Foreword: This is perfect Friday or weekend reading. Matt has put together a fascinating gif demonstrating the worldwide growth of Social Media over the last 12 years. He has complemented it with a thoughtful history of how it has affected business, and the psychology around both why it works and how to make it work for you. We hope you enjoy it!

The Evolution And Psychology Of Social Media

Saying that social media has taken the world by storm is like saying that rain is wet or that fire is hot!

It’s a bit of an understatement. 

We live in a world where Facebook alone has over 1.65 billion active monthly users. It’s a phenomenon that affects both casual users and businesses alike.

Today I’m going to show you how social media has evolved in the small amount of time it’s been around, and how it has taken the world by storm. Here’s our roadmap for today:

Here’s an interactive gif to demonstrate just how explosive the growth of social media has been over the last 12 years.

Greatness does take some patience, though. The interactive might need a few seconds to load (there’s a video below if you don’t want to wait)

Credit: OnBlastBlog

*Data represented is not relative to location

What’s The Big Deal? 5 Reasons Why Social Media Marketing is Essential

Social media comes in a variety of flavors. You’ve got the vanilla Facebook, the bite-sized dessert that is Twitter, the dish with the perfect presentation known as Pinterest, the on-the-go Instagram, and of course, the zero calorie Snapchat.

These are just some of the platforms people are using today. There’s truly something for everyone, and that’s part of the appeal. There’s something beyond this, though, several characteristics that tie the whole concept together.

Here’s the bottom line: 

There are universal truths about social media that made it so insanely popular. Here are five of those traits:

1. The Chance to Meet (And Keep in Touch) With People

This first point is something that resulted from the sheer power of the internet. With a platform like social media, you can suddenly keep in touch with long lost friends, meet new people, and do all of it from the comfort of your own home.

It’s truly remarkable how connected we all are as a result of these platforms.

The appeal there is undeniable. To access anyone, anywhere in the world, is a powerful thing.

2. User-Friendly Design for Everyone

Another key aspect that makes social media so successful is the way it’s designed. When it comes to user-interface, nothing beats these platforms. Everyone from teenagers to grandparents have figured out how to use Facebook. They’ve managed to make it so simple and easy to use that it reaches any demographic.

There’s very little in the world of technology that can match that level of universal appeal and understanding.

3. They Are Free

The word “free” is a powerful tool. People will immediately try something if it’s free, which is why these platforms are so successful.

They offer all of these amazing features and connectivity, without the hassle of paying for it. The secret sauce lies in the advertising costs and paid games on the platform, but the entry fee is zero.

4. It Helps People Find Jobs

Social media extends beyond simple conversation and photos.

Networks like LinkedIn offer a professional platform that helps businesses and job seekers connect. This is another example of how versatile social media can be.

5. It Offers Exposure For Businesses

Social Media Marketing is huge right now, and for good reason. These platforms offer a way for businesses to bring their brand online and spread awareness. There’s also potential for those same companies to engage their customers online and handle customer service issues quickly.

The options for paid advertising are also extremely varied. Companies can utilize targeted options to reach the exact people they are seeking. The options are practically limitless, which leaves plenty of opportunities for businesses to take advantage of these platforms.

5 Psychological Aspects of Social Media That Will Improve Your Marketing

Most businesses will be sold on social media marketing, but finding success in this field requires a keen understanding of what makes people share and engage with content on social media.

Here are X science-backed psychological elements of social media that increase the amount of engagement on social media:

1. It Pays to Know Your Audience

We’ve all had that feeling before we publish something. You know, that feeling where you wonder if what you’re about to release into the world is good enough. That uneasiness is born from a lack of understanding.

If we knew our audiences better, not only would we resonate with them, but we would also have more confidence in what we publish. The same is true of the comments from the audience themselves.

Self-censorship is the word of the day here. We want to limit this so we can confidently publish content on our social media & blogging platforms. A great way to start is by creating audience personas which are specific profiles that outline the traits of your typical user.

2. Emotions Matter (Especially Positive Ones)

Happiness, sadness, and emotions in general, are contagious, but it wasn’t until recently that we knew if these things applied to an online setting. As it turns out, they most certainly do. A study done by researchers at the University of California found that posts which conveyed positive emotions were far more successful.

The Bottom Line? 

Stay positive on social media, and you’ll notice that people are far more likely to engage with your content.

3. Your Profile Photo is Extremely Important

Whether you’re a solopreneur or you’re posting a photo of your team, you should always keep in mind that studies have shown people draw conclusions from a photo in less than a second! For online marketers, it may be worth your time to A/B test your photos on social media for this very reason.

Furthermore, you should take into consideration the lighting, facial expressions, color, and appearance of everyone or everything in the photo.

4. Social Media Creates a Sense of Belonging

A fascinating study done by Dr. Stephanie Tobin from the University of Queensland’s School of Psychology discovered that active participation on social media gave users a greater feeling of connectedness.

This was due in part to the feeling that people can jump onto social media and have conversations whenever they want. It makes them feel connected to others in a profound way. For marketers, it’s important to understand how this can translate to the conversations and feedback you give and get on social media.

5. We’re Wired to Share

As human beings, we love to talk about our thoughts. In fact, Harvard neuroscientists have discovered that being able to share our thoughts triggers the same pleasure sectors of our brain that food and money trigger.

This research also showed that 80% of social media posts are announcements about a person’s experiences. We can take this and connect it to marketing by focusing our efforts on listening to our users as much as possible.

It’s important to make announcements and keep the information flowing, but when it comes down to customer service or engagement, remember that we should let our users talk more about themselves and less about us.

Final Thoughts

Social media’s explosive success makes complete sense when you boil everything down. These platforms were made to appeal to not only a wide range of people but to us as a species. We were hardwired to engage with platforms like these.

Now that they’ve found their success, use this knowledge to create your own. How do you utilize social media marketing? Let us know in the comments!