Everything You Need to Know About Social Media Marketing Trends Today!
The social media world has exploded with activity, and the social media trends of 2021 have changed since the Covid pandemic hit. Sure, it’s exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. You need to know how these changes affect your business—and how to capitalize on them to improve your marketing strategy.
So, we’re delving into the digital world to help you understand social media trends and opportunities for 2021.
1. Create a connection with live streaming
People need to be connected for personal and business reasons. When they can’t face to face, technology is more than happy to step in and bridge the gap. Thankfully, social media has come to the rescue with new trends during this pandemic. Live streaming, a popular medium that only got stronger in 2020, will play a significant role in 2021.
People have become accustomed to learning and exploring live streams as they reach out to satisfy their need for social interaction and engagement. So, one of our top tips based on social media trends for business in 2021…
Go live on social media at least once a week! And don’t forget to include a call to action that sells something of value to your audience’s end.
2. Give something away for free
Aside from nurturing relationships, one of the most valuable outcomes of maintaining a social media presence is list building. When you post on social media, you can use your call to action to build your list. Free offers help facilitate this process. Selling something of value doesn’t always mean an exchange of money. Your list is your treasure chest of gold—potential new customers and sales.
People will exchange their contact information to get something of value to them. For example, some people don’t have time to read every word of your blog post. A good blog article summary, or access to a hidden page on your site that provides summaries for your most important blog posts, may appeal to some of your prospects.
Other free offers may include the following:
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Access slides from a conference
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In-depth guides and tutorials
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A glimpse behind the curtain
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Free report
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and more
3. Showcase your brand personality through video
Good news! There’s still plenty of room to build your online presence, attract audiences, and build loyalty with videos And before you say, “Really? Isn’t the YouTube market saturated?”, think again.
Yes it is true. YouTube has grown rapidly and has top channels for videos. But the door to branding is open through personality-driven content. Your unique personality—how you interact with your audience—sets you apart and helps you stand out. So, be authentic, be you and have fun! Use videos to find and grow your tribe!
And don’t stop with YouTube. Create your niche on other video channels. Here’s a list to get you started!
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IGTV
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Instagram Reels
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Twitter Fleet – New in 2021!
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Facebook
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Pinterest
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tick tock
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Snapchat
4. Stand out on LinkedIn and Instagram with carousels
Let’s keep rolling in the 2021 social media trends in marketing with engaging, movement-focused content ideas! Why settle for static LinkedIn posts when you can jazz it up with Carousel? That’s right! You can create and publish entertaining slide shows! They allow you to stand out in a sea of text-based LinkedIn posts and build awareness for your company page.
Not to be confused with LinkedIn carousel ads, you publish carousel posts for free. These posts grab attention and generate interest in eye-catching, dynamic visual displays that take up more real estate in a feed. So be sure to include a clear call to action at the end!
Also, Instagram users get a huge advantage by using carousels in their feed. If a user doesn’t like the lead image and scrolls past it, the second image appears in their feed. This gives you a second chance to gain engagement.
Ideas for content to share on LinkedIn Carousel posts
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Statistics, infographics and numbers
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Framework and step-by-step, how-to instructions
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Actionable business tips and lessons
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Conference slides and event content
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Snippets from your blog/list post
5. Email and e-news are still tried and true methods
Tell your audience when you post something new: “This blog is going viral!” Yes, email and e-newsletters are still the best way to get attention for your articles and blog posts. So, keep growing that list! Then use social media to highlight content your audience loves.
To gain permission-based customer list opt-ins, use creative calls to action (CTAs) that encourage your prospects to trade their contact information for tips, how-to instructions, and entertainment.
With so many new social media trends, it can be difficult to determine how to maximize their impact. Knowing that these social media trends exist for business and how to use them to boost your strategy are two distinct concepts!
Let’s explore some of the ways you can use social media marketing for your business!
6. Using links vs. audio-visual content
Whenever possible, use video, images and audio to draw attention to social media platforms rather than redirecting them to your published content. Social channels want to put people where they can influence them with advertisers’ campaigns.
