Hey Reader,
With 2025 right around the corner, I'm starting a new series here on the newsletter that'll be focused on getting you ready to crush your social media goals.
Today's letter is about trends.
Specifically, the top social media trends that you need to be aware of so you can take advantage of them in 2025.
While I'm not the biggest fan of trends, things move fast in the social media space so it's important to be up to date.
Let's get right into it.
5 Top Social Media Trends for 2025
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Content Creation
AI isn't going anywhere.
If you're one of those who are still hesitant to start using it then I recommend you get over it.
While a lot of people (myself included) share your concerns about AI, there's no hiding from the fact that marketers and content creators everywhere have embraced it and turned it into a major asset.
69% of marketers now use AI and are consistently experimenting with new ways to incorporate it into their workflow.
According to a 2024 HubSpot report, 34% of marketers use it for research, 41% to outline content, and 46% to draft content.
Those who refuse to use AI no matter the reason will be left behind.
So the question isn't "Should you use AI?"
The question is "How do you properly use AI for content creation"
Using AI properly goes beyond just asking ChatGPT for content ideas or drafting a caption for your post.
Prompt engineering is a key skill here that you'll need to develop.
The better you can ‘talk’ to AI tools like ChatGPT, the better your output will be and the less robotic it will sound.
Remember, the goal isn't to have AI handle everything. It's to have it help with the repetitive parts of creating content so you have more time to focus on other areas.
You should also always be refining and fine-tuning the output it gives you until you end up with something that sounds human.
Finally, when it comes to AI tools provided by the different social media platforms, be sure to test them out if they become available. There are always rewards for those who first start using a new feature, as the platform wants to promote it to as many people as possible.
If you'd like a detailed newsletter on the best ways to use AI in 2025, reply to this and let me know.
2. Social SEO
Remember those days when if you had a question, you rushed to search for it on Google?
Not everyone does so anymore (and no they're not just going to ChatGPT)
According to Prabhakar Raghavan, a Google senior vice president, 40% of Gen Z use TikTok or Instagram over Google as search engines.
Does this mean the end of Google? Of course not!
It does mean that SEO is now more relevant on social media than ever before.
More people are searching for what they want directly on social media platforms instead of using hashtags.
This means that as a business owner or content creator who wants to grow on social media...
you need to understand how search works and how to optimize your content for discoverability.
This mainly comes down to adding the right keywords to your content so you have a chance of showing up when someone searches for something.
Think about 3 to 5 keywords that describe the content you're posting and add them in relevant places like your:
- Post caption
- Hashtags
- The actual post itself whether graphic or video
Maybe also consider watching a quick YouTube video on the basics of SEO.
BTW: If you want to get better results on Instagram in 2025...
I’m offering NO CHARGE 1-hour 2025 Growth Kickstart Calls (valued at $150!) exclusively for coaches and service-based business owners. In this session, you’ll get actionable strategies to grow your audience faster and start attracting more clients right away.
There are only 5 slots available, and bookings close on December 30th so don’t miss out!
Click here to book your call now!
Let’s make 2025 your breakthrough year.
3. Social commerce
More users are making purchases directly on social media apps than ever before!
According to Statista, in 2023, there were 106.8 million social buyers in the US. By 2027, they forecast that this figure will grow by over 10 percent to 118 million.
The social platforms have been doing their best to encourage in-app consumer behaviors - TikTok shop is a great example.
So instead of getting redirected to an external website which makes you leave the app, you're able to place your order from Instagram or TikTok itself.
Then you can get back to scrolling which means more time spent on the platform, what a genius idea!
How does this apply to you?
Use the social commerce functionality on whatever platform you're on.
It's mainly for product-based businesses for now but maybe they'll have something for service based businesses soon.
Here's a quick tip to keep in mind.
Friction in the buying journey kills sales.
In simpler terms, this means that...
The easier it is to buy something, the more people buy.
The harder it is to buy something, the less people buy.
So instead of telling people to click the link in your bio, then click the link to your sales page then click the checkout button before entering their details....
Imagine they could just click on a post and enter their details to get the attached product immediately.
That quick, convenient, and seamless experience will make you more money!
4. Short-form video
Short-form videos have become a mainstay across social media platforms for a while now, thanks to TikTok’s influence.
This will continue in 2025 but will be about more than just posting a quick 5-second clip...
It’s now about crafting high-impact, engaging narratives that hook viewers within the first three seconds and deliver tons of value.
One of the reasons short-form video has thrived so well is because it captures attention quickly and gets higher engagement on average.
The best part is, with all the main social platforms now allowing short-form video, it's hand down the most versatile type of content you can create.
A TikTok can become an Instagram or Facebook reel which becomes a YouTube Short and much more.
If you're someone who's posting content on many platforms, short-form video will be a big time saver for you and should form a core part of your strategy.
HubSpot has found that over half of marketers who include short-form video in their marketing strategy plan to increase their investment in it so this is a clear sign that it's driving results.
If you've been hesitating to add short-form video to your own strategy then let this be your wake-up call.
5. Payment for creators from the platforms
If you're a coach or a service-based business owner, I'm sure you already have offers in your business.
If you're a creator though, this is a reminder that you need to have your own offers that generate your income.
However being able to make money just by creating content on your preferred platform is something all creators probably want.
It's one of the reasons why YouTube is so popular because of its monetization opportunities like the YouTube Partner Program and things like Super Thanks.
In 2023, Twitter/X followed suit and launched their Creator Ads Revenue Sharing which allows creators to earn a share of the revenue from ads displayed in replies to their Tweets.
TikTok also started its creator fund back in 2020 which has now been replaced with the Creativity Program.
The point is that each platform is now offering paid incentives for content creators.
If you have the bandwidth, consider expanding your online presence to one of these platforms that have a good monetization structure in place. YouTube is the best one right now!
That wraps up the 5 main trends that I believe deserve your attention for 2025.
See you next week with the next letter in this series,
Niyo
P.S.: Ready to kickstart your Instagram growth in 2025?
I’m offering NO CHARGE 1-hour 2025 Growth Kickstart Calls (valued at $150!) exclusively for coaches and service-based business owners. In this session, you’ll get actionable strategies to grow your audience faster and start attracting more clients right away.
There are only 5 slots available, and bookings close on December 30th so don’t miss out!
Click here to book your call now!
Let’s make 2025 your breakthrough year.
