Social media has become an integral part of people’s lives and daily routines. Some are addicted to it so much that the first thing they do after waking up is to check their social media feeds.
Given the importance of social media in consumers’ lives, marketers and businesses flock to social platforms in the hope of connecting with their target customers. However, there is a content overload on social media, and the competition is very high. It can be challenging for you to stand out unless you have a clear social media marketing strategy.
Here is a range of social media trends that you need to be aware of for 2021 and beyond.
1. Live streams will remain popular
The global health crisis of 2020 saw many businesses going digital however they could maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
So naturally, there’s an uptick in the use of live streaming features on social media. Facebook saw a massive rise in messaging and live streaming, especially in COVID-19 hotspots like Italy. For instance, the number of views on Instagram and Facebook Live doubled there in just a week.
While the situation continues to evolve in 2021, people have gotten used to being able to interact with brands live without ever leaving their homes. So live streaming will continue to gain popularity and should definitely be a part of your social media marketing strategy.
2. Story type content
As highlighted earlier, more than 500 million users interact with Instagram Stories every day. So although Instagram Stories were already the dominant content format in the previous year, they’re not going away any time soon.
Photos in Stories had more drop-offs views than videos, showing that people tend to spend more time viewing videos. Therefore, using video as the content of the Story can increase the reach and retention of users.
3. Augmented reality will become a media content trend
Gucci has used AR technology to try on new shoes, and the technology is being promoted by other brands. In addition, intelligent face change, Douyin small games are all related to AR technology. AR requires no hardware other than a smartphone, making it easier to access than VR.
Augmented reality experiences are inherently interactive and highly effective for engagement.
Brands are quickly buying into this latest social media trend by creating AR filters to promote new products or encourage fan interaction. This keeps your audience engaged and entertained, and could even help you attract new customers with the right promotion.
4. Influencer Marketing Will Continue to Soar
Influencer marketing is not a new trend, but it is one that is going to stay for a while. Social media today is dominated by influencers who are getting paid exorbitant amounts to promote brands.
The adoption of this trend can be seen from both perspectives. One can be seen by the sheer rise in the number of influencers on social media. Second can be seen by the increase in marketing spend on influencer marketing by businesses.
Investing in influencers is much cheaper than running paid ad campaigns, and yet it delivers good results. Moreover, influencers can help marketers achieve a variety of marketing goals and not just generate leads. These are the two main reasons why it has become so popular and is continuously getting stronger and bolder.
Going forward, more and more marketers will use this strategy and work with multiple smaller influencers instead of one celebrity.
5.Increase use of social media for customer service
Social media has traditionally been a place for people to connect with their social networks and share photos and videos. However, those days are long gone, and social media is now so much more than just that.
It has become a retail platform, a product discovery platform, and now, even a customer service channel. A lot of brands have started recognizing social media networks as platforms for delivering customer service.
This transition happened gradually as brands started noticing that many customers try to reach out to them on social media. This may be because of a lack of response on other channels or just because it was a more direct way to reach the brands.
Fast-forward a few years, and imagine the number of such interactions growing multifold. It’s not just some one-off cases where customers post their questions or complaints on social media and brands respond. Now, it has become a significant enough customer service channel for brands to recognize it as one.
6. The rise of social media communities
While this is not something new, it is definitely something that is becoming more popular now than ever before.
Social media communities are basically social groups created by brands to provide a networking platform for their customers. These are usually private groups that like-minded people can join to talk about their shared interests.
Facebook Groups are a brilliant example of such social communities. Many brands utilize such groups to bring all of their existing and prospective customers together and engage with them in a meaningful way. Group members can discuss various topics, share their experiences, and seek solutions to their challenges.
Brands can also utilize their social media communities to launch new products, seek customer feedback, and gain valuable customer insights.
For example, Nihaojewelry Facebook group provides a communication platform to all customers. They share information and their purchasing experience, what products are popular, or which transportation method is cheaper. We also provide solutions and assistance as quickly as possible based on customers’ feedbacks. If customers have any questions or would like to find someone who had many sourcing experiences from our website, welcome to join Nihaojewelry Facebook group. In addition, this group community enhances customers’ trust in the brand and the influence of Nihaojewelry.
These are some of the trends that will dominate the social media landscape in 2021 and beyond. Leverage these trends to your advantage and stay ahead of your competitors. Social media is a dynamic and competitive space, and these trends can help you ace your social media game. So, keep abreast of the latest developments around these themes and use these for your social media initiatives to make your customers and sales grow faster.
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