Social Media Design Trends In 2022

A little into the first quarter of 2022, let us do some forecasting.

As we all know, social media is not just for selling - it goes way beyond that. Social media can extend your reach, inspire, and build meaningful relationships.

In order to maximize the power of social media, businesses and brands should speak to the customers in an understandable language.

Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest leverage one’s visual appeal. To stand out, you have to be noticeable and impress customers with your (or a teammate’s) design prowess.

So, here are the social media design trends this year.

1. Color Trends

Every year, influential companies announce the color of the year, palettes, and swatches. Here are some of the color trends this 2022:

a. Outdoorsy

BEHR announced that Breezeway is their color for 2022. Others gave out Evergreen Fog and October Mist.

b. Boldness

This year, very peri is the Pantone color. But did you know that it’s a unique color that the company made? Yes, you read that right. After 20+ years of being the most influential color choosing company, Pantone brought the blue color with violet red undertone. The company also added that very peri “displays a spritely, joyous attitude, and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions”.

c. Nostalgic

This year’s color is very futuristic but the 60’s and 70’s shades are also in circling back.

Pantone revealed this year’s New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer color palette which includes daffodil, coca mocha, and harbor blue.

d. Upbeat

If you’re feeling blue seeing blue - err, very peri, then, you can indulge with some color upbeats like bubblegum pink, lime-y fragile sprout, and orchid bloom.

Pantone revealed this year’s New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer color palette which includes daffodil, coca mocha, and harbor blue.

2. Patterns, shapes, and textures

Here are some ideas and inspirations from artists on this year’s patterns, shapes, and textures:

a. Check!

Check-er boards are in. This true vintage emo style comes back with a spin this 2022. Now, it’s seen as a timeless classic. Spice it up with playful colors to accentuate.

b. Be natural

Dreamy wildflowers are in bloom now on social media - add those leaves and country-theme arts. Nature can never go wrong.

c. Be rounded

Fearless forecast for 2022: angles are out, curves are in. Arts and graphics should favor feminine soft orbs and circles.

In summary, your artistry should not be kept to yourself - you can (and should) let everyone know about it and of course, have fun doing it.

These social media design trends are brought to you by reviewing more than 50 sources and influencers in the social media and graphic design realm.

Don’t be left out. Freshen up your social media channels using one of these trends.

If you need help with your social media content and/or graphic design, let us know - we’d love to be of help.

If you have other trends this 2022, let us know by commenting below - we’d love to hear from you.

An open laptop beside a mug sitting on a wooden table.

6 Essential Holiday Marketing Campaign Checklist

Take advantage of the coming holidays to skyrocket your sales.

Holidays are coming and so are people’s wallets. So, don’t miss your chance to sell your products and  services to the public.

We readied a checklist for you

1. ‘Holidize’ Your Website

Set a festive mood on your website. You can change your website’s colors to tap users’ happy emotions. Bring out those cheerful banners and designs.

Visitors will stay longer on your website if they feel your jovial mood and join your enthusiasm.

2. Reinvent Your Email Campaign

A festive email campaign is a must. You might have an active email campaign BUT it’s not a holiday-themed email. So, create one.

3. (Ab)Use Social Media

Use and abuse the powers of social media. Especially when people are at home, are using their mobile phones, and are scrolling through social media accounts.

4. Think of Contests

Have you seen a brand that has no give-away contest of some sort for the holidays? Brands know the importance of the holiday season so should you.

5. Post Gift Ideas

There are some who will wait until the last minute before going shopping. So, go ahead and post those gift ideas and inspirations for everyone to see.

6. Take Advantage of PPC (if you have a budget)

PPC or pay-per-click is a paid online advertising model. It’s a great way to extend your reach and tap on a wider range of potential customers… given you have a budget for it. We all know the power of social media - so, one way of optimizing it is through paid advertising.

Summary

There will be different offers and discounts from various brands left and right. So, it’s crucial for you and your team to think of your own for your business.

Plan early so you can spread the word as early as possible. This applies to all holidays and exciting seasons all year round. Would you like help in setting up marketing campaigns that suit every date on the calendar? Hit that reply button or send us a message today. We’re happy to help you.

Social media platforms’ icons on a phone screen

When To Post on TikTok? (2021 Edition)

When to post on TikTok? Is there really a “best time”? Does it affect your visibility?

