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2021 Social Media Marketing Trends

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2021 Social Media Marketing Trends

 

Whether 2021 feels like an exciting new year of possibility or just a bizarre extension of 2020, one thing is for sure – it will bring a slew of new developments in the world of social media! What can you expect in the way of 2021 social media marketing trends? Our experts at iScreamSocialMedia weigh in with a few predictions.

1. Instagram Reels Drive Organic Social Media Traffic

Instagram Reels has only been around for a few months yet has already proven to drive substantial organic traffic on the platform. In fact, some companies are experiencing 10x the number of views for Reels than an organic feed post or Instagram story. Instagram Reels will continue to grow in popularity this year and here’s why: 1) short form video is becoming one of the most popular forms of social media content and 2) Instagram’s algorithm prioritizes content from Reels in both your users’ feeds and on Explore pages.

An interesting study that analyzed all teams within the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB and compared their average engagements per Reel to their average engagements per video on Instagram showed stunning results. The average engagements per Reel were higher per video on Instagram for every single sports league. The NFL is the most active league on Reels and is reaping the benefits, generating 67% more engagements than their average Instagram video.

2. Invite-Only Social Media: Clubhouse App

The exclusive new platform, Clubhouse, is gaining serious traction and could be the next major social media platform. The Clubhouse App has the potential to transform social media marketing in a way that’s never been done before and our team here at iScream is keeping a close eye on the trend. Check out this message from our President, Jon Hoffenberg, with all the details and how we’re helping businesses get in while it’s hot.

3. Instagram Stories Requires Consistency

What was once considered just an “extra” to organic feed posts on Instagram, Stories have come to dominate the platform and are now crucial to the success of Instagram marketing strategies. 50% of people in a recent survey said they visited a website to buy a product or service after viewing an IG story and 58% of people surveyed said that they became more interested in a brand after seeing it in Stories. Stories sell. Period. 

What’s the secret to driving leads and improving your ranking through Instagram Stories in 2021? Consistency. Unfortunately, most small businesses lack a clear strategy for Stories, posting only sporadically and without the proper use of hashtags, stickers, or other optimization tactics. Stand out from your competition by determining a set schedule for your stories, such as Mon/Wed/Fri or Tue/Sat – and then commit to it. Your followers will come to expect and look forward to your stories, and the algorithm will reward you.

4. Massive Opportunity for Small Businesses on TikTok

Speaking of short form video, we predict that the fast-growing video platform, TikTok, will remain one of the best social media platforms for small businesses to invest their time. While the app is more saturated now than it was a few months ago, companies still have a chance to get in on the action – if you act fast. It’s predicted that Tiktok will surpass 1 billion average monthly active users in 2021 and as of June 2020, 62% of TikTok users ranged from 10-29. Are any of your customers in this age range? If so, they are likely on TikTok and can be reached with an effective marketing strategy. And remember, that means 38% of users are in the over 30 crowd, and 38% of a billion people is a lot of people! TikTok is well worth the effort and whether or not you do it yourself or hire iScreamSocialMedia take it off your plate, don’t miss out on this trend.

5. Facebook Shops, Instagram Shops, and Other Social Shopping Continues to Grow

Facebook Shops and Instagram Shops launched last year in an effort to help businesses secure revenue online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the pandemic, it’s no surprise that e-commerce sales reached a record high in 2020 and are predicted to increase in the new year. Businesses of all types can take advantage of online sales by opening digital storefronts on Instagram, Facebook, and even now on Tiktok with its recent Shopify partnership. Brick & mortar and e-commerce brands alike can easily benefit from online shops this year.

A recent e-commerce study has shown that, as of April 2020, 37% of U.S. internet users between the ages of 18 to 34 years reported they had purchased something via social media before but did not do so regularly.

These are just a few of our predictions for 2021 social media marketing trends, and as always, we’ll be keeping a close eye on these trends in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates! In the meantime, reach out to us here or call (305) 455-0720 to learn more about our unique social media packages from monthly consulting to completely custom content creation on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.