Social Media Trends In 2012

For the last few years, social media trends have basically been about adoption or deployment of various social media tools in order to build influence and reputation.  2011 saw a struggle by companies to get it right and the rise in social media agencies. In 2012, social media trends show an increase in the practical applications of social media. From social TV to crowd-funding or the growth of the micro-economy, more users are looking for better ways to derive more practical value from social media tools beyond just mere engagement and the building of social capital. 

The Expansion of Social Television 

Social TV has been with us for a sometime but there has been an increase in its use. From Aljazeera’s The Stream to CNN’s BackStory, social media is becoming an integral part of TV programming and more TV channels are expected to increase their integration of social tools into their broadcasts so as to create a two way communication with their audiences. 

Trends in Social Sharing

Social sharing is not just about sharing interesting news and content anymore. Businesses are moving to social sharing that drives value to customers and their bottom line. Many businesses are integrating versatile social sharing features that enable users to share things like coupons, deals or voucher codes to increase volume of sales. For example, Sears has implemented a system that will enable its users to share products or reviews to their networks from the Sears website. If you love flying, the KLM Meet and Seat enables you to sit next to people of shared interests. 

The Rise of the Micro-Economy and Social eCommerce

The rise of the micro-economy and social eCommerce is another of the interesting trends emerging in 2012. There is an increasing application of social media tools in online ecommerce or in the provisions of solutions to business process. Whether it is crowdfunding or simply the use platforms and tools as sales conduits, social media tools are no doubt becoming part of the business process. Tools like Pinterest will play a huge role in matching users to interests for better sales targeting. Kickstarter is another venture that relies on the power of crowd to raise capital for promising ventures.

Dominance of Facebook and Twitter

Another major trend of the year has been the continued dominance of Facebook and Twitter on the social media scene. Most conversations are still limited within personal networks although there is the occasional spike in conversations regarding national, social or sports news that draws in millions of users and make trending topics.

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