In this blog, I’ll try to answer all these questions and more.

So, let’s get started.

TikTok has been rapidly growing in the number of users and market share.

As such, competition is also on the rise.

How do you get ahead of the competition? Be visible! Make sure your audience can see you and they can see the value you’re adding for them.

So, how do you get the maximum visibility? Simple. Post when your audience is active.

there really a “best time” to post on TikTok?

Yes, there is! However, determining this requires you to find where your audience is (physical location) and when they are online.

You also have to take into consideration how to balance being in front of your audience and pleasing TikTok’s algorithm .

So…

When is the best time to post on TikTok?

According to this experiment, the best times are Tuesday at 7 AM, Thursday at 10 AM, and Friday at 5 AM PST.

This is somewhat chaotic.

But think about time zones and time differences.

TikTok caters to a global audience. Your knowledge of your audience’s location is key.

However, in general, morning posts seem to perform better from Monday to Wednesday while videos posted in the afternoon and evening become more visible from Thursday to Sunday.

You can find out YOUR best time to post on TikTok by following these few tips:

1. Review your top best performing videos. Numbers won’t lie so take a look at your analytics. Check the views and engagements with your posting time. If you find similarities, then, that’s YOUR best time.
2. Check out your competition. Look for accounts that cater to the same audience as yours. Run a simple competitive analysis. TikTok’s interface is quite easy - you can see the time when a video was posted, how many likes, comments, and shares it has. You can copy their posting time or tweak it a bit to be YOUR best time.
3.Know your audience. I can’t emphasize this enough. Just know your audience - their location and when are they online or actively scrolling through their feeds. Once you know, you can create YOUR best time.
4.Experiment and adjust accordingly. Not because a certain time of the day works for your competitor it will also work for you. So, experiment for yourself and adjust your posting time to determine YOUR best time.

Managing any social media channel requires a lot of effort. You have to research, experiment, and adjust. This is the same for TikTok.

That’s it!

I hope this is informative enough for all of you TikTok users out there.

If you already have the best time to post on TikTok, let us know by leaving a comment below and you may also share some tips on how you came up with your best time.

If you need any help in growing your TikTok audience, don’t hesitate to message us here on our site or any of our social media channels.

Social media platforms’ icons on a phone screen

7 Social Media Trends and Predictions for 2022

We are fast approaching the last quarter of 2021. Aside from reviewing your plans and strategies for this year, this is also the time to plan and strategize for the next year.

Let us help you plan and strategize for next year with these 7 social media trends and predictions for 2022.

1. Social media will be a shopping platform.

Since the pandemic happened, the virtual world has been busy as a bee. People have been looking for all the channels to do their stuff - especially shopping. Because of this, social media emerges to be a shopping platform for many.

According to Statista , 79 million of the US population are social media buyers. This will increase to 108 million by 2025.

2. The popularity of short-form video content will increase.

We know who started it - TikTok. And so all the other social media platforms are following. Instagram for example has Reels, IGTV, and Stories.

The hype on short-form video content will continue. According to this article, 82% of internet traffic will come from videos. Hence, the question of whether to continue blogging or not.

3. Facebook will remain on top - for 2022, at least.

Facebook remains and will continue to reign as the most used social media platform in the world. It will continue pursuing its strategies for the best mobile user experience there is.

A lot of new social media platforms have popped up but the big players will stake their claim on the top spots for 2022.

4. More short (aka bite-sized) content for everyone.

According to statistics, an average person spends a whopping 145 minutes on social media every single day. But according to Time , people’s attention span is capped at 8 seconds - which is shorter than a goldfish.

Taking this into account, content should be bite-sized in order to hold a user’s attention.

5. The rise of augmented reality.

The augmented reality market is still a baby today. So, It will gain momentum in the coming years. So, in 2022 watch out for it!

Social media platforms are in AR this early - like Snapchat and Instagram.

6. Prevalence of user-generated content.

User-generated content is no joke. More and more businesses are incorporating this in their strategies. Why not, right? There are a lot of statistics proving its importance.

So, if you’re not yet acclimated to it, better prepare yourself for next year.

7. Social media is becoming a part of daily life.

The term “social media” is not a new name. But people still look it up actively.

Also, the number of social media users is growing along with the time a person actually uses it.

