5+ Social Media Trends to Expect in 2021 for a Better Marketing Strategy

As we head into 2021, now is the perfect time for you to reevaluate your current digital marketing strategy. 

Where do you need to make changes to remain successful in the new year?

When you think about your social media presence in 2021, consider the trends that will be popular to boost your success and growth!

Here are some key trends that you should look out for this upcoming year:

1. In-app purchases

Expect more businesses to shift to online platforms to offer their customers a safe, contactless shopping experience this coming year.

Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook already make it easy for users to shop on an e-commerce site. Now, they have begun to incorporate features for in-app purchasing. 

This helps users seamlessly transition from viewing an ad to buying a brand’s goods and services. 

Early this year, Facebook launched Facebook Shops. This feature helps small businesses sell their products online. In the summer, Instagram introduced its users to Shops on Instagram to accomplish the same purpose.

In 2021, these tools will continue to grow, making it easy for consumers to make in-app purchases.

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

You can make the most of this new trend if you do the following:

• Optimize your user experience so that accessing your website, browsing your products, and completing your checkout process is as simple as possible
• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Social media users will make in-app purchases with their phones or their tablets
• Use Facebook Shops and Instagram Shop in order to link your products to your social media posts and stories

2. Social consciousness

According to a 2017 Millennial Impact Report, millennial consumers prefer brands that have the same values as them. In fact, more than 66% of people are willing to pay more for products when they agree with the brand’s values.

Consumers want to know that the brands they buy from are socially conscious and stand up for what they believe is right. 

Expect brands to practice purposeful marketing on social media through:

• Promotion of different causes
• Opportunities for their shoppers to donate to or support a specific cause
• An increased awareness of different social and environmental issues

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

You can do your part to be socially responsible in a few ways:

• Be authentic. Don’t hop on the bandwagon and support a cause because it is trendy or profitable
• Connect with your customers. Find out the social concerns that resonate with your target audience, learn more about these issues, and show your audience that you care about their concerns
• Be consistent. Let your customers know that you care beyond just when a particular issue is trending
• Do your research! The last thing you want is to create an insensitive Facebook post that goes viral for all of the wrong reasons

3. Instagram Reels

Last August, Instagram introduced Instagram Reels. This feature allows people to create and share short videos with their followers. 

Reels can also be shared with the entire Instagram community in Explore, which allows businesses to get their content in front of new eyes.

While you can always share video content using IGTV, Instagram Reels are a far more convenient marketing tool that we predict will continue to take off in 2021.

If you want to increase your visibility and SEO, include Instagram Reels in your Instagram marketing strategy. Not sure where to start with Reels? Check out our blog post all about the new feature.

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

Here are some tips to help you make the most of Instagram Reels:

• Create high-quality content. If your Instagram Reels aren’t engaging, they will do more harm than good for your business. Study videos from your competitors on both IG Reels and TikTok
• Limit your videos to 15 seconds so that users see your entire video without taking any additional steps
• Repurpose your content. Turn a snippet from your podcast into an IG Reel or create a blog post using the information shared in your Instagram Reel.

4. Instagram SEO

If you want to increase your brand awareness, profitability, and conversion rates, SEO is key. This is especially true for your Instagram marketing in 2021. 

The platform has recently allowed users to search for keywords on the platform without using hashtags.

This means that you can incorporate keyword research into your captions to increase their visibility. In 2021 expect to compete with brands who are taking advantage of this SEO shift on Instagram.

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

Stay competitive on Instagram by doing the following:

• Conduct keyword research so you know which words will perform best with your target audience
• Stay relevant. Make sure all of your content and captions are related to your brand

5. Twitter Fleets

Twitter introduced its version of Instagram Stories this year: Fleets. This feature allows users to share tweets, videos, and other content for 24 hours.

While Twitter Fleets hasn’t quite revolutionized the platform, it’s here to stay. Twitter will undoubtedly incorporate new updates to help increase its popularity in 2021.

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

Even though Fleets disappear within 24 hours, this tool can be useful for your digital marketing strategy if you:

• Use Fleets to stay relevant and on top of current trends
• Incorporate and share user-generated content with Fleets to increase your connection with your audience and your brand loyalty

6. Connection

Many people have been isolated from their colleagues, friends, and family members for weeks or more this year.

Starved for connection, almost everyone has turned to social media platforms in order to interact with others, including businesses.

In 2021, it will be more critical than ever for brands to humanize themselves and connect with their audience on a more personal level.

Capitalizing on this 2021 social media trend

There are many ways to ensure that you connect with your audience:

• Post interactive content where users can comment, ask questions, and otherwise engage with you
• Post behind-the-scenes videos and other video content that allows people to get an inside look into your brand
• Go live on Instagram or Facebook so your audience can have real-time interaction with you

Set Your Social Media Strategy Up For Success in 2021

Do you have a plan for your social media strategy in the new year? With the right strategy in place, you’ll bring in more leads with less time and resources. How great is that?!

One key part of that strategy should be repurposing your content. If you’re not already (or you’re spread too thin on time and resources), we’d love to chat with you.

Here’s to crushing all of your goals in 2021 🥂