TikTok Creative Centre ❌
Google Trends ❌
Keeping up with social media trends can be as easy as scrolling through social media itself. It can be in video form with niche POV and audio with short-form content, or if something is 'controversial' enough, it can be delivered in carousel or long-form content.
Sometimes, most of the time, I also saw there are "cross-trends", where what is trending on TikTok can also be trending on Instagram, Shorts, or other platforms. The challenging part of being a Social Media Manager is,
๐ฌ "How do we join the trend while still staying on track with our branding?" ๐ค
Other than getting my hands dirty by being chronically online, my way to stay updated and comprehend what's going on on social media is by watching video essays on YouTube. The Comments Section with Brett Cooper and Mina Le has been seated, safe and sound, on my YouTube subscriptions. Both of them not only deliver and "comment" on what's going on on social media plethora but also throw scientific journals and credible articles here and there to shape an objective point of view about the mainstream media.
That's the key point for a Social Media Manager: be objective. Very demure, very mindful. ✨
The Girls in Marketing on LinkedIn has also been my go-to source of information for social media trends. With the marketing experts on their sleeves, they educate their audiences by sharing an analysis of why some are trending with a compelling design (simple yet familiar to audiences, i.e., using emojis) they bestow.
๐ก Despite the sources, being open, curious, and knowing more below the surface than "this is the trend we should follow!" can save the brand's online presence. It's also making the creator or the social media team more holistic and mindful of the content being produced, with the output of ๐ฟever-green content๐ฟ in mind. Which play a vital role in ensuring the brand or the company's longevity.
After three years of handling social media professionally, it has come to fruition that it is part of the brand's and/or company's showcase. The people behind it need to be as niche as they possibly can to maintain the brand image and consistency while taking part in the bandwagon. Of course, it takes a village to do so. Not all-in-all being tackled by the Social Media Manager, but with a helping hand from other experts such as Graphic Designers, Copywriters, Content Creators, and other elements as its village governor.