I hope this will help you with all your social media planning for next year. If you need help in planning and/or strategizing your social media content or marketing, hit that chat button and a social media expert will be happy to answer your questions.

What do you think of these trends and predictions? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Do you have any other predictions for 2022? Share them below.

Google logo in a box with Facebook logo in a box on a light blue background

Are you an owner of a small local business looking to market your business?

Here are two free, widely used, and well-renowned ways to market your business: 1. Facebook Events 2. Google My Business (GMB)

Let’s discuss how you can use these two platforms for your local marketing needs in this blog.

How to use Facebook Events

Facebook isn’t just about going international - it can also help you connect with your local audience.

Currently, Facebook has Events Events Near Me where users can see and search what’s happening within their area based on certain categories like music, fitness, and more. Users can also see online events and events happening on a particular date.

You can promote your events on Facebook by posting to the event page, inviting people to the event, and control who sees your event.

This platform has a lot of flexibility and options, too.

Share promotions locally

Does your business have a sale going on? Promote it on Facebook Events.

Use it to share your event - be it online or face-to-face.

Boost it with ads

Not much audience? Get the help of Event Ads to boost your event’s visibility, increase awareness, and sell more products or services.

Find a partner

You can also find a local business to partner with. Once you have one, create a co-hosted event to make both of your audiences aware of the collaboration.

One tip: Choose a partner that complements your product or service.

How to use Google My Business (GMB)

Show up on Google Search and Google Maps by going to Google my Business. Complete the registration process and voila! You can be in front of customers looking for your brand or similar products or services.

Use enticing photos, videos, and texts to promote your business - just like the store signage of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses - only on an online platform.

Tip: Make sure to optimize your GMB account to be the first on the list.

Display contests, promotions, and sale

Create an “Offer” post on GMB to display contests and promotions your business offers.

This will encourage people to physically visit your shop or your landing page to engage and convert to be your buyer.

Share new and exciting things about your business

Do you have an announcement? Post on “What’s New” and let your audience know. You can also post blog content.

Did your opening hours change? Are you looking for new employees? Are you closing earlier on a weekend? You can announce all of these and more on GMB.

Event announcements

Are you throwing a pajama party over the weekend? Highlight your events on GMB.

Business posts are great for sharing events like community fundraisings or virtual wine nights. People around your area will see your events which will increase attendance.

Your business goes local

Targeting is a tough one. You often have a wide variety of selections.

But you have to be laser-focus on your target.

Simplifying your audience from an international to a local audience may be the first big step for your business to be known globally.

So, the next time you think of marketing your business, think about going local first. And implement the tips above to maximize Facebook and Google My Business for your marketing needs.

And for all things marketing, follow us on all our social media channels.

For your questions, comments, and suggestions, let us know by sending us a message or leave a comment below.

Topic Wheel visual representation showing Shizzle as a brand with six marketing services and the corresponding influencers/leaders in each industry.

Topic Wheel: A Free Content Marketing Strategy For You

Content is king.

How many times have you heard this? Maybe many times... that you think it already lost its essence, right?

Wrong!

As Google and other social media algorithms evolve, content is - still and indisputably - the king.

Today, I will share a free content marketing strategy that you can use for your business, brand, and clients.

It is called “Topic Wheel”.

Topic Wheel is not new. It’s all over the place - I mean, the internet. But I have never seen a lot of people apply this. It’s also not my original concept. It’s all thanks to Dennis Yu and Mark Lack who first introduced this concept.

So, I’ll be sharing this today so you can (hopefully) find value in it, use it, and share it with others, too.

Let’s get on with it. .

What is Topic Wheel?

The Topic Wheel is a great help in content creation, curation, and content marketing.

It is a graphical representation of the topics you want to talk about - on your site, blog, and/or social media accounts.

Why is the Topic Wheel important?

The Topic Wheel will help you concentrate on topics that matter to you - you just have to look at them. It will also eliminate the need to research topics to create or curate content. Using Topic Wheel, you can easily look at the social media channels of influencers, leaders, and/or brands that matter to you. Then, you can curate or create content based on these. You can use the Topic Wheel as a basis for what you’ll post.

How does Topic Wheel help in content creation?

Topic Wheel gives you a general idea of what should be on your site, blog, and/or social media. It also provides you with thought leaders or influencers whose content appeals to your audience. Thus, curating content is easy.

