Dr. Tyree’s Takeaways & Social Trends
An old Greek philosopher once said, “change is the only constant in life.”
When it comes to the social media landscape, this especially hits home. In a field that is rapidly advancing, our team is always striving to stay on top of the newest trends. This past week, our team heard from Howard University professor and social media expert Dr. Tia C. M. Tyree.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Tyree is the program director for the Graduate and Teaching Associates Development Program and a co-founder of the Social Media Technology Conference and Workshop at Howard University. In her spare time (we’re shocked she has some, too!), Dr. Tyree continues her extensive peer-reviewed research and publishing of multiple books in media, music and culture.
The new storefront and commercial
With streaming replacing TV and online shopping cutting out the drive-time to the mall, businesses have to find new ways to connect with their audience. Dr. Tyree says our websites are “digital storefronts.” Social media is now our “classified ads and commercials.” With the growing importance of these spaces for company success, we must understand how to best utilize them.
Four ways brands should be
Dr. Tyree offered four qualities a brand must have to successfully acquire and maintain a target audience.
1. Be Relevant — make your brand valuable and interesting to your customers.
2. Be Consistent — no matter how your customer sees your “storefront,” it must have the same feel to it. Uphold a unified voice across every platform, displayed on any device.
3. Be Creative — find new ways to engage, excite and even surprise customers to provide them with a unique experience that sets you apart from other brands.
4. Be Speedy — customers expect their brands to be up-to-date and in-the-know about their needs, wants and interests,. Consistently listening and tracking these changes will allow you to keep pace with your audience.
2023 trends to track
In a 2023 HubSpot survey, short-form video and live streaming tended to be the marketing format with the highest Return on Investment (ROI). This is where TikTok, Reels and YouTube shorts really shine. It’s also important to note that from a business perspective, Twitter and Facebook are still essential platforms for relationship building and advertising.
Final thoughts
As you consider how, when, and to whom you will direct your marketing strategy, remember the tools you have in your web-based kit. Depending on your audience, a message may resonate better when presented in a certain way. In addition to those videos and reels, you can use:
Infographics, graphics and images
Blogs
E-books and white papers
Email marketing
Websites and microsites
Podcasts
Product placement
Games
VR and AR
Change may be constant, but by incorporating some of these trends and tips, your brand can also be constant in an ever transforming, shifting and progressing landscape.