Want some social media predictions for 2021? That’s for sure!
2020 proved to be a challenging year for businesses of every size, for creators and influencers alike. Here is our social strategy forecast for the year ahead to give you a head start.
1. Video Content Will Reign Supreme
The year 2021 will be the year of video content, no matter the format or platform! Video content is a great way to grow your audience and boost engagement, whether on Instagram Reels or TikTok to the original video giant YouTube.
Using video as an effective marketing tool in 2021 means thinking strategically about it and reaching out where your audience is most comfortable.
If you’re hoping to expand into Gen Z markets, TikTok might be a good option. Experimenting with IGTV videos or Reels may be your way of extending your reach if you already have an active and engaged audience on Instagram.
2. Social Shopping
E-commerce takes center stage in a new era of social media!
Consumers will start to feel very confident buying on social platforms as platforms like Instagram launch shoppable features such as Instagram Reels Shopping and Instagram Live Shopping, and TikTok announces a partnership with Shopify and a live-streamed shopping event with Walmart and even easier to buy hash.
Small businesses around the world will be delighted to hear that their digital storefronts are another way to secure revenue during COVID-19.
You will benefit for months and even years from working on your profile optimization (whether you use Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or Pinterest).
What’s the reason? Social media and your online store used to be the first stop on the customer journey. This journey, however, is much shorter now – a new customer can discover your Instagram profile and buy their first product from you without ever leaving the app.
3. Brands With Good Purpose Will Go Big
That’s right, we predict the growth of brands and businesses with a strong commitment to social, environmental, and ethical responsibility in 2021!
As the new year dawned, social media provided a platform for people to express themselves. (Thank goodness) Brands readily stepped forward and supported the uprising.
We expect brands to take advantage of this change in the social space and elevate voices even further this year.
A brand’s mission needs to be supported and shared now more than ever. Additionally, it showcases what they stand for, which is extremely important, especially with Gen Zers consuming hash.
Decide what your brand values will be in 2021
As you may have already done, it’s time to sit down and consider what causes your brand or business stands for, and how you can share this with our audience throughout the year.
4. LinkedIn will continue to be a discussion point for corporate responsibility
In our previous post, we mentioned that people found their activist voices on social media in 2020. Many brands used the event to pause, reflect, and take action with their business model and content in order to better improve diversity and inclusion.
The key to building trust with followers on social media is transparency, which isn’t achieved over night.
In 2021, we hope for more open discussion and significantly improved representation of brands’ missions and communities.
Take action in 2021: Learn to share on LinkedIn
When you open up about your brand’s issues online, you can feel vulnerable. Although it can help establish your brand as a thought leader in the industry and build trust.
5. Education will continue to drive engagement
Engaging your audience is important to you? Share educational content with others!
Here’s another growth hack for Instagram: Instagram carousel posts – they’re great for easy sharing and educational content. In 2021, shareable and saveable content will be even more important as likes disappear.
Create an educational carousel post in 2021: Schedule it
Learn how to design an educational Instagram post using apps like Canva and Over – they have a variety of ready-made templates you can use. Connect your content and you’re done!
Once you have designed your images, you can upload them to your Media Library and choose which images you want to use. When the time comes, we’ll notify you when it’s your turn to post!
6. Meme Culture is Here
As social media users, we all needed comic relief this year, and memes provided that.
The fun factor of memes isn’t the only reason brands have jumped on them – they’re also an effective way to grow your audience and boost engagement.
In order to create original memes that are likely to go viral, spend time coming up with original memes and reposting them on stories.