Of course, you want them to reach your content, sign up for your freebies, and more. Here’s a simple social media trend 2021 trick: Try using the first comment below your post to post your link!
7. Engage with your tribe through social media comments
Respond to comments on your social media content in a timely fashion. If people take the time to engage with you on social media, doesn’t it mean engaging with them? This is the point, after all!
Don’t allow comments on your post to sit unaddressed. When you let your prospects down, you risk losing their attention entirely. If you engage with them, it encourages future engagement that leads to relationships, trust and sales!
8. It’s all about timing
Traffic for your social media posts depends on the first 10 minutes of the hour you post the content. Tag people and talk to increase traffic flow, especially if it’s a live-streaming event. If you conduct a live stream every week, do it on the same day at the same time every week That way, your audience can determine it in their actions.
Are you presenting a one-time live stream? Get the word multiple times in advance through different channels. Post your event details in advance via email, e-newsletter and post. If you have connections with people who support your efforts, maximize those connections and ask them to spread the word.
9. The power of social media comments and bookmarks
One of your responsibilities to your audience is to create helpful content. Regardless of your industry, your audience looks to you for guidance, expertise and resources. You can’t create it all, so you need to find reputable sources to share content with Social bookmarking sites provide a way to do just that!
And with the idea of eliminating likes as social media platform toys (eg, Facebook, Instagram), people need to find other ways to approve posts they like or find helpful.
Arguably, Instagram is one of the most popular visual-focused social media trends for businesses and has become increasingly influential in marketing. To build brand awareness, encourage people to save your Instagram posts (instead of just “liking” them). Use a call to action in your images and text. A simple “bookmark it!” Tickets may be
How can your business benefit from these savings?
7 Benefits of Social Media Bookmarks
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Save and organize the resources you want to focus on next.
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Share resources with your team or visitors.
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Tag (label) content for easy referencing and searchability.
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Create backlinks from social media bookmarks to your website.
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Drive traffic to your website. (People find and click on content saved by others on their bookmarking sites.)
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Promote mentions you receive from others (bookmark articles that mention you and your content).
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Take advantage of SEO. (Search engines often include bookmarks in their search results.)
10. Ask questions to encourage engagement on social media posts
Want to encourage discussion and engagement on social media? To open the door to communication, remember the power of questions. Make it interesting. It helps if you pose a provocative question that gets people to share their thoughts. A vague “yes/no” question such as “Agree?” Does not generate discussion.
Examples of discussion-stimulating questions
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I am curious. Do you have a story to share about your experience with _____? (Fill in the blanks.)
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How have you benefited from ________? (Fill in the blanks.)
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When was the last time you were _________? (Fill in the blanks.)
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What is your favorite memory of ________? (Fill in the blanks.)
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Do you think there is a chance that _______? What leads you to that conclusion? (Fill in the blanks.)
11. Ego baiting
I know… that sounds pretty loaded. But think about it. Influencers and industry leaders enjoy the spotlight. If they don’t, they won’t be influential. Tag one or more influencers in your post and ask them to share it.
12. Social Media Commerce
Social media has become increasingly more influential in consumer shopping choices. And some platforms have capitalized on this new social media trend by introducing shopping carts. Your customers can investigate and buy your products and services without ever leaving the social media platform
Again, social media platforms want users to stay with them as long as possible. Feel free to take advantage of the tools they offer It’s a win-win for you and the platform.
13. Humanized Brands – The Power of Authenticity
And, finally, you can notice this growing trend. People value transparency and authenticity in their relationships – and that ideal is spilling over into how they feel about the brands they support.
Social media marketing trends 2021 predictions from professionals indicate that your audience wants to know who you are and what you stand for. And businesses that align themselves with socially conscious themes are viewed more favorably by their customers
Lean into yourself and let your light shine. Tell your story. You are you, and there is a tribe waiting to meet and support you and your business!