Now that you know the rationale behind the Topic Wheel, let me show you how it works.

Here’s how to do it on your own:
1. Place your picture (or your brand’s or business’) in the middle.
2. Choose 6 topics you want to talk about. For personal branding, you can choose 3
personal topics and 3 professional topics.
3. For each topic, choose the top 3 thought leaders, influencers, or brands that are close to
you and are appealing to your audience. You must choose leaders that you have high
regard for, you mostly agree with, and are highly credible for you.
4. Collect their pictures, draw the Topic Wheel, print it, and display.
5. That's it!

Easy, no?

Now, you know how to create your own Topic Wheel.

If you’re not yet sold with the idea of Topic Wheel, let me discuss a little bit about the Content
Marketing Funnel - Awareness, Engagement, Conversion - that the Topic Wheel targets, too.

The content marketing funnel has 3 levels - awareness, engagement, conversion.

The Topic Wheel also has 3 levels - you, the topics, the leaders.

Let me explain further.

First, your influencers will target the awareness part. When you follow these influencers or join groups related to them and share their content, their audience will notice you. Hence, the awareness part.

Next, your topics will cover the engagement part. These topics are the things you will talk about and share with your followers in the form of content. Hence, the engagement part.

Lastly, the picture in the middle of the Topic Wheel will take care of the conversion part - YOU. You are your brand. You’re the seller and people buy from people. Hence, the conversion.

Topic Wheel is a great tool to help you.

BUT I am in no way stopping you from doing what you’re currently doing.

All I’m saying is using Topic Wheel will give you direction when it comes to your content.

If you find this helpful, go ahead and create your own. Here’s a template for you to start with (Canva). Should you need any further help, don’t hesitate to let us know by contacting us here.

And if you want to learn more about Topic Wheel, don’t hesitate to research further or ask away using our chatbox and one of our content marketing geniuses will reach out to you.

A table full of scattered book, mobile phones, tablet, and pieces of paper with social media icons.

Being a millennial, I grew up knowing what social media is. I’m aware that there can be online friends and followers. Friendster and Myspace were popular back then.

Now, the world we live in is a full-blown digital age.

If I want to check out restaurants nearby, there’s Yelp. If I need a recipe, there’s Pinterest. If I need a job, there’s LinkedIn. For everything in between, there’s Facebook.

Since different social media platforms serve different purposes, you have no choice but to create and maintain gazillion social media accounts.

And that’s just for personal use.

With that, let me give you 5 tips on how to manage your different social media accounts.

1. Quality over going viral.

Okay. This might be a little controversial. But hear me out first.

It’s good to produce content that is current, relevant, and entertaining. Then, others will re-share and/or repost it - making it viral.

Let us also understand that it’s better to create content with correct and valuable information - also good enough to be re-shared and/or reposted. And what we can call “Mr. Right” rather than “Mr. Right Now”.

2. Find the perfect quality.

Although I previously mentioned choosing quality over going viral, being present right now is also important.

Take Twitter for example. It is known as a news and current events social media site. Twitter users tweet their opinion on current events - be it political, social, or even about the weather.

3. Use tools to schedule your posts.

Let’s face it. You want those likes, hearts, and wows, right? You also want your comment box to explode - not literally, of course.

But there are times that an idea pops and you have to wake up at an ungodly hour. You have no choice but to write it down. Now, are you seriously hoping that your friends will read your post at that instance?

That’s where a scheduling tool will be handy. You can try sociamonials.com (not a paid advertisement).

Create content now. Publish later. Easy.

4. Automate as much as you can.

Social media management is repetitive. There are a lot of mundane tasks at hand. So, what will you do? Automate!

You can use IFTTT - a site that will help you link different apps and automatically perform actions when triggered.

Using IFTTT is easy. You can create a command to automatically tweet when your trusted writer or blog site publishes a new article.

5. Be a real person.

I understand if you have a few social media accounts for your small business and you want to promote them from time to time. But keep in mind that your audience has evolved - they are smarter now.

Remember: people follow people, not businesses.

Engage with your audience. Engage with other people’s posts. Be charming.

What goes around, comes back around. So, don’t hold that “congratulations” or “good job”. Comment it down. Let people know that you are a real person.

Managing different social media accounts is quite a job.

But having a few tricks on your sleeves will do wonders.

Do you have more tips that I missed? Let me know!

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