By Katie Zupancic Wymer
Now that we’ve tackled email trends, let’s look at what is happening in social media. With such diverse content flooding your news feed, how do you make your posts stand out? While we may spend hours crafting the perfect post and designing the most eye-catching graphic or video, our team has one motto: at the end of the day, your content is up against a cat meme.
Keeping that in mind, what social media trends can your team capitalize on to get your content shown before the video of the singing ventriloquist from America’s Got Talent?
- If you’re not frequently sharing video content, start now.
Whether you’re sharing on Facebook Live, Instagram Stories, or posting professionally-made videos, video should absolutely be a strong component of your organic social media strategy. As you’re building your content calendar, think of unique ways to incorporate video that don’t require a professional videographer – if you have a series of images you captured at your event, build a video slideshow and use that to accompany copy about your event.
Not sure how to do on-event live streaming? Check out this infographic.
- User-generated content shows that you care about your participants – and it will perform.
After your event, you likely receive posts, comments, and other feedback about how special your event was to participants. Mine through to find your favorite posts and images and ask the posters for permission to share their content in your marketing materials. For example, re-sharing a team shot posted by a team captain not only showcases your event in an authentic way, it demonstrates that you value your participants’ voices and want to share them. Similarly, a user-generated GoPro video of someone tackling your course shows the true experience of your event; and taking them on that journey through the eyes of a participant could be the tipping point that drives someone to register.
- Embrace an omnichannel approach.
Sound familiar? This was the #3 trend in our blog post on email trends. This trend is so hugely important in marketing – whether email marketing, social media marketing, or digital advertising – that we think it should be mentioned again. Don’t keep your social media content in a silo. Though your emails may (and should) take on a slightly different tone to match the marketing channel, your messaging should be consistent across platforms. By sharing cohesive messaging, your followers will connect more deeply with your overall brand…and perhaps choose to share your content over this meme of a happy kitten.
If you need support implementing these email or social media trends into your marketing, let us know…we want to help!
Katie Zupancic Wymer (LinkedIn, Twitter) is the Manager, Consumer Marketing at Event 360. She manages digital marketing and social media strategy and sponsorship for MuckFest® MS, the FUN mud run in support of a world free of multiple sclerosis. She also manages digital marketing for other fundraising events like Bike MS. Newly Minnesotan, she enjoys exploring her new home with her tiny dogs, Annie and Charlie.
