There are constantly new trends and social media platforms popping up, but several of them don’t stick around or never completely catch on to be worth your time. However, there are a few newer platforms and tools that seem to be catching fire for advocates, marketers, and overall social media and mobile users that may come in handy for your dealership right now.

 What Are the Trendy Social Media Platforms + Tools in 2015?

Several social media platforms are classics, will always be “in,” and are a good idea to utilize if they fit with your dealership’s brand and target audience—like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. But there are three newer social media platforms and tools your dealership can utilize that have just recently taken off and are gaining customers, advocates, sales, and engagement in the business world. 

Periscope. This social media platform allows users to give live video updates while other Periscope users collectively watch and comment. This also enables the person who is live on video to respond, in real time, to users who are commenting and interacting. Users also have the option to watch the replay of a Periscope if they happened to miss it live. Periscope was started by Twitter, so it’s safe to say it will be around for a while, and it’s a great tool to use during an event. So just jump on and tell people something about what’s going on at the dealership or show off some vehicles on the showroom floor. Consumers like to be included and have the ability to engage in what’s going on, and Periscope allows your dealership to fulfill that in real time. Below are some quick tips on how to utilize and get started on Periscope:

• Your dealership can connect to Periscope via its Twitter handle. Twitter launched Periscope, so they’re connected.
• Currently, users can only live video on Periscope via mobile app, but viewers can watch on their phone or computer.
• The first 10-30 seconds of your Periscope generally consists of people joining in, so it’s a good time to address or do something for users who will catch the replay.
• Prepare for your Periscopes. Periscope users whose videos consistently and rapidly lose users don’t have as far of a reach as those who maintain viewers fairly well. Simply provide useful information, interact, or have something interesting to show that viewers can enjoy. 

Katch.me. This tool goes right along with Periscope. Your live videos on Periscope only last for 24 hours after they’re made, so if you want to make sure your videos stay available for your consumers to view, Katch.me is the go-to tool to utilize. Your dealership can use it to store all its Periscopes, you can pick and choose which you’d like viewable, and you can customize comments that show throughout your Periscope. A useful tutorial all about Katch.me and how to set it up in conjunction with Periscope is viewable here.

Snapchat. This app is no longer just for taking embarrassing photos and making 10-second videos. Now, people can use Snapchat to advertise to their employees as well by creating content that users can click on and watch, listen to, or simply just view. Snapchat may seem overwhelming, but here are some simple tips to make sense of it all:

• Snapchat is less about the “chat” and more about the “snap.”
• Stop thinking of the app as something you use to engage with others but use to, instead, engage others.
• It’s easiest to view Snapchat as a clever way for your dealership to stay connected by saying “Hi, I’m here. Look at me. See what I have to offer,” in short photo designs or clever video bursts versus Twitter, where you give a short burst of content info.
• Focus on your “Stories” tab of Snapchat, by swiping left on the app’s screen to view others or create your own. Your dealership can utilize it most with consumers and advocates.
• There are 3 types of stories: Recent Updates, Live, and Discover. Your dealership will want to utilize Recent Updates the most, so the users and advocates following you can see your content through your photos and videos.

 It’s beneficial to have advocates utilizing Snapchat for your dealership to market information to younger crowds. Just this year, FORTUNE wrote that it expects Snapchat to become one of the primary ways younger, mobile users get their information. 

The Buy Button. Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are three of the major platforms that have incorporated “buy buttons” or buy features for their users. This means mobile users now have access to one-click purchases when they see an item they like on a sponsored post, and they don’t even have to leave their app.

The buy button is beneficial for your dealership because mobile media usage is now significantly higher in 2015 at 51%. Consumers want the fastest option that includes the least amount of work when they’re shopping or clicking through something they may have interest in. If your dealership offers automotive services or products, this is a sure-fire way to make purchasing them as easy and available as possible for your consumers.

Utilizing the newest, fastest growing social media platforms and tools is extremely beneficial to your dealership and adds an edge that puts you above the bare minimum of simple posts and interactions on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Pinterest. Consumers and online users are rapidly moving toward video interactions, in-real-time content and engagement, and taking advantage of the quickest, easiest option when shopping or searching online. It’s beneficial for your dealership to move along with its consumer market in order to gain the most out of your marketing.