5 Social Media Trends to Prepare for in 2021
Social media has become more relevant to people of all ages in 2020 due to the pandemic. As we enter 2021 and adapt to the new normal, new user behaviors are bound to change the landscape of the social media industry yet again.
What trends in social media marketing should you prepare for in 2021? Here are the top 5 in our list:
1. Shift to social media online shopping
People are embracing e-commerce more, and we’re seeing a continued shift to online shopping in the years to come. With the introduction of Shops on Facebook and Instagram, users can easily buy straight from these respective apps, making the experience convenient and more streamlined.
This trend is a game-changer since social media platforms are now becoming more than just a place to catch up with friends. Opportunities for businesses and marketers are broader now more than ever, and if you haven’t already, it’s high time to shift your e-commerce efforts onto social media.
How to prepare for 2021:
Get started on your shop:
Have your products sorted:
- Have professional, high-quality product photos
- Create engaging copies of your product descriptions
2. Rise of AR/VR experiences
Augmented and virtual realities (AR/VR) are now more than just a thing from science fiction. With the introduction of AR filters on social media and the continuing accessibility (and affordability) of VR gear, we’re seeing a rise of AR/VR experiences.
Additionally, as more people adapt to working from home and remote schooling, immersive experiences brought about by AR/VR have added a lot of value in entertainment, business, and education.
How to prepare for 2021:
- Develop branded AR filters for Facebook and Instagram.
- Create a VR tour of your physical store, or if you offer certain services, walk customers through with 360° photos (e.g., tourist destinations, real estate properties, etc.)
3. Popularity of short, engaging content
As more people spend more time online, attention spans have grown shorter, giving rise to the popularity of “snackable” content. Think short 15- to 60-second TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and Snapchats.
Short-lived, 24-hour-long content such as Facebook and Instagram Stories, as well as the newly released Twitter Fleets are also gaining much steam.
How to prepare for 2021:
- Make your content engaging. For example, join in or create your own fun social media “challenge.” Ask your target audience what they’d like and encourage them to contribute (i.e., make use of user-generated content).
- Make your content informative. In this era where people rely on the internet for information, find fun and engaging ways to deliver informative content on social media. For example, TikTok “tutorial” videos through dances are huge hits.
4. Empathy and thoughtfulness take center-stage
Uncertain times still lie ahead, and marketers need to adapt to new strategies that are sensitive to today’s hazy outlook. Empathy and thoughtfulness play a vital role in social media marketing in 2021, and this means more personified and humanized content than marketing-focused campaigns.
How to prepare for 2021:
- Shift your focus on conversational marketing. Include open-ended questions on your social media copy instead of the usual CTA to your website. Use a combination of AI chatbots and human interaction when handling business messages via social media.
- Foster advocacy. In these trying times, customers connect more with brands whose advocacy echoes with their values. It’s important, however, to advocate causes that make sense to your brand and to be mindful not to be political — for example, supporting environmental campaigns or being inclusive with your brand photos.
5. The boom of live videos and video marketing
As organizations are forced to take their conferences and events online during the pandemic, it’s no wonder that more businesses are embracing live videos — and the trend continues on in 2021.
This also means that video marketing is all the more important now, with all major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn integrating marketing capabilities into their video feature.
How to prepare for 2021:
- Launch live events. This can be as simple as an AMA or Q&A session, or something more major such as launching a new product.
- Create explainer videos for your brand and cross-market it to multiple social media platforms. Be sure to adapt to each platform that you post (i.e., being mindful of the maximum length, the orientation, use of captions, etc.).
The social media industry is always evolving, and the opportunities are ripe as we enter a new year where huge shifts are anticipated. Read more social media marketing-related articles on our blog: https://www.ilfusion.com/blog
