It’s been nearly ten years since TikTok came on the scene. Surprised? Social media marketing has a way of outpacing its image, older than you thought. It’s like a celebrity that mysteriously never ages. Yet, Facebook launched its IPO over 15 years ago.
If you have yet to create a strategic approach for your social media marketing for 2026, some statistics may convince you to prioritize it. Social media is central to the majority of brand experiences and it’s likely that in a couple of decades, history will clearly define the impact social media has had in separating brands that excelled from those that faded. Take a look at three stats that are indicators of important trends happening in social media marketing:
Among those who gather information online before making a purchase, 72.3% do brand research on social media.
What This Means for You: It’s time to invest some of your marketing budget in social listening. You need to know what customers and leads are saying about your brand and about your competitors. If you aren’t one of the voices leading the conversation, figure out who is and how to contribute to the discussion.
80.7% of Snapchat users are also active on Facebook.
What This Means for You: Sometimes, the media may give the impression that great online hordes are fleeing an old platform to run off and join Instagram, TikTok or whatever the next social media platform is. Social media users tend to be loyal, and while a new site can be fun, it’s also comforting to hang out where you already know what you can expect to find.
Don’t worry too much about chasing the crowd to the next platform. Do research to find out where your audiences spend their time and focus your investment there. Make decisions based on data.
When people spend time on the Internet, they’re doing it on a smartphone.
What This Means for You: The devices your audiences use to access social media have big implications for a lot of your social media marketing strategy. For instance, you may decide to create shorter, snackable content that is easy to consume while doing a variety of activities
You may also want to consider your video formats and whether they are ideal for your most-used platforms. Is it easy to see your CTA or in-app links?
No matter where your audience accesses social media, make sure the brand experience is notable and consistent. Whether users are waiting for a friend at a restaurant or killing a couple of minutes on the couch during a commercial break, they should get the same sense of your brand messaging and presence.
Social media marketing will continue to change as new technology and platforms roll out. It may be that the most important step you can take in your strategy is to adopt a mindset of regular refinement and updates. A stale social media marketing strategy is likely to be an ineffective one.
Ready to chat about where your social media marketing stacks up against the competition? SJC Marketing can help you develop a new strategy, update an old one or simply brainstorm some campaigns to get a fresh take on your brand. Contact us to learn more!