With new social networking platforms appearing from behind every corner, it can be hard to know exactly where to commit your time and resources. And as we move into the latter-half of 2013, it’s important to look ahead to where social networking is going, and how we can get on board.

As I think about the trends in social media so far this year, I’ve compiled a list of my predictions as to where we’re headed as we inch towards 2014.

1. Investment in Social Media Will Become a Necessity, Not a Luxury

While I’d argue that investing time and resources into a social media strategy is most definitely a necessity in 2013, I believe the tipping point in public sentiment from ‘should have’ to ‘must have’ will occur in 2014.

Businesses are already coming to terms with the need to integrate their social media efforts with their content strategy, and are seeing the impact of social media in terms of lead generation, referral traffic, and revenue.

As businesses see these very real and measurable benefits, I believe we’ll see a move away from assigning social media tasks to existing employees, and see even more companies hiring social media strategists or full-time social media managers.

The benefits of social media are many, but they include:

Improved social signals (which are a factor in the search ranking algorithm).
Company branding
Improved brand awareness
Word-of-mouth advertising
Increased customer loyalty and trust
Improved audience reach and influence

Social media is also one of the three pillars of SEO.




2. Google + Will Become a Major Factor

While Facebook continues to lead the pack in terms of number of active monthly users (1.15 billion at last count), Google+ is quickly gaining steam, and in fact, now has the second highest number of monthly users (343 million).

With Google using the platform to collect personal information (think demographics, location, etc.), Google+ should no longer be thought of as ‘just’ another social network. It’s increasingly proving itself to be an integral part of Google’s grand scheme in terms of SEO, social signals and providing a more personalized search experience. This is especially apparent with the importance of Google Authorship, which I project will be one of the key components to Google’s search ranking algorithm by the end of 2014.

I believe that businesses who are finding themselves spread thin with their social media efforts will increasingly turn to Google+ as the closest thing we have to a ‘one size fits all’ social network.

As Google+ moves towards even greater integration with other aspects of the web – as they’ve already done with their foray into local search – I think we’ll see its growth skyrocket, both in terms of business and personal use. For information on how to start using Google+, read “How to Breathe Life into Your Google+ Profile.”



3. Image-Centric Networks Will See Huge Success

We’ve seen a consistent trend in 2013 toward sharing through image and video, rather than text-based content. Visual content will increasingly become a critical piece of any solid content strategy, and social networking site Pinterest will continue to shed its reputation as a ‘women’s only’ network and become an integral part of retailers’ marketing strategies.

Other image-based social media sites like Slideshare, Tumblr, Path, and Mobli will continue to grow, and businesses will need to become more mindful about the ‘sharability’ factor of photos on their websites and blogs in order to derive significant benefit from their social media content marketing efforts.



4. We’ll Witness the Rise of Micro-Video

It seems that writing 140 characters and taking 3 minute long videos is becoming too tedious for many of us. Micro video to the rescue!

With the emergence of micro video apps like Twitter’s Vine and now Instagram’s video sharing feature, we’re seeing even more movement toward real-time video sharing. And not just any videos; with Instagram allowing 3-15 seconds per video, and Vine allowing precisely 6 seconds, users are even more likely to create and share videos from their smartphones.

It will be interesting to see if and how these bite-sized pieces of content will change the playing field when it comes to video-based social media.



5. Foursquare Will Decline Sharply

With stale traffic numbers, and significant difficulties raising capital in 2013, Foursquare continues to struggle its way towards 2014.

With other social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offering location-based features, it seems like only a matter of time before Foursquare folds and their users are absorbed into these other networks.



6. MySpace, Love it or Hate it, Will Grow
With their radical makeover and re-branding efforts earlier this year, MySpace appears to be getting its second wind. Offering an iPhone app that allows users to network, receive private messages, and listen to their own personalized radio station, MySpace seems to be on track for growth in 2014.



7. LinkedIn Will Become a Major Player for B2B Business Growth

Still holding steady as the #1 social networking site for professionals with 238 million users, LinkedIn isn’t just sitting on its heels. With the launch of its Influencers program, LinkedIn is positioning itself as not only another networking site, but as one of the largest sources of content creation and curation for professionals.

As it grows and attracts even more users, the advantages of being “linked in” will become enormous for B2B marketers.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2013/09/24/the-top-7-social-media-marketing-trends-that-will-dominate-2014/
Follow me on Twitter @chrisdaramola for more insights, predictions, and expertise.

Nice write up
Anyway FTC

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for nija? think twice oooooooo

Just passing

h

....

.

...:...... K

Jeeesus!! 1st 2 coment, cantbilivit choi ekwekwe ge kweta.. well, google+ al d way

dats true, and i guess ASUU wil hav its own social network.. I pray

Nairaland will keep growing kudos to seun.

Jarushub will open physical office and compete with the Jobbermans of this worldv

possibly

Facebook continues !

My advice to Seun is to make the front page comment spaces available for sale.

That way, all the people that stay up night and day, just to reserve a space on the front page with "." can finally be rewarded for all their hard work.

They would finally be able to say with confidence that, "This space is for sale!"

Facebook continue

...

Geopascal: Jeeesus!! 1st 2 coment, cantbilivit choi ekwekwe ge kweta.. well, google+ al d way

this is why i support abbortion

The only problem with social media marketing is that it doesnt translate directly to money. It just creates awareness but theres no money tagging on it.

Geopascal: Jeeesus!! 1st 2 coment, cantbilivit choi ekwekwe ge kweta.. well, google+ al d way

Chei! Sorry o!! stop using Airtel...

Back to topic...i believe this thread. Getting ready by launching my own personal dating site which will be ready by January.

Jarus: Jarushub will open physical office and compete with the Jobbermans of this worldv

Nice development, best of luck in your endeavor oga jarus.

alaoeri:
Nice development, best of luck in your endeavor oga jarus.

Thanks bro.

@scratcbro .......with awareness comes the availability of choices which may translate to money.....no one will even talk to you if they are not aware you exist and can offer the service.

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slimthugchimee: this is why i support abbortion

First to Abort. lmaooooo

Maybe we'll have a nairaland mobile app in 2014, its long overdue

scratchbro: The only problem with social media marketing is that it doesnt translate directly to money. It just creates awareness but theres no money tagging on it.

Can you provide contrary statistics from print and conventional media.
Awareness is the primary impact of all media campaigns, pushing your brand to be 'top on the mind' so that whenever anybody needs a product line from your range of products, your's appears on the consciousness.
Given that fact, one can say that social media is doing extremely well, as it allows potential customers to also engage the brand directly, and build long lasting loyalty.

Yoshi-Master:
My advice to Seun is to make the front page comment spaces available for sale.

That way, all the people that stay up night and day, just to reserve a space on the front page with "." can finally be rewarded for all their hard work.

The would finally be able to say with confidence that, "This space is for sale!"

Lol

Still dunno how to use this shiiit. signed up for linkedin about 6years ago.

slimthugchimee: ...:...... K

slimthugchimee: .

mksn: ...

ebamma: .

satowind: .

slimthugchimee: .

kingston247: ....

See all this werey pipo...

And where is nairaland in the scheme of things

Nowhere to be found

When una dey ban people till year 2509, who will use the forum.

Yeyemods