Top Social Media Trends To Watch In 2021

After some stocktaking, I decided not to stash my thoughts in the mental vault any longer. If lockdowns have taught us anything is that life is short and flimsy — it thunders by and hangs from a thin seam line. The ongoing healthcare crisis compounds human and economic tragedies. The whole globe is witnessing casualties, crippling recessions, mass unemployment and a slump in wages. Umm, do you need more?

Imagine, we're just 5 months away from 2022, while it'll be 2 years since 2020 by the time we raise a toast this New Year's Eve.

*gasps*

*faints*

Insanity, right?!

Although the pandemic gripped us in its teeth, it also helped us view the world through new lenses both on a personal and professional level — from unleashing the inner chef in us and baking banana breads to relying on telemedicine for diagnosing and healing health issues.

No doubt, these lessons have left an indelible mark on us that will last a lifetime. Simultaneously, however, they also branched businesses out into unthought-of dimensions. In particular, COVID-19 jarred the traditional trading foundations of many companies, and social media trends are the ones to blame for this. Now that physical proximity is kept to a minimum, marketing has shifted more to online outlets.

So, if you're a business owner be on lookout for trends that provide a personalised experience and benefit your business initiatives. Today, I'm giving you an inside scoop about some of the top 2021 social media trends that can support you and your biz.

Gimme more VIDEO!

Visualisation declared war against any standardisation in business managing, cracking open new possibilities for content creation. As TikTok went from “who diss” to “big sis” and continues to grow in popularity, it's safe to say that we've been brain-jacked by it (only in 2020, the app has been downloaded over 2.6 billion times.

And you may wonder, what role does TikTok have to play in the work scene? Oh boy, a massive one! Digital marketing amped up the use of video-sharing platforms, be it YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, as means to promote products and services. Many thriving companies stay on top of what's trending with video content, from life hacks and DIY crafts to challenges, behind-the-scenes footage, popular dance clips, and live streams with a more unpolished, raw intention.

Findings from GlobalWebIndex on consumer behaviour in 2021 reveal that 29% of social media users across seven countries regularly watch live streams from their favourite influencers. Among those users, 80% admit they’re more inclined to buy a product from a live broadcast.

The gist? Influencer marketing is here to stay, folks!

If you want to be one of these successful people and pique the interest of your ideal consumers, DO NOT follow every single trend. Instead, get creative and give those that are compatible with your industry a whirl.

Value-packed campaigns

Despite counting on social media trends, this type of content recreates trends with longer lifespan than those passing, one-offs. Say that you're an ethical, eco-friendly brand which sells handbags made by biodegradable material. Having the shared purpose of environmental change as the main objective and implementing these campaigns will help you connect with clients. This form of marketing rocks, seeing that millennials are by far the most sustainability-awake generation of all times.

To sum up, companies that craft value-packed content show commitment to a specific, greater cause. This illustrates that a brand has ethos and is more than its products or services.

Ecommerce slays

Once upon a time, eCommerce shopping was centred around website building and direct purchasing, and we all lived happily ever after. No more! Nowadays, there's a slew of ways and resources to uptick sales, generate profit and accelerate growth. As Instagram is booming at the moment, the potential for monetisation increases. Methodically going for cross-referencing in other social media channels (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc), advertising and qualified referrals will catapult you to success.

To achieve so, make sure your branding, content and legacy is cohesive and accompanied by aesthetically appealing graphics and visuals. Also, ensure that you add links to your websites for your profile visitors to gain direct access.

Not to mention, Facebook and Instagram offer ‘business’ profiles, with which brand owners can upload their listings and sell straight away via the ‘shops’ option. What's awesome about this, is that all of these features and tools are free and with strategy, you can build loyalty and boost your visibility.

Embracing diversity

Over the course of the pandemic, issues of diversity and inclusion were at the forefront of discussions. Therefore, justice is a driving force for many businesses, and this reflects on the products and values which they advocate.

The principle of inclusivity is being mainly depicted via social media, considering that it's the ultimate hub for free speech. Brands such as Revel and Riot and Levi's are releasing more LGBTQ+ campaigns. This also prompts the diversification of models and amplification of voices echoing from the marginalised spots of society.

Augmented reality

This is one of the latest and hottest social media trends. The incorporation of augmented reality and artificial intelligence in business defines the way in which you can browse, ‘try-on’ and interact with a product in a virtual setting. Already, shoe and clothing brands as well as make-up companies have adopted a technique through filters to get more reach.

L'Oréal is among the many. The filters used are designed to alter your perception of reality and maximise your exposure to state-of-the-art trends. The famous brand launched filters that complement and display their collection of skincare, make-up, and even hair care products. Based on the featured item, you get to choose whether you want wrinkle-free skin, different coloured eyeshadow, and even more voluminous hair. These filters facilitate the marketing of a product by presenting a heightened version of the results before adding anything to your cart and proceeding to checkout.

Parting words

Social media is more an ever-evolving entity than something fixed and stable. This doesn't mean that its usage is parallel to rocket science or advanced mathematics! There are four simple steps you can take to be in control of social networks rather than being controlled by them:

• Work with strategy – who is your target audience?

• Quality content is life – consistently planning, scheduling and posting quality, valuable content is key

• Stick to trends that align with your brand identity – you don’t have to follow every passing trend

• Stay authentic – to engage with your followers on a deep level, upload unfiltered, real-life stuff that expose the human faces and voices behind your brand. Intimacy dominates social media in 2021 and beyond

Trust me, if you keep these in mind, you will put your digital presence on the map as top-notch, while your business will blossom via the use of new social media trends.

Put them to the test and let me know how it went on the comments section below!

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