6 social media marketing trends for 2021
Takeaway’s:
- Six key trends in social media marketing that should be on your radar [and social strategy] in 2021.
- As American’s are spending more time online and on social media today, how can your brand rise above the noise and grow and connect with your community?
- We can’t predict the future, but we can line out six things you can start doing TODAY to move the needle
social media MARKETING trendS FOR YOUR 2021 SOCIAL STRATEGY.
Change is the only constant we have when it comes to social media platforms. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc. - are continually changing their algorithms to favor different kinds of content and introducing new features. What may have worked in 2019, might not be relevant in 2020, and so on. So, what do you need to know to build out your social strategy for 2021?
These are the top social media marketing trends that should be on your radar in 2021.
1. keywords & hashtags matter
Know your brands keywords for SEO and incorporate them into your social copy. Instagram now has a search bar and will pull up relevant content based on keyword searches. Hashtags are also still in play and an integral part of most platforms.
When it comes to using hashtags, here are a few quick tips:
Never copy and paste from a set list. Algorithms don’t favor profiles that continually use the same hashtags, especially in the same order.
Stick to brand, industry and topic-related hashtags and only use trending hashtags when your post has to do with the trend. “Hashtag-jacking” is frowned upon across the board.
Test out hashtags on platforms other than Instagram and Twitter. Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest are channels that should be tried and tested as well.
Test the engagement of your posts when you share a list of hashtags in the original post or the first comment.
When selecting hashtags, use a mix of popular tags and more niche tags, for example: #skis #powderskis #powstash.
2. video is ‘king’ & ‘queen’
There used to be a saying in marketing, “content is king.” Content is still king, but video content reigns supreme. More specifically, authentic video that is true to your brand - even if it’s shot on an iPhone. Did you know that YouTube is the second largest search engine behind Google and it sees more than two billion monthly users? If you’re not already on YouTube, this is your time.
Check out our guide to creating and optimizing a YouTube channel here.
PRO TIP: Quick, snackable bits of video perform best. The ideal video length for YouTube is three minutes, TikTok is limited to one minute videos, and Instagram Reels are limited to 15-30-seconds.
3. social shopping
This trend is on the upswing. If you’re not already offering a shopping experience via your social platforms, it is time to start exploring this new avenue for engaging with and converting your target customer. Statista reported that social commerce in the U.S. is projected to reach $84.2 billion by 2024 and account for 7.8% of U.S. retail e-commerce sales. It’s an area you can’t afford to overlook.
Many of the social platforms allow third party integration, like Shopify, for real time updates. If you are utilizing social shopping, remember to tag products in your posts, pins, stories, videos, reels, etc. This will immediately increase your chance of exposure and conversion.
PRO TIP: Be aware of charges when integrating your social channels with a shopping platform and be vigilant when setting up your shopping feeds to make sure they best represent your brand.
4. the most human brand wins
This may sound obvious, but paying attention to what’s happening online - and reacting [appropriately] - is a trend that’s here to stay. Now more than ever, consumers are engaging with and purchasing from brands that share the same values - and are not just “robots” behind the screen. Humanizing your brand is the best way to connect with today’s consumer. Lean into it!
PRO TIP: Tune into our interview with Mark Schaefer, author of Marketing Rebellion, the Most Human Company Wins, on Channel Mastery. We interviewed Mark in 2019 about how businesses that are supporting their customers and maintaining their humanity are winning the battle for attention and market share. Tune in here.
5. privacy matters
This trend is one to keep any eye on for 2021 and well beyond, as none of us will be immune to privacy restrictions and changes. As Facebook and Apple, in particular, continue to sort out details and privacy restrictions, we’ll want to stay up to date on what’s next in this realm.
In the coming months, we’re likely to see reforms that shift privacy regulations and algorithmic transparency.
6. find strategic partners & influencer
One of the top ways to grow your community and brand awareness is to have others talk up your brand. Developing an ambassador team, launching or maintaining an affiliate program or running giveaways and collaborations are a few ways to engage with your followers and grow your community.
While it seems like it would benefit you to partner with influencers and affiliates that have 100k+ followers, we should also note that you shouldn’t discount the highly engaged followers of micro-influencers, or people and businesses with between 2,000 and 5,000 followers. Followers of micro-influencers are heavily engaged and loyal.
There you have it. Those are six of the top trends in social media marketing that should be on your radar as you head into 2021. We can’t predict the future, but we can look at the notable trends that will help you rise above the noise online today and connect with your target consumer on an authentic level.
If you found this post insightful and would like to be notified of future resources from Verde, consider joining our newsletter below.