16 Big Social Media Trends B2C Brands Should Be Acting On This Year

"Social media is one of the most important channels modern B2C brands use to get discovered, shape audience perception and spark real interest with consumers. As people change how they browse, shop, buy and interact with brands online, social media platforms are evolving along with them, favoring authentic content that builds a sense of real connection. For B2C brands to stay relevant and meet audiences where they are, it's essential to stay up on major shifts and developments in social media to understand how to best leverage or prepare for emerging trends."

"TikTok ads are winning the game when it comes to B2C advertising. Often, they are overlooked, and now with new advancements in TikTok Shop, buyers can click through to purchase seamlessly. TikTok advertising also seems to be less expensive than buying Meta ads, and the platform often offers advertisers incentives for coming on board. - Adrian Falk, Believe Advertising & PR"

"There is a big shift in B2C brands moving away from their ultra-polished, longstanding brand messaging toward raw and real experiential content that taps into a consumer's vibe. Social media platforms are rewarding brand content that looks less like an advertisement and more like something a real person would post: content with personality. Brands should get on board or risk being left at the station. - T. Maxwell, eMaximize"

Social media drives discovery, shapes perception, and ignites consumer interest, and platforms are prioritizing authentic, human-feeling content. Major trends for B2C marketing include TikTok ads and TikTok Shop enabling seamless purchases and potentially lower ad costs, a shift toward raw, experiential content that feels like real-user posts, and social platforms functioning as discovery search engines that require optimized, searchable content. Brands should optimize content for platform search behavior, prioritize authenticity over hyper-polished messaging, and evaluate where to allocate budget and creative resources to meet changing consumer browsing, shopping and engagement habits.

Read at Forbes