We all know that 2016 was the year of change; algorithms went hay wire and Instagram stories were introduced and YouTube came out with some new rules and everything was different. So I feel like 2017 is going to be very different in the world of blogging.
And you know what? I feel like it’s going to be the year of engagement. Individuals are starting to learn that if you don’t engage with the people you follow, you won’t see what they have to share. If you don’t LIKE their post, you won’t SEE their next post. It’s simple really, but very different to how social media used to work. We are so used to just scrolling and scrolling. But now you really need to engage. If you like their photo, then LIKE it! Comment and answer their questions. Click their links and see what they have to share. I will admit I have really increased my engagement rate on Instagram with my followers and following. And I feel like that is only going to continue and grow in 2017.
The shift of 80:20 blogging is apparent. If you don’t know what 80:20 blogging is, it’s basically the theory that you need to put 20% of your time and effort into your actual blog, and 80% of your time and effort into prompting it. That doesn’t mean that you need to be on twitter just constantly promoting and tweeting out your bog link. It simply means that you need to be engaged (or look there is that word again) and active on other social medias. There are millions of ways for people to find your blog, so being active on all of them will be very beneficial if you are wanting to promote your blog.
Instagram stories have really taken off. I won’t lie, I was one of the many to slam them when they first came out and swore that I wouldn’t waver from snapchat. BUT OH HOW I HAVE CHANGED. I actually haven’t even logged into my petiteelliee snapchat in months and just can’t be arsed with the hassle of it all anymore. The ease of Instagram stories is one thing that really drew me to them. I am forever uploading on my Instagram story and can see many other influencers doing the same. I can see them ever-growing in 2017.
The rise of the micro influencer will be HUGE this year. I have seen so many brands moving away from bloggers with a large following but no engagement and looking at closer relationships between bloggers and their followers. Things in 2017 have changed too, we don’t just hit that follow button as easily as we did in 2016. So I think this year is the year to stop looking at that follow number, stop willing it to grow and simply working on your relationship with the people who follow you now.
I feel like the blogging game has changed so much and we have all come such a long way. Bring on 2017 and what it brings!