Overview
- Brands find their place in the conversation, build trust with their audience, and take action
- Social commerce will expand as social media becomes a top sales channel
- Consumer behavior will be changed forever after the pandemic
- Consumers will look to make purchases from informed brands
- Traditional stores begin to embrace e-commerce and online shopping
From SEO to niche platforms, 2021 promises to be an exciting year for social media marketing. Stukent reviewed 10 articles written by leading experts for you and your students to scan through to learn more about the top 2021 Social Media Marketing Trends.
Here is a quick recap of the 10 articles we reviewed and the key takeaways from each. You can click the section titles to visit and read the articles in their entirety.
Social Media Examiner
Trends:
- SEO drives organic Instagram visibility
- Reels ignite organic Instagram exposure
- Brick & mortar stores embrace the shift to online shopping on Instagram
Article: Social Media Marketing Trends for 2021: Predictions From the Pros
Social Media Today
Trends:
- Start profiting from your social media videos
- Niche platforms will grow in popularity
- Social media stories are not going anywhere
Article: 10 Social Media Trends to Guide Your Online Strategy in 2021 [Infographic]
Econsