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The Top 5 Social Media Trends 2021

Social Media Trends 2021: Everything You Need to Know

Have you ever opened Facebook or Twitter, only to find that it looks completely different than what you were used to? On social media, as with digital marketing, things are continually changing

By analyzing data from user behavior, these platforms are regularly updated to improve the overall user experience and engage users in different ways. Recently, the changes have been more rapid, making it more important than ever before to keep up with the latest social media trends and keep your business accounts relevant. 

Let’s take a look at the top five social media trends of 2021 and why you should incorporate them into your social media marketing strategy in the upcoming year.

Social Trend #1: The Use of Keywords 

From SEO to paid search, keywords have always been an integral part of digital marketing, as they help marketers reach their target audience with more accuracy. In recent months, we have seen a rise in how keywords are used in social media to search for relevant content. 

Lately, Instagram updated its search capabilities to incorporate keywords. Now, users can search as though they were on a search engine, not just for hashtags or other accounts. This will play a key role in improved social media ad targeting in the near future. While this feature is only available in certain countries, it will inevitably become one of the top social media trends of 2021. 

Social Trend #2: Additional Educational Content

Social media isn’t just a place to post your favorite vacation photos anymore. In the last year, we have seen a shift in what is shared on social platforms. More and more informative content is found across platforms with people wanting to make the most of their time on social media. Within particular accounts and groups, users can find valuable information on breaking news, current events, and educational content and videos.
On LinkedIn, educational information is now being shared in a new way: LinkedIn Learning. This space within the platform shares informative videos with users in areas they already show interest in on their profile.

Social Trend #3: New Shopping Integrations

Online shopping has taken the world by storm –– and it is no surprise that social media has kept up with this shift in the buyer’s journey. According to the GFK’s FutureBuy® study, close to one-fifth of US consumers have shopped online either by using the “buy” button on social media (18%) or by clicking a shoppable post or story on a social network (16%). Because these numbers are only expected to rise, it is fundamental to integrate social shopping into your social media strategy if you are able to sell your products or services online. 

One of the first platforms to introduce the social shopping experience was Pinterest. Through their “buyable pins” feature, they provide users with pricing and product information, simplifying the shopping experience. Instagram has had the most radical change, going from a purely visual social platform toward an e-commerce one. There has been a huge shift toward streamlining the shopping experience directly through the platform. With a new menu shortcut and shopping feed, Instagram users have easy access to a large number of businesses and can purchase products without ever having to leave the app.

Social Trend #4: Influencers in B2B Marketing 

Influencers have been around for a number of years, but are typically used for B2C marketing, promoting products and services on their own social media platforms. In the upcoming years, we will see a rise in how these influencers are used to market to other businesses.

One of the most common ways to incorporate influencers in your B2B marketing strategy is to use guest bloggers. They can improve your brand’s identity as a thought leader in the industry, not to mention the increased reach that a new audience gives your business. 

In order to see a return on your investment in B2B influencer marketing, it is best to focus on building a long-term relationship with the influencers you work with. This will help you gain an understanding of the industry and give your strategy time to develop. In the long run, it will also help you to establish trust with your target audience and build credibility for your brand.

Related: How To Make Instagram Work For Your B2B Marketing Strategy

Social Trend #5: Build Trust By Using Real People

Inbound marketing is all about building trust with your potential customers by offering valuable solutions to what they are searching for. There are a number of ways to go about forming that connection. The most important thing to keep in mind with each of these 2021 social media trends is that the users you interact with are real people. They want to feel a connection with your business, which means you must convey your message in a personalized way. 

By using real people to convey your message, you are able to give a face to the name and bring your social accounts to life. Video content is the ideal way to go about this. Your audience will feel a much stronger connection to seeing and hearing another person, as opposed to simply another image with copy. 

Learn More: Build Brand Admiration with Trust, Love, and Respect

Keeping Up With the Trends

To make sure your social media presence is relevant and performing at an optimal level, keeping up with trends will be key. While incorporating these social media trends in 2021 is crucial to ensuring your business’s success in the industry, setting goals to guide you towards success is just as important. Having a clear strategy in place will keep your team organized and allow you to measure the outcomes of your campaigns. Then all you have to do is simply execute your strategy and begin engaging with your audience.  

At Pinckney Marketing, our team of digital marketing experts wants to help you establish your goals and determine a personalized strategy to guarantee success across all areas of your digital presence –– including social media. Contact us to schedule a free strategy session with our social media team to determine your social media goals for the upcoming year.