No longer the new kid on the block, social media marketing has matured into an established platform. Marketers are well aware of its raw capability and its many advantages don’t have to be repeated here. But the best part of digital marketing is that it’s an ever-changing field and that there’s always something new going on. So, let’s discuss the social media marketing trends we expect to see in 2021.
1. The rise of ephemeral content
A Topic we’ve talked about before, ephemeral content or content that is temporary, is expected to increase exponentially in 2021. Story features like the one on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and now even LinkedIn shows us what users are interacting with. There is a market for content that is temporary. Users find it a quick way to connect with their friends or favorite brands. With the spread of it on various social media platforms, we know that it’s here to stay. With that in mind, make sure that your business regularly posts stories on social media.
2. Live videos
Another great tool for brands and people to connect with their audience, live videos have taken over the internet. With the pandemic and periods of lockdown where live events were stopped, live videos on social media took over. It gave people a way to interact with the people they follow on social media. Live comments, likes, and mentions help boost the appeal of these videos. Live events are not only on social media, with video games getting in on it. Travis Scott’s concert on Fortnite was spectacular and a sign of the times to come, more live videos.
3. Increase in video content
There’s going to be a massive increase in the amount of video content online. TikTok is a prime example of it. The social media platform known for its short-form videos is among the most popular. According to a study by Hootsuite, TikTok has 689 million users and is the 7th most used platform in the world. Instagram has shown that it knows which way the wind is blowing with the release of reels. According to Cisco, by 2022, 82% of all traffic online will be video.
Stay ahead by using more videos in your marketing efforts. There’s nothing like good video content to help increase your brand awareness. A little story there, a little TikTok there goes a long way.
4. Social Media Shopping
Shopping has become widely supported on social media platforms. The seamless shopping experience on Instagram and Facebook’s widely popular marketplace shows us that social commerce is the future. Snapchat is also in on it with its in-app stores, an engaging and flawless experience. All your e-commerce websites should hop on this train quickly if you want to get access to an immediately larger pool of customers.
5. Augmented reality becomes smarter
Snapchat didn’t create the first AR filter, a tiny startup called Looksery did, but they definitely reinvented it. Snapchat’s filters are synonymous with AR filters. When someone pictures AR filters, they’re seeing Snapchat’s filters in their heads. Instagram and Facebook too have their versions of AR filters, and other platforms are soon to follow. Marketers have been using this feature to push their products using filters as promotions. Augmented reality features can give users a better idea of what the product looks like, and with smartphone technology advancing rapidly, AR is going to get more complex. AR has potential that has yet to be utilized fully. So, this is the perfect time for marketers to take advantage of this underused medium.
Social media’s various benefits to marketing are nothing new. But to stay relevant and ahead of the competition, it’s important to be aware of the latest trends and tools. These are just a few of the trends that social media is going through at the moment. If you want to talk more about social media marketing and how it can help your business, call us at +971 4 580 3378.
