So, 2020…happened. While we can’t say it’s been an easy year, it certainly has been an exciting year, at least as far as social media marketing is concerned. We were already a very digital society, but as we’ve been inside so often this year, we’ve somehow shifted even more of our lives behind a screen. Businesses have adapted in so many ways to the evolving landscape of social media marketing this past year, and as a result, it is shaping up to be an interesting year come 2021.
There’s a lot to look forward to as far as marketing goes in the new year; now that it’s December, we’re starting to get a better idea of what we may see as far as social strategies go, and who doesn’t love making predictions? It’s the holiday season; let’s have a little fun and make some predictions for a few 2021 social media marketing trends.
1. Live-streamed events will be prevalent amongst 2021 social media marketing strategies, particularly for businesses.
When meeting in person wasn’t an option, thank goodness we had Zoom! (But seriously, has anyone ever said “zoom” this many times in their life?) Virtual events have exploded in popularity out of necessity, but they’re not going to die out after the pandemic is over. Learning how to plan and execute a virtual event will be an incredible skill to have in your toolbox for later. Troubleshoot now so you can have an amazing virtual event later!
However, Zoom isn’t the only platform keeping live performances afloat. Live-streaming on social media has become a vital part of many social media strategies across many industries. LinkedIn in particular has created some extremely helpful platform-specific Events tools that make hosting virtual events a breeze for businesses.
Whether it’s a conference for employees or an event for community outreach, virtual events can be useful for lead generation as well as just establishing a connection to your community. Besides, now that we’re all so used to being 6’ apart, why wouldn’t we make an excuse to come together somehow?
2. Social media storefronts will continue to dominate e-commerce.
Similar to virtual events, ecommerce is an industry that has thrived beyond comprehension during the pandemic. Facebook was quick to hop on the trend, of course, building its own ecommerce platforms on Instagram and Facebook, called Shops on both apps.
In true Facebook fashion, they’re trying to get in on the trend early and take over the market. However, this opens up a great opportunity to go ahead and experiment with these Facebook-owned platforms that are currently available. Then, in the future, if you choose to move to a different platform, you will likely have some transferable skills from platforms you’ve become familiar with already.
Of course, it’s typical for social media platforms to “borrow” ideas from each other. Thus, since we’ve seen Instagram and Facebook start moving in the ecommerce direction, we can expect companies like Snapchat to follow suit. Their Discover tab has already had several major overhauls content-wise, providing content from magazines and popular creators, and even their own shows. It seems like a reasonable assumption that there’s probably some Shopchatting (Okay, we should not name the platform…) in the works.
3. Video content will continue to boom on social media.
Video has been proven time and time again to be one of users’ favorite ways to be marketed to; that’s why it’s so often regarded as the #1 most effective way to reach your target audience. The thing that makes video content so versatile is that it truly can be made to fit any industry or business.
All that to say, video content is 100% a worthy investment for your business. Regardless of what type of company you are, there is a form of video that will work for your audience. Showcase behind-the-scenes designs or a photo of a work in progress. Let your team members do daily “takeovers” of your business’s social media account. Give your audience a glimpse into who you really are. At the end of the day, we’re all only human! Transparency is crucial when you’re trying to build trust with your audience; present your business and your people authentically, and your audience will respond accordingly.
The shift in 2020 to being even more online than we already were has changed the landscape for 2021 social media marketing tactics and strategies. If nothing else in 2020, we’ve all learned to adapt – and it’s time for us all to do it one more time.
If you’re looking at your current branding or marketing efforts and thinking it’s time for a little “new year, new you” action, look no further. Reach out to our team of experts here at Blackwood Creative. We’re in the business of building remarkable brands, and yours could be next – contact us today!
