--- title: 4 Social Media Trends To Follow in 2019 description: Social media is here to stay with growing and new trends emerging for 2019. If you're an SME with the time, resource and budget to envelop new trends and products, consider Instagram, Chatbots, UGC and more for your social media strategy. image: https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/Blog_Featured_Main/INSTAGRAM-PROFILE-NEWS-FEED-SOCIAL-MEDIA-7.jpg --- [![Thrive Logo](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/hubfs/thrive-logo-pink-1.svg)](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/) - [What We Do](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/what-we-do) - [About](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/about-us) - [Approach](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/approach) - [Work](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/work) - [Blog](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog) - [Contact](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/contact) Blog # 4 Social Media Trends To Follow in 2019 December 26, 2018 7 Minute Read By Sarah Burns ## The social media landscape consistently develops at the rate of a cheetah. We agree it's both hard to keep up and incredibly competitive. But it doesn't have to be impossible and if you're the CEO of a North East SME that is feeling daunted by the prospect of social there are ways to ease the stress and fear of engaging with social media effectively. Keeping up - and ahead of - the trends with social can have a great impact for both your own peace of mind and to provide a strategy for your in-house marketer/s, should you have a team around you for marketing support. It's important to remember a key piece of Thrive advice - don't ever do something "just because", question the value of what you're doing and what the immediate and long-term reward/risk may be. Two easy ways of seeing the worth of a social media activity: - Your audience is ready to engage in this way/on this platform - The financial budget allows you to do so If you do conclude there's value to be gained from putting the time and resource towards the following efforts, let us know how you get on and feel free to ask us questions or seek our support. ### 01. Instagram Instagram is here to stay (for now). There's certainly no stopping the platform with [Stories](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-your-business-can-use-instagram-stories), [Shopping](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/what-is-instagram-shopping) and [IGTV](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-your-business-can-implement-igtv-into-your-marketing-strategy) all making major waves in 2018. If you are a B2C business make a considerable effort to [produce an Instagram strategy](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/ebook/sme-guide-to-instagram-marketing) that delivers on brand reach and audience engagement using the visual platform for 2019. ### 02. Chatbots [Chatbots](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/5-businesses-that-ran-successful-chatbot-marketing-campaigns) are IN right now. There are many varieties out there and you can start small with [Facebook's Messenger bot](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/implementing-social-media-chatbots-to-build-customer-relationships) option, or explore web chatbots - some of which can be paid to do all the conversation and legwork for you - just reap the rewards of warm, engaged leads! ### 03. UGC Customers are looking for authenticity in 2019. We had a bit of a [murky year in 2018, social-wise](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-facebook-instagram-and-apple-are-reducing-your-phone-dependency), with GDPR and uncomfortable Facebook-related findings. We're at the other side and need to know brands really care about us as consumers. Think about engaging some loyal customers for feedback, with things like Canva-created images showcasing your finest testimonials, or video clips, if you're really striving for success! If you're in the retail industry, make Instagram your priority and engage with [active, relevant Instagram influencers](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-to-find-influencers-and-build-relationships-with-them) who may be able to widen your reach. Consider making 2019 the year you will engage your fellow business community and build legitimate partnerships with others to cheerlead and support each other online and around networking circles. ### 04. Social As in, CEOs and senior management team members should become more active on social. Depending on your sales and marketing strategy, as well as, of course, your industry and product/service structure, your CEO should most definitely be active in relevant circles. A great place to start is to get your [CEO's LinkedIn profile up-to-date](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/how-to-create-a-professional-personal-linkedin-profile) and regularly engaging with others' content and updates, even if there's a bit of shyness about posting yourself in the big bad world safe confines of LinkedIn. Start reaching out to relevant [LinkedIn Groups](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/should-i-join-linkedin-groups) and engaging with those who you may know from networking circles or from existing relationships on your business park, etc. The key, as with everything new, is to start small and keep going! **Need support? Thrive is a leading provider of social media management, paid social advertising strategy and delivery, plus social media training workshops and 1-to-1s. [Get in touch for a bespoke solution](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/contact).** #### Share this post... [mailto:?Subject=Check%20out%20this%20post&Body=https://www.thriveability.co.uk//blog/4-social-media-trends-to-follow-in-2019](mailto:?Subject=Check%20out%20this%20post&Body=https://www.thriveability.co.uk//blog/4-social-media-trends-to-follow-in-2019) Ready to talk? ## Whether you need a new website, a branding refresh, or a marketing strategy, the first step is a conversation. We'll give you an honest view of where you are and what's worth doing next. ## You may also like to read... November 27, 2017 #### [4 Social Media Resolutions Worth Committing to in 2018](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/4-social-media-resolutions-worth-committing-to-in-2018) A new year means a new start for many products and strategies, so social media is no different. February 27, 2019 #### [Social Media Compliance: What It Means and How to Guarantee It](https://www.thriveability.co.uk/blog/social-media-compliance-what-it-means-and-how-to-guarantee-it) In simple terms, being compliant on social media simply means following the rules when engaging with the public on your social media... 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