If you are a business owner, keeping up with modern consumer trends is a necessity. When you know what consumers are doing and what they are interested in, you will be able to effectively advertise and market for your products and/or services that you have to offer. There are a number of consumer trends that you need to know about and in this day and age, with the increase in social media, it is much easier to keep track of such trends to help improve your own business.
What Are Some of the Top Consumer Trends?
There are certain consumer trends that simply cannot be ignored. When you track these trends, you can improve the efficiency of your own business. Some of the main consumer trends include:
- Mobile Devices for EVERYTHING
- Social Networking
- Texts and Tweets
- Online Communities
Mobile Devices
Mobile devices have become one of the most increasingly popular trends for consumers. With advances in technology being made, there are so many different smartphones, tablets, and handheld devices that connect consumers with the Internet. The key is to recognize that mobile devices are not just phones anymore.
Not only do these devices connect consumers, they enable the consumers to find out more about specific products and do their research before they actually decide to buy something. A large portion of people who own mobile devices, roughly about 80%, use the devices to shop and find out more information about products. Because of this, it is important for business owners to format their website so that it is accessible on mobile devices as well. The trend is to make websites that are responsive to screen size, rather than creating a “mobile version”. In other words, having a separate mobile version of your site is falling out of favor; but a web page that adjusts according to the size of the device has become the norm.
Social Networking
Over the past few years, social networking has become quite popular with tens of millions of people logging onto popular social networking websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, each and every day. The fact of the matter is, however, that people often use these websites to socialize and stay connected with friends and family members, not to click on advertisements. But getting users to share their positive opinions of your products and services can create a huge boon for your business.
Texts and Tweets
Texts and Tweets are another big part of modern trends for consumers. Tweets through Twitter are limited to 140 characters and text messages are limited to 160 characters, although 140 is usually a better limit. These ultra short messages are used by consumers to quickly share all kinds of information about themselves. You can use this to gather information and identify potential customers, or to even reach out to customers with a special offer or helpful information.
Many years ago, in order for people to get in contact with companies for any type of assistance, a customer service number would be provided. However, with the increase in social networking and mobile devices, many businesses are now offering customer service assistance via text message or even through tweeting on Twitter.
Online Communities
Last, but certainly not least, online communities have become very big amongst consumers. Consumers often become part of online communities by joining in on forums and chats. It is easy for one person to spread good or bad news about a business and their experience with that business through the online community. There are tens of thousands of niche community websites specific to almost each and every product imaginable. Connecting and engaging these communities directly can create plenty of useful connections and positive opportunities for your business.
Social media tree image courtesy of Shutterstock
Tara Hornor has found her passion writing on topics of branding, web and graphic design, photography, marketing, and advertising. She is Senior Editor for CreativeContentExperts.com, and a former writer for PrintPlace.com.
