Keep Your Business On Top of Social Media Trends

Statistics show that more than 5.6 billion people around the world used Social Media in 2025. And, those stats tell us, people spent around 2.3 hours (140 minutes) a day on Social Media. This gives you an idea of why it's important to stay abreast of news and trends on Social Media.

So, what platforms are people using, and how are they accessing Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and the like? It's interesting to note that Facebook is still the most popular platform with just over 3 billion. And then comes Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp (2.58 billion).

The platform used to access Social Media the most is our mobile phones. In fact, over 99% of the time spent on Social Media is on mobile platforms.

Why Social Media is Important for Your Business

Ninety percent of marketers believe that marketing their company’s news via Social Media blogs and posts has been effective. Businesses use different platforms on Social Media to reach different audiences, which is why it’s important to know which platform your target market uses the most.

We know which Social Media platforms are the most valuable. According to a recent study, the top six most valuable Social Media platforms are:

• Facebook (3 billion monthly)
• YouTube (2.2 billion)
• What’s App & Instagram (2 billion). Instagram apparently drives shopping decisions.
• WeChat (1.26 billion; very popular in China.)
• TikTok (1.5 billion and growing)

This is why in our Profit Matters Accelerator we have dedicated a whole module to help brands expand their knowledge and create effective and profitable Facebook Ads.

How to Stay On Top of Social Media Trends 

Social Media has a vast audience, and it’s constantly evolving. It's the way businesses can communicate with prospective customers. But it’s not an overnight miracle waiting to happen. 

You have to ensure that you stand out from the crowd and have something relevant to say. And this is where you need to stay updated with the latest trends and marketing news. 

7 Important Ways to Stay On Top of Social Media Trends

1. Find out what’s happening in your industry: This is important. Read and research everything you can about your industry to become an expert.
2. Attend conferences & training sessions: Learning new skills is a great way to keep abreast of what’s going on.
3. Communicate: Networking is very important, so talk to people in the same industry, chat to clients and industry leaders. Keep up with media news and trends to stay informed.
4. Know your audience: Communicate with your customers so that you're constantly aware of what they want and need.
5. Be aware of your competition: Know what your competitors are doing. Watch them closely and check out when they adopt new trends.
6. Look at the bigger picture: You need to keep searching for the ‘next big thing’ in your industry. 
7. Know what a trend is: A trend stays around for a while, and a fad is usually temporary. You must bbe able to tell the difference. 

Keep On Trend On Social Media Platforms

Here are some handy ways to help you keep on top of the latest Social Media trends for your business: 

• Use Google Alerts: You can also look at one of the following sites: Mashable, Social Media Examiner and Social Media Today.
• Subscribe to Podcasts: Your mobile phone should have a free podcasting app on it. If it doesn’t, you can download an app to listen to Podcasts. Some worth trying: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify. 

Search for a list of the best Podcasts to listen that are related to your business. Put in a relevant search term and you'll start creating a stream of topics.

• Subscribe to YouTube channels: On YouTube, search for information about the latest news on Social Media. You can subscribe to any channel you want. Some good news ones to try include: Ignite, Mashable and Social Media Agency.
• Check out Spotify: Some of the most popular ones include The Diary of a CEO and The News Agents.
• Follow Social Media updates on LinkedIn groups: Social media is constantly evolving. Sign up to groups on LinkedIn, and also research to find lots more.
• Others worth listening to: The Next 100 Days, Wake Up to Money (on BBC Radio 5 Live) and The Bottom Line (BBC Radio 4).

10 Social Media Marketing Trends for 2026 

An infographic shared in December 2025 on Social Media Today predicts the following:

1. AI Driven Content & Personalisation: Brands will use AI to create posts that are "smarter, faster and more personalised". AI will also "analyse audience patterns".
2. Social Platforms Treated Like Search Engines: Social SEO is crucial to ensure visibility and respond to "intent-based queries". For this, businesses will have to use "natural keywords", create "how-to style posts" and more.
3. Video Still Dominates: However, videos must be "micro clips", because "scrolling is faster" and "the first seconds matter more than ever". 
4. Authenticity: "Raw, spontaneous content feels more relatable...". "Audiences want honesty and immediacy". This also involves responding in real-time.
5. Niche Creators Reign Supreme: "Creators with niche influence drive stronger results... Authentic partnerships perform best."
6. Don't use Algorithms in Content Strat: Rather use stable formats and "prioritise storytelling" for "community-focused content".
7. Social Shopping Will be Smoother & Faster: Facilitate this by tagging your products in Social Media posts, sharing quick video demo's and supporting customers on DM.
8. When Ad Costs Rise: You will have to strategise smarter. Remember: "Paid campaigns support, but don't replace organic growth".
9. Brand Personalities Reinvented: Certainly, you must be consistent, but be conversational, too. "Share relatable stories".
10. Less Long Form Content:  Instead, make your content "thoughtful" and let it "build authority". Best way to do this is through "educational videos", "in-depth posts" and "podcast-style content".

The Most Important News: A Personal Touch

That personal touch will always be there. So, communicate news through real stories and emotions. Create content that connects with your audience and evokes a reaction or emotion. A major trend that is continuing is talking about sustainability and protecting our planet for future generations.

Your audience also wants your business to offer authentic, friendly, honest, helpful and transparent information.

The more a customer or prospective buyer relates to your product, the more likely they are to buy it.

Let us Help You Grow Your Business

Want to expand your reach and grow your business? To have laser focused marketing that gets results? Check out our Accelerators and you will be able to use your resources into what matters and see real growth in your business.

Find out where you should be focusing more of your energy in order to get your design business performing stronger, operating smarter and scaling easier. 

Our rapid-fire quiz produces a tailored assessment  that will help you to bridge the gaps that may be slowing down the growth potential of your brand.

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