Social media is here to stay. I often think of Tom Cruise in The Minority Report when I think of targeted marketing. While that movie is a bit dated, it shows the potential of the future of social media marketing that brands need to embrace to stay relevant in the ever-changing social media landscape. 
Social Media Now
Right now, the social media landscape is at an ideal place. Companies and brands are well aware of the power of user-generated content–regardless of the content being a formal review, public complaint, exasperated plea to customer service, or praiseworthy product reviews. Social media users are also well aware of their power. They are now more careful in scrutinizing information directly from a brand and more accepting of recommendations from their friends, family, or trusted personalities.
What does this mean? Brands must put more resources into ensuring their target consumers’ social media messaging and engagement are up to par.
Social Media Tomorrow
I don’t literally mean tomorrow. What I mean by the social media of tomorrow is the way that we use social media in the future. Brands must continue to meet their target audience’s expectations of trust and personalization.
Ease will also come into play regarding personalization. As humans, we find the concept of “Work smarter, not harder.” very appealing. For this reason, I believe that AI will play a more prominent role for brands and consumers alike.
Already, many social media management tools have some sort of AI incorporated into them. In fact, Hootsuite boasts that its customers will have access to the “industry’s best AI chatbot.” Yet, the use of AI is not new. Was this list of The 12 best AI tools for social media management in 2024 accurate? I wonder how many brands used these AI resources to streamline their needs. 
Yet, I understand this does not come without some contention. The economic resources used to power AI and the idea of AI being fine-tuned to replace the role of humans are valid. However, I do believe that there is much more to learn and gain from this technology.
Conclusion
As the social media landscape changes, the best social media marketing techniques will continue to evolve. The most effective strategies will note what has worked before, what can be improved, and what can help the brand continue to make its mark and satisfy its customers. Listening and adapting are at the core of social media marketing. That is fundamental and something that will not change with time.
What do you think? What will be the next big thing for social media marketing? Will it be AI, or will it be something else?
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