Every year, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn give way to new trends that ultimately impacts marketing.
As new and upcoming trends are adopted by brands and presented to consumers, the need to stay ahead of the curve is essential.
As we come to the end of the first month of 2021, much conversation surrounds those all-important social media trends for 2021.
Regardless of whether you own a small, medium or large scale company, if you have found yourself asking what social media trends will impact 2021 marketing, we are on hand to provide you with the insight you need.
Below, we have delved into what we believe to be the top four social media trends that will impact 2021 marketing.
Trend One – Live Streaming
From talking to consumers about products to answering questions almost immediately, taking advantage of live features that social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have developed in recent years is essential.
Not only will brands that utilise live features have the opportunity to develop meaningful connections with consumers, but they will have the ability to make their brand more personable.
As consumers are more inclined to purchase from and recommend brands that appear personable, going live will provide you with the opportunity to retain and acquire more significant amounts of consumers throughout 2021.
Failure to go live on social media in 2021 could, unfortunately, see your marketing efforts impaired. As a result, we would highly recommend that you make a conscious effort to go live on social media.
Trend Two – Short But Sweet Video Content
Video use on social media has soared over the last few years, especially as platforms including TikTok gained popularity in 2020.
While consumers would frequently turn to YouTube to watch branded video content, many are becoming increasingly interested in videos on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and as touched on above, TikTok.
As 78% of consumers watch video content every week, video marketing demand has never been higher. Although up to 85% of brands employ video marketing, a large proportion of brands are yet to take advantage and reap the rewards that video marketing can provide them with.
Sadly, brands that fail to incorporate video marketing into their social media and marketing strategy throughout 2021 may be left with reduced consumer interest and a decline in return-on-investment.
When incorporating video content into your social media marketing strategy in 2021, we recommend keeping your content short but sweet. While longer videos may have once been desired, TikTok and Instagram reels have seen videos averaging 30 seconds become highly popular among consumers.
Trend Three – Augmented Reality
As the world was hit by the global pandemic in 2020, consumers were forced to change how they make their purchasing decisions. Once able to visit a store in person to gauge whether a specific product would meet their needs and wants, consumers have now had to adapt to a new normal.
Although consumers have shopped online for many years, physically visiting a brick-and-mortar store was still crucial in the decision-making journey. Consumers would often visit a brick-and-mortar location, decide whether a product would benefit them, and then purchase online later.
Unable to fulfil their usual decision-making journey, in the last year, 19% of consumers stated that they would often buy several similar products and upon delivery, decide which they would keep. This has ultimately seen an increase in eCommerce returns.
However, augmented reality could change this.
Beauty brands began to take advantage of augmented reality years ago to show consumers how certain products would enhance their features and looks. However, lifestyle and homeware brands are only just getting on-board.
From highlighting how homeware would look in a particular room in their house to helping them determine what a pair of jeans would look like on, by incorporating augmented reality into your social media and marketing strategy, you will have the ability to provide consumers with insight into how your products will fulfil their needs.
In turn, your sales will increase, and the number of eCommerce returns you face will gradually decline.
Although not all brands will take advantage of augmented reality, this is set to be a social media trend that will impact 2021 marketing for the better.
Trend Four – User-Generated Content
User-generated content is already a crucial part of any brand’s marketing efforts. However, this particular trend is set to continue to dominate and impact 2021 marketing.
As consumers remain unable to visit brick-and-mortar locations due to the pandemic, they are making a more conscious effort to review what other consumers have to say about a brand’s products and services on social media before making a purchasing decision.
Irrespective of whether your business is weeks, months or years old, incorporating user-generated content into your social media marketing is imperative if you are to acquire new consumers. Taking advantage of user-generated content will also boost your consumer retention, and, in turn, your return-on-investment.
Across social media, user-generated content can be shared in various ways. For example, brands can share user-generated content in stories on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, re-tweet on Twitter and share consumers’ posts relating to their products on LinkedIn.
Failure to take advantage of this particular social media trend that will impact 2021 marketing could sadly decrease consumer trust, sales and credibility.
Contact Us For Social Media and Marketing Support
Should you find yourself hoping to take advantage of the many social media trends that will impact 2021 marketing, yet find yourself unsure of where to start, why not seek our expertise?
At MaxWeb Solutions, we provide social media and marketing support to brands and businesses across the country. Our team of highly experienced experts can offer you support and guidance, and ensure that your brand implements the social media trends that will impact 2021 marketing.
If you are interested in finding out what we can do for you, why not give us a call today on 0151 652 4777?
Sources
https://biteable.com/blog/video-marketing-statistics/
Posted on Friday, January 29th, 2021 in Social Media.
