Social Media Trends for 2021

Today, the world around us is constantly changing. And, although we think we know what to expect with social media, this list of trends is likely not exhaustive of what we’ll see in 2021.

As a social media marketer, the best thing you can do is to continue to research trends, online consumer behaviors, and your team’s social media data to determine which trends or strategies to lean into or how to navigate unprecedented online scenarios. 

  • Increased use of video content
  • Emphasis on brand voice and authenticity
  • Useful content vs engaging content
  • The importance of listening
  • Less is more approach
  • Consumers crave “snackable” content
  • More brands will go live
  • Customer service via social media 
  • Nostalgia marketing
  • Audiences are more socially conscious
  • Ephemeral content
  • User-generated content (aka remix)
  • Content themes based on Covid: Community, Contactless, Cleanliness and Compassion
  • Meme yourself (before someone else does)
  • Conversational content (chatbots, messaging, calls) encouraging one-to-one content
  • Return to old-school marketing (newsletters, podcasts, voice search/notes/tweets)

Global pandemic or not, agility is essential in social media. The ultimate goal of your social strategy should always be to add more value for your audience, better brand experiences and stronger community engagement. While you can’t control the way certain crisis play out or what the “new normal” will look like, you can commit to being flexible and open-minded so the next time you have to adapt, you’re poised and ready. Expect 2021 to be the year brands and social media channels focus on highlighting the truth, and silencing ‘fake news.

NEW! User-generated content is nothing new, but the way it has been created, sourced, and shared is contemporary. Remixing is on the rise through apps like TikTok, Koji, and Instagram Reels. Remixing is the art of taking existing formats, templates, or ideas, and recreating them to express a user’s own personality or ideas. Expect 2021 to bring even more opportunities for remixing, with brands engaging with new audiences and creating additional content that stands out from the crowd.

Remember! to follow your brand guidelines every time you post.  Don’t be tempted to do something that isn’t consistent with your brand. It can confuse your followers and sometimes it can appear as if you have been hacked or are an imposter account.  This can lead to disbelief in your message!