14 social media & blogging predictions for 2014

Another year and if anything is certain, it will be a year when social media and blogging will evolve and develop in ways that impact how we blog and how people read, communicate and share information. Here’s our 14 predictions for 2014.

1. Everyone will be a social influencer. OK, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But see that mum in town gazing into her phone, checking her Facebook timeline? Look, there’s her 11-year-old daughter posting on Instagram. That dad at the office, tweeting a picture taken on his walk to work. There are more mobile phone subscriptions in the UK than people. Everyone has the mobile internet now, even kids, and they’re using it. We’ll all be plugged in all the time everywhere, so much so that “social media” will start to seem more like regular social life.

2. Lifestyle bloggers will perfect the art of story telling. Everyone remembers a story, especially when told well. Content will be a focus in 2014, and bloggers will use photos and video across platforms (blog, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, etc) to tell their stories to capture the attention of more readers.

3. Internet security becomes key. With everyone sharing more online, this year we’ll spend more time thinking about internet security. We’ll become more aware of what kind of information we share, our digital footprint, our children’s understanding of the Internet as a public space and how businesses use our personal details and browsing habits. We won’t find definitive answers to any of these questions but the discussion of them will take centre stage.

4. Brand/blogger relationships go pro. For the more serious influencers, relationships with brands will become more professional (and lucrative). They’ll have a good media kit, and the confidence to turn down projects that don’t pay or remunerate at a desired level. Written agreements or contracts will be more and more frequent.

5. But you’ll need to prove your worth. Real stats are king (not the, ahem, optimistic ones). Social measurement, listening and analytics tools, like Radian 6, Social Bakers and Traakar, are popping up all over the place. Brands are using them. Savvy bloggers will pay attention to stats.

6. Video catches our eye. Yes, we say this every year, and every year it’s true: Video will continue to rise in importance. If you haven’t made your own short movies yet on your own video channel, make 2014 the year. (Start by subscribing to BritMumsTV on YouTube and tweet us your channel name, and we’ll subscribe back.)

7. We’ll curate our communities. New communities are popping up everywhere, often organised by folks or companies new and unknown in our space — so much so there’s a bit of community overload. By necessity, we’ll have to focus on the ones where we make real connections. At BritMums we’ll work harder than ever to create a welcoming community where we support and nourish each other, where we can become better social influencers. All of us will edit our community commitments to avoid spreading ourselves too thinly.

8. We’ll talk back to the trolls. People have been sickened by the threats and harrassment endured by Caroline Criado-Perez and are no longer going to parrot the line “don’t feed the trolls”. There will be more discussion about passing laws that protect against online harassment and threats. Meanwhile, leaders in the online space will become more active, talking about how to make trolls shut up.

9. We’ll gather together in June. With 750 attendees, BritMums Live 2014 will continue to be the social event of the year for parenting lifestyle bloggers. (Do you have your ticket yet?)

10. More blogging leading lights will emerge. At this time next year, our favourite bloggers will include people we haven’t even heard of yet. Watch the Round-ups, add new folks to your reader and keep an open mind to make sure your circle includes up-and-comers.

11. More integrated social profiles. We don’t just blog. We tweet, update timelines, post pics to Facebook and Pinterest, share on G+, upload videos to Vine and YouTube. We want to do more of our sharing in one place, instead of toggling between screens and apps. This is one advancement we’re hoping for: online tools or platforms that keep us from having to log in/log out all day long.

12.  Feminism will unite rather than divides us. Forget the debates on whether feminism is still relevant or who gets to be one. This year, the discussion and awareness around feminism gains real purchase. More women will be inspired by Laura’s Everyday Sexism project and similar projects. More opinion makers will focus on positive, effective conversations among women about our goals. We’ll all move toward the mutual goal of equal rights, equal pay and freedom from violence for women. We won’t achieve all that, but we’ll get a step closer.

13. Friendliness is in; online bickering is out. Bitchiness is soooo 2010. Rather than piling in, you’ll see online leaders stepping back from the squabbles. We all have better things to do with our time thank you very much.

14. We’ll carve out offline time. With all these things going on, it’s hard to imagine when we’ll have time to hang out without a tablet computer or smartphone in our hand. But it will be more important than ever to unplug occasionally and listen to the silence.

You heard it here first. Nearly 6,000+ strong, the BritMums membership will continue to lead the online conversation.

What are your predictions for 2014? Leave a comment sharing them!

About

BritMums is the UK’s original collective of lifestyle bloggers and digital influencers, fueling the country’s most influential social content. We lead the online conversation with members who are parent social influencers creating content on topics ranging from food, parenting, travel, politics, style and more.

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