Wondering what comes next for Facebook, Google+, Twitter and the rest of the social media channels everyone’s told you are good for business? Seth Godin himself stated that “Social media is now part of our fabric of society, like mobile phones and computers – it’s a staple of our everyday life.” Roll up your sleeves, because it’s 2014 already and here are the 5 major trends in social media you should be aware of.

More Sharing

With Google’s recent changes in algorithm, placing social sharing and authority at the forefront it’s fair to say that 2014 will encourage even more sharing. Content may certainly be king, but the focus will be on social engagement and participation, i.e. not just what content you are producing, but who is sharing it and with whom. Employees and influencers will then become an essential channel for distributing branded content and interacting with prospects.

User-Generated Content is King

2014 will see a big comeback of user-generated content, so expect more initiatives for that. More and more brands realize that direct involvement of their customers is essential for success and it’s one of the ways to measure the ROI of social. And of course user-generated content is free, which makes it quite a frugally smart strategy.

Hello, Google+

You may have already noticed that it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the presence and impact of Google+. And after the redesign of YouTube’s comment section it is now almost impossible not to sign up for Google+. With over 300 million active users a month, the channel will certainly get its long-deserved momentum in 2014. What makes Google+ stand out is its direct appeal to brands. We dare you to stay away from it.

The Return of the King

Also known as Facebook, which, despite its IPO flop last year and criticism from investors is still…well Facebook and soon enough it will be seen once again as the powerful digital channel that it is. Without doubt there is a tremendous room for growth (and investing), and the same applies to Twitter.

Selfie anyone?

2014 will be the year of visual content, which is not really a new trend, this is a continuation. The way in which images and videos are created and shared is becoming remarkably simple and inexpensive. Our top tip would be: just because it is easy to create the content don’t let the quality slip.

Videos, images, pins and everything else you could think of will provoke thought, promote business and grab users’ attention. Image sharing networks like Instagram, Pinterest, Vine, Snapchat, YouTube and Tumblr are set to get even more popular. Vine, for instance, is a brilliant example of how 6-second videos can generate attention grabbing content and spike serious consumer interest. Provoke your customers’ visual senses and you will get your message across.

What do you think will happen to the social media realm in 2014? Use the comment box below to share your thoughts. Stay tuned for the major trends in Content marketing next week.