing dollars. Track the official blogs and social media channels of these platforms for announcements, and follow industry news sites like Social Media Examiner, HubSpot, and TechCrunch for updates and expert analysis.
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Engage Consistently
Engagement is a critical factor for most social media algorithms. The more you engage and connect with your audience, the more likely your content will be prioritized. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean posting multiple times a day, several days a week. Posting excessively can lead to decreased engagement and audience fatigue, rather than concentrated on fewer, higher-quality posts. Low engagement per post signals to the algorithm that your content is less valuable and reduces its visibility.
Other than posting quality content, brands need to respond to comments, participate in conversations, and encourage user interaction with their audience. Live videos, polls, and interactive stories are great tools for fostering engagement!
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity
While posting regularly keeps your brand highly visible, the quality of your content is paramount. Algorithms favor content that garners high engagement. High-quality content that resonates with your audience is more likely to be shared, liked, and commented on, which boosts visibility. Focus on creating content that is informative, entertaining, industry specific, and visually appealing to keep your brand at the top of the feeds.
Utilize New Features
Social media platforms often debut new features to keep users engaged and provide new outlets for content, and algorithms tend to favor content that utilize these new tools. For instance, Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, and LinkedIn’s article feature can boost your content’s visibility by targeting a different audience segment than photos or graphic content. Social platforms will always prioritize their new features and applications, so keeping on top of trends can help you capitalize on the platform’s roll-out.
Leverage Analytics
Understanding what works and what doesn’t in your industry is key to adapting your strategy. Use the analytics tools provided by social media platforms, like Meta Business Suite and LinkedIn Analytics & Tools, to track performance. With these tools, you can analyze which posts receive the most engagement, the best times to post, and the demographics of your audience. This data-driven approach allows you to refine your content strategy to align with algorithmic and audience preferences.
Diversify Your Content
Different types of content can perform differently depending on the platform and the current algorithm. Diversify your content to include a mix of videos, images, text posts, graphics, and interactive content like polls and quizzes to keep your feed interesting. Different content types can capture different segments of your audience, ensuring that your messaging has a wider reach.
Collaborate with Influencers
Influencer marketing can provide some industries with a significant boost. Algorithms often favor content that is already performing well, and influencers have dedicated followings who trust their recommendations, making them valuable partners for increasing brand awareness and driving engagement.
By partnering with influencers whose values align with your brand, you can create authentic and relatable content that resonates with both your audience and theirs. This collaboration can take various forms, including sponsored posts, product reviews, or joint campaigns, all of which help tap into new audiences and foster a sense of trust and authenticity around your brand.
Adapt & Experiment
Finally, social media marketers need to stay prepared to adapt and continue to experiment with different strategies. Social media is dynamic, so what works today might not work tomorrow. Stay flexible, be willing to try new strategies, and don’t be afraid to pivot when necessary!
Keeping up with social media algorithm changes can be daunting, but by staying informed and being adaptable you can navigate the algorithmic waters successfully. Remember, the key is to remain proactive and responsive to the ever-changing social media landscape. By following these tips and strategies, you can ensure your content remains visible and engaging, no matter what changes come your way. By focusing on these key aspects, you can build a robust social media presence that withstands the test of time and those pesky algorithm updates.
If you’re struggling to keep up with the ever-changing social media landscape, don’t let your brand get lost in the noise! Contact Burning Stick Creative today, and let our team of social media experts and content creators handle the complexities of algorithms, create engaging content, and build a strong online presence for your brand. Contact us today to get started, and set your social media game on fire with Burning Stick Creative!
