1983 — the first year the internet was available to the public.
Only 40 years ago?! Yup. You’re reading that right. And what a wild ride it’s been so far.
Jump to 1997 when the world was introduced to social media. 26 years ago changed the face of how we view literally almost everything.
26 years. Look at how far Social Media has come in such a short amount of time.
It can be dizzying to try to keep up with that speed of change — especially trying to manage everything else that comes with owning a business.
So let’s take a look at some helpful tips to keep your head above water!
Trends and Stats
The world has switched from looking at what’s trend-y to trend-ing.
In fact, a study done in 2021 by Pew Research Center indicates that 48% of Americans get their daily news updates from social media.
What’s trending in news feeds across different platforms can tell you a lot about what’s happening in the world — and what people are considering “relevant”.
And with trends come stats. Cold hard numbers never lie!
If you’re more of a technical thinker, there are a number of ways to pull stats from different sources on what’s pulling people’s interest.
And if you don’t have time to crunch the numbers yourself — you can set up alerts that go straight to your inbox. Win!
Follows and Feedback
It’s time to put on your detective gear and get to work. Scout out the hottest places and people and hit that follow button.
Think about it — would you have learned to talk if no one around you taught you how? Same goes with your business. You need to figure out who and what is attracting the biggest crowds and take notes.
And don’t forget to take advantage of the walking and talking ads called influencers.
According to Shopify, 61% of consumers that follow influencers trust their recommendations. So give them a follow as well — they have quite a big pull.
Speaking of recommendations — don’t be shy to ask your crowd for advice. Polls and surveys are a great way to get solid feedback on what people like and don’t like right now.
Groups and Forms
Sometimes it can take a team effort to keep up with everything happening in the world. All social media platforms offer the opportunity to join groups based on your needs and interests.
Groups that have a similar focus around your own business goals can help you see what’s popular right now.
Like if you sell shoes — find some groups of other shoe enthusiasts. Maybe you’ll find that white shoes are fading out and orange shoes are coming in? Either way, find your people and help each other out.
Not to mention updates.
✓ Newsletters
✓ Emails
✓ Notifications
✓ Update Alerts
✓ Ads
✓ Podcasts
✓ Publications
All of these can keep you informed and in the loop no matter how fast things change.
You’ve Got This
I just don’t have time for this.
I can’t keep up.
It’s overwhelming.
No.
You do have time to help your business.
There are great ways and resources for keeping up.
It can be broken down to simple measures.
Pick your best bets for staying informed and stick to it. Your business will thrive thanks to your dedication to information.
