2024 has been a rollercoaster of creativity—CGI ads are going mainstream, AI tools are writing ad copies for top brands, and social media? It’s turning into a maze of daily updates! As a business owner, you’re probably thinking, “Aayein???!!!” With ever-changing policies and the looming threat of shadow bans, staying ahead feels impossible. But guess what? Gr8 Brews has got your back! As a social media marketing agency in Kolkata and your go-to partner, we’re always tuned into the hottest trends and smartest tricks. Curious about the latest updates on the six biggest platforms every business should know? Let’s jump right in!

1. Facebook: Revolutionizing Customer Engagement with AI and Offers

Facebook continues to innovate, focusing on automation and conversion-driven updates.

• Expanded AI Chatbots: Facebook’s AI chatbots are now available to more businesses, enabling automated customer support, personalized product recommendations, and transaction completions within Messenger. This update reduces response times and allows brands to provide 24/7 support.
• Offer Integration in Ads: Advertisers can now include exclusive offers, such as discounts or free shipping, directly in their ads. Users can redeem these offers without leaving the platform, streamlining the purchasing process.

Gr8 Insight:

As a social media marketing agency, what we can truly sense is that AI-driven interactions are becoming an integral part of customer experience. Businesses that integrate AI into their social media strategies can provide instant, personalized responses, reducing drop-offs and fostering loyalty. Expect to see more automation tools across platforms in 2024, emphasizing faster, smoother user journeys.

2. X (Formerly Twitter): A New Focus on Ad Transparency and User Sentiment

X is enhancing its advertising ecosystem by introducing tools that provide deeper insights into user sentiment and behavior.

• Refined Targeting Tools: Advertisers can leverage advanced analytics to understand audience preferences and optimize campaigns for better engagement.
• Subscription Model Growth: X is expanding its subscription services, offering ad-free experiences and premium content access to users. Brands can collaborate with influencers or create exclusive content for subscribers.

Gr8 Insight:

The focus on transparency and personalized experiences underscores the value of authentic brand communication. In 2024, the hottest trend on X will be content marketing that’s either humor-driven or socially conscious—both with the potential to go viral once they capture enough attention.

3. WhatsApp: Simplified Pricing and Business Integration

WhatsApp Business is simplifying its pricing model to encourage widespread adoption among brands:

• Free Service Conversations: WhatsApp Business made service conversations free from November 1st, 2024. This means that businesses can engage with customers without incurring charges for these interactions within the 24-hour window, significantly reducing communication costs.
• From February 1, 2025: WhatsApp will expand its authentication services to seven additional countries across the APAC and EMEA regions. This expansion will provide businesses in these areas with a streamlined way to authenticate users, further supporting global customer engagement.
• From April 1, 2025: WhatsApp will begin offering utility templates free of charge, within the 24-hour customer service window. This is an important update for businesses that rely on template messages to streamline communication and enhance customer service.
• Also starting April 1, 2025: WhatsApp will shift from charging businesses per conversation to charging per template message sent. This means that businesses will pay based on the number of template messages they send, rather than the total number of conversations they have, which could be a more cost-effective approach for some brands depending on their messaging patterns.

Gr8 Insight:

With WhatsApp’s 2 billion+ active users globally, its business tools will dominate conversational commerce in 2024. Brands has already started leveraging its potential for personalized messaging, seamless purchases, and post-purchase support to deepen customer relationships.

4. LinkedIn: Strengthening B2B Marketing Through Richer Content

LinkedIn is doubling down on interactive and educational content to strengthen professional connections:

• In-Feed Carousels: These posts allow businesses to showcase multiple slides in a single update, ideal for product highlights, case studies, or company milestones.
• Sponsored Newsletters: Brands can now sponsor newsletters to deliver thought leadership, industry updates, or exclusive content directly to users’ inboxes.

Gr8 Insight:

LinkedIn’s focus on interactive and professional content highlights a broader shift toward relationship marketing. Marketers should prioritize content that provides tangible value, such as industry insights, tutorials, or exclusive reports, to stand out in the professional sphere.

5. Threads: Meta’s Advertising Frontier

Meta’s Threads platform is set to introduce advertising features in 2024, marking a significant milestone:

• Ad Rollout: A select group of advertisers will test ad placements starting January 2024, paving the way for monetization.
• Real-Time Conversations: Threads emphasizes dynamic discussions, making it ideal for brands looking to humanize their interactions.

Gr8 Insight:

Threads represents a shift toward community-driven marketing, where user participation and conversational content take center stage. Brands that experiment early can gain a foothold in this emerging space, tapping into niche and opinionated audiences.

6. Instagram: Personalization and Deep Engagement

Instagram continues to innovate with updates that prioritize user preferences and foster deeper connections:

• Reset Recommendations: Users can reset their content preferences, allowing brands to re-establish visibility based on fresh interactions.
• Reels Priority: With Reels dominating feeds, short-form video content is now a must for brands aiming to boost engagement.
• Carousels Expand to 20 Slides: This feature enables richer storytelling, perfect for multi-product showcases or detailed tutorials.
• Shift in Metrics Focus: Instagram is prioritizing deeper engagement metrics like saves, shares, and comments over likes, encouraging brands to create more impactful content.

Gr8 Insight:

The emphasis on authentic and personalized content will shape Instagram’s landscape in 2025. Bite-sized content is already trending, and in the coming days, 5-10 second reels are set to dominate the viral scene.

Be it AI integration, be it video content, social media will be the most important medium of communication as the world is fitting into smart devices. But how to reach your TG on social media because it’s vast and there are plenty of fish in the sea, so how will people know which one to choose? Here comes a social media marketing agency like Gr8 Brews, where we plan, analyze, strategize, plan content, and give it life with our creativity. It is difficult to manage single-handedly along with managing the price point of view. So if you are looking for the best social media marketing agency in Kolkata to get a Gr8 feed and to feed people what they really crave, connect with us.