Social media trends you need to know in 2021

It's that time of year again – it's time to review the social media trends we expect to shape in the coming year. Now let's dive into our annual list of social media trends to watch out for in 2021, according to the Convince & Convert Social Media Consulting Group. :

Companies will need to address social media team burnout

“On the one hand, many social groups are excited to finally be seen as an important part of their organization because the higher ups have realized how valuable social media can be to them. real-time communication through COVID-19 and other major crises. On the other hand, social groups are struggling with having to take care of social customers at all times (which also includes being the target of lots of misplaced vitriols) and also being the first to communicate through multiple channels. Changing situations and severe crises, in addition to dealing with all the personal hardships that come with living through a pandemic.

Social media burnout is a big topic with lots of it Podcast Guest on social media over the past few months. I have also heard concerns from our customers in the University education . In fact, according to Sprout Social , '88% of social marketers say the pandemic has made their job much harder, and nearly half don't have the proper support or resources to manage their mental health. Check it out.”

Anna Hrach, Strategist

The paid fan community will grow

“Many businesses continue to experience a lack of organic reach on social media. At the same time, consumers are increasingly gravitating towards smaller, more topical communities (see the rise in popularity of Facebook Groups as an example). At the same time, 2017 has seen a huge move in the direct-to-consumer space, both in terms of e-commerce (as evidenced by Instagram shopping), and content (look at the explosive growth of OnlyFans and the like).

In 2021, we will see these trends converge and brands will begin to adopt paid communities that provide superfans Exclusive access to exclusive content, products, and more. This is the post-modern version of the Membership Club and will give smart brands the ability to build advocacy and word of mouth among their core customers who are willing to pay a small daily fee. months to interact with each other and with the business. ”

Jay Baer, Founder, Persuasion & Transformation

Build trust through human-delivered and engaged content

“Certainly, people have been talking about the erosion of trust in brands for a long time, but never before have brands faced it more than 2020. It should be assumed that content is made by people. – whether it is your influencers, employees, or other subject matter experts. People don't just trust because it feels good; Everyone must pass their every action and every purchase through a filter of safety and economic impact. It's time to upgrade the content – not necessarily in terms of production value, but in relation to people. Is it more difficult? It's correct. Is that the right thing to do? It's correct."

Mary Nice, Strategist

The Rise and Rise of Private Groups and Platforms” There has been an increase in the number of Facebook Groups and members, and Instagram is now seeing the use of Threads or its sharing. Story with specific friends. Many people will also visit or return to private and semi-private online forums for education, entertainment, networking, and mutual interest. ”

Christin Kardos, Community Manager

Influencers will become important in B2B, not just B2C

"According to 11 annual B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends reports from CMI / MarketingProfs 89% of B2B marketers use social media for content distribution, but only 24% have used relational Media/Influencers.

It's not a surpr Which means that over the past decade, social media has become an extremely fragmented and noisy place, and as a result, brands in both B2B and B2C will find that their money will increases when they collaborate with individuals their audience trusts. Whether these are macro influencers or micro influencers , co-creating content from these trusted voices helps brands cut through the noise AND reach a wider audience. ”

Zontee Hou, Co-lead, Consulting

Social Conscious Values Extend to Image as well

“Almost 80% of people globally said that just having different ethnicities, backgrounds and looks is not enough in advertising but they wish companies did a better job of capturing lifestyle and culture. people's true transformation, According to new research by Getty Images . Searches have increased year over year for 'diversity' (up 133%), 'culture' (up 115%), 'real people' (up 115%) and 'inclusive' (up 126%) .

From May to June alone, customers' diverse image searches increased by 200% and image searches around unity and equality by 500%, trends that are said to be on the rise. increased due to anti-racism protests. Note: our customers, AARP, partners with Getty to create more realistic images of people 50 + . ”

Jenny Magic, Marketing Strategist

Social media is part of everyone's job

“Social media has been a core part of business for over a decade. Gone are the days when 'playing on that Facebook' was only supposed to happen on a lunch break. In the age of coronavirus Social media is more important than ever to business survival and success.

Your employees are your biggest social media assets . In fact, 45% of consumers are more likely to research a product or service when a brand employee posts about it.

The social media skill set goes beyond marketing and communications roles. They are less required but especially needed, in customer service, human resources, sales, and research. Even in roles that don't have a direct connection to content, messaging, design, lead generation, sales or service, we still require employees to be good at social media to create power our internal advocacy efforts. Employee advocacy programs continue to be at the forefront as their success in humanizing brands and amplifying storytelling is undeniable on a massive scale. Businesses must provide social media policy guide and resources for their employees to master social media skills, as the technology is more like email than VR in today's business world. ”

Lauren Teague, Strategist

Using User Generated Content Growth

" User-generated content has become an increasingly trusted social media marketing tactic. Brands and consumers find this type of content more authentic and trustworthy. The majority of users trust UGC when it comes to influencing their purchasing decisions, and people want to see a real experience. We will see the amount of UGC content skyrocket this year through platforms like TikTok and Instagram. ”