As social media sites add new features and update their algorithms, social media trends evolve as well. Take, for example, Instagram Stories. Snapchat was famous for its disappearing, FOMO-inducing material a few years ago, but there didn’t seem to be much of a demand for similar features on other networks.
On Instagram, approximately over 1 billion users use the tool on a regular basis, and more platforms are implementing similar capabilities.
That demonstrates how rapidly we accept new social media trends.
These quick shifts provide a whole new set of challenges for companies and social media marketers, who must continually evaluate their existing strategies and pivot to embrace new types of content into their roster.
Marketers must constantly monitor the latest trends shaping the future of social media and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Why is it important for your entire team to have access to social business intelligence?
Businesses are going all-in on social as a key source of business knowledge after a year of transition.
You’re in luck if you’re seeking the most up-to-date social media trends for 2021. We’ve compiled a list of the top trends to keep an eye on in order to help you adapt and flourish.
- Live streaming will continue to be popular.
Many businesses went digital to maintain social distance and prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the worldwide health crisis of 2020.
Live concerts became live broadcasts of artists playing from their homes, while face-to-face meetings became Zoom conferences. People have grown accustomed to being able to connect with businesses live without ever leaving their homes, and this situation will continue to evolve in 2021. As a result, live streaming will continue to gain traction and should be included in your social media marketing approach.
- Stories as a content.
Every day, more than 500 million people interact with Instagram Stories, as previously stated. So, despite the fact that Instagram Stories were already the most popular content format the previous year, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
If they haven’t already, brands will need to get more organized and plan for Stories as a content format in their publishing calendars. More importantly, the video will become more popular as a Story format as it appears to outshine photographs.
According to a SocialInsider analysis, photos in Stories have a 5.65% greater tap-forward rate than videos. The number of individuals that watched your Story but went on to the next one before finishing it is known as the tap-forward rate. The same data discovered that photos in Stories had higher drop-off rates than videos, indicating that individuals prefer to watch videos.
It’s no surprise that 51% of brands are currently employing videos in Stories, and that percentage is expected to rise in 2021.
- Virtual reality will gain traction on social media.
People are looking for more meaningful virtual contacts in the midst of stay-at-home directives and the necessity for social separation. One of the current technological advances that can supply them with those encounters is virtual reality (VR).
When you interact with people through virtual reality, you get the feeling that you’re truly there with them, even if they’re halfway around the world. This is the type of encounter that people require when they must socially remove themselves. Take, for example, Facebook Horizon. Facebook uses the Oculus VR platform to beta-test a virtual environment that lets individuals explore, engage with others, and play games starting in early 2021.
- As a media trend, augmented reality.
Recent events, similar to those that have expedited the acceptance of virtual reality, have hastened the adoption of augmented reality (AR) experiences, notably in the social arena. AR, unlike VR, does not require any additional hardware beyond a smartphone, making it even more accessible. It’s also familiar from experiences like dynamic photo filters, which have been around for a long time on a variety of social media sites.
Augmented reality experiences are by their very nature interactive and engaging.
AR filters are quickly becoming a popular way for brands to promote new items or increase fan involvement on social media. This keeps your audience interested and delighted, and with the correct promotion, it may even help you attract new consumers. Including augmented reality (AR) in your social media marketing strategy for 2021 could help your company stand out. Some of the top elements that distinguish a brand’s social presence are original and interesting content.
- The popularity of social commerce will continue to rise.
We’re seeing more features and tools that assist quick and easy shopping as the social media sector adapts to improve the customer experience. For example, you may add product tags and enable easy checkout on Instagram without ever leaving the platform.
You may create a Shop on Facebook that people can explore and purchase directly from the platform.
Keep in mind that 54% of social media users conduct product research on the platform. Furthermore, 71% of consumers are influenced by social media referrals while making a purchase. As a result, one of the top social media best practices for 2021 is to create social media storefronts and make your posts shoppable. You risk losing potential clients if you don’t adjust your plan to meet shifting audience behavior.
- Campaigns with a clear purpose will take center stage.
While social media has always encouraged people to get involved with causes, the global epidemic has shone a brighter focus on them. More than ever, people want to help, and they expect brands to respond.
In fact, according to a Twitter poll, 74% of respondents want brands to highlight acts of kindness. And 77% are more favourable about brands that are attempting to help society during this crisis.
- Inclusivity will be more important than ever before.
Brands are under increasing pressure to make significant advancements in terms of inclusion in their corporate operations and marketing. Audiences are more aware than ever before that they have many choices, driving them to support firms who invest in the communities and topics that they care about.
And brands must stay up with the times. You can no longer afford to be mute and indifferent when it comes to subjects that your target audience is passionate about.
- Authenticity and openness will be essential.
Consumers want brands to be more authentic. This necessitates keeping your items’ and operations’ authenticity and transparency. You must be honest with people if you want them to trust you.
Anticipating today’s social media trends will help you establish a greater presence in the future. You’ll know exactly what to look out for and how to adjust your social approach to the latest social trends.
Know how and what to prioritize in your social media and what type of content will your target audience will consume. Book a 1:1 assessment call with us to help you out on this.
Photo by ROBIN WORRALL on Unsplash and John Schnobrich on Unsplash
