We are starting to use social media in a more sophisticated way and in this presentation I share 9 trends that I've noticed over the last few months.

1. 9 trends in social
media 2014
By Sofie Sandell
author of the book Digital Leadership

2. 1) More and more businesses are getting better at
experimenting with digital and social media, just
look at the FTSE 500 or any big brands for
inspiration.
Many brands are also starting to understand how
their followers react to different messages on
social media – they understand their audience –
and this will lead to better engagement.

3. 2) Social media is a huge element in
business. If you wish to communicate with
your stakeholders you need to use social
media well.
To not use social media is almost as bad as
not having a phone number and address.
We must be able to communicate with
businesses, organisations and people.

4. 3) Using social media for sharing knowledge is
already big, but this will take off even more.
People who are great community managers and
have facilitation skills are in high demand.

5. 4) Collaboration and quick and easy knowledge
sharing will grow in organisations. We are learning
how to use the social tools to facilitate
conversations and problems solving online.
Online learning is moving onto mobile devices. We
feel a bit stuck doing online training in front of a
computer. Apps and mobile friendly websites
where you can do online learning on the go will
grow.

6. 5) Businesses are getting better at replicating
digital projects – this will save them a lot of time
and investments.
We want to be able to use the digital platforms
again and again.

7. 6) New apps will continue to be invented for all
kinds of purposes. The apps that are difficult to
use will be deleted the minute after they are
downloaded.
Apps that employ great design that respects users
will be the winners.

8. 7) Private messaging Apps such as WhatsApp and WeChat
are important. After I visited China and started to use
WeChat I understood how big this platform will become.
If you are a brand marketer you should get into this area and
start using private messaging apps in your marketing mix.
There are also opportunities to integrate your online shop
into apps such as WeChat which may be worth exploring.
!

9. 8) The popularity of short-form videos will grow
and we will see them used as part of all major
online campaigns. Start looking at Instagram for
inspiration. What we learned from the Ice Bucket
Challenge was that more or less anyone can
create a video.
I also think that Facebook will launch a video
platform. It would make sense from a user
perspective to have a video platform available for
use on Facebook.

10. 9) Some people are going to fully embrace wearable
technology. We are going to see glasses, watches,
bracelets and maybe even belts and handbags that
are connected devices.
Whether this will be good or bad I don’t know, but
we are going to start seeing them in use.
!

11. Sharing is caring. Show your community
that you care about them.
!