7 Top Social Media Trends That Will Impact Your Marketing In 2015

Each day as I skim & read through affiliate marketing industry news, the topic of video is ubiquitous.

• Video reviews - super-important for consumers during the purchase path
• Video product demo - drives buyers to the brand's website
• Video promotions - see how other people use & like the product prior to purchase & use

This article, 7 Top Social Media Trends That Will Impact Your Marketing In 2015, talks about vlogging as a top trend that will impact your marketing in the new year.  Right on!

The author, Adele Halsall, writes:

4. Vlogging

Vlogging is becoming an increasingly common advertising channel for brands both large and small, giving blogging a run for its money as consumers’ go-to platform for reviews and advice. With the growing emphasis on unpolished, human-centered and consumer-generated content, companies are realizing that customers want to hear the truth from other customers – not so much brands themselves.

YouTube is a platform with over one billion unique monthly visitors, and the second largest search engine according to Laura Harrison of Socialnomics. It has a wide demographic of 18-54, and videos are known to be shared “12 times more than links and text posts combined”.

A brand can either host its own vlogging channel or offer indie vloggers free goods in exchange for reviews and exposure. With the rise of young ‘celebrity’ vloggers like Zoella, Alfie Deyes, Tyler Oakley and Lily ‘Superwoman’ Singh, it’s now a strong contender for engagement that brands would be crazy not to take advantage of.

My personal experiences support this view & I may even go a step further.  For the under 24yo crowd, videos are key to product introduction, peer group reviews & decision-making. We have three children in our family:  a 19yo college sophomore, a 17yo high school senior & an 11yo 6th grader.  

Looking at our YouTube history is like an instruction manual on "how to be a teen."  There are reviews of gaming systems, video games, hair products, fashion, shoes, laptops, hunting gear & more.  I see peer video reviews, how to play & win the game, best ways to braid your hair, & how to roast the perfect chicken.  Wait, that last one was me!

Brands who offer vlogging channels or offer up their own videos will position themselves to interact directly with their buyers.  Often this creates loyalty & drives purchasing decisions.

Thanks for your article, Adele!  I enjoyed your article & the other mentions, too.  Happy New Year to you & all the vloggers out there.