5.06 – Keeping Up With Social Trends
Monitoring social influences tied to the demographics of your market—such as your targeted customers’ ethnic makeup, average age, spending power, and family structure—provides valuable insights into how your marketing should evolve. For instance, if your business caters to women, tracking demographic data on issues like pay gaps, educational attainment, voting patterns, and family trends can guide your strategy effectively.
Key Areas to Monitor for Women-Focused Businesses
- Pay Gap: Understanding the differences in pay between men and women, especially in fields related to your category, can help tailor your messaging to address relevant concerns.
- Educational Attainment: Keep an eye on the rate of women earning college degrees in your field. This data can inform how you position your products or services to appeal to educated consumers.
- Voting Patterns: Observing voting trends among women in your demographic and geographic area can provide insights into their values and priorities, helping you align your brand with their interests.
- Family Trends: Pay attention to trends related to marriage and childbirth among women in your target customer groups. This information can influence how you market family-oriented products or services.
Finding Current Data on Social Trends
Staying updated with current social trends is essential. Use search engines to find reports, white papers, survey results, and other relevant documents. Continuously discovering new information about your customers, market, and competition can be the difference between success and failure.
Practical Steps for Staying Informed
- Regular Searches: Make it a habit to regularly search for new data and reports related to your market. This keeps your knowledge base current and relevant.
- Industry Publications: Subscribe to industry publications and newsletters. They often provide valuable insights and data on emerging trends.
- Social Media Monitoring: Use social media listening tools to track conversations and trends related to your industry. This real-time data can help you stay ahead of the curve.
- Customer Feedback: Collect and analyse customer feedback regularly. This firsthand information can reveal shifts in preferences and behaviours.
By keeping up with social trends, you can ensure that your marketing strategies remain relevant and effective, ultimately driving better engagement and loyalty from your customers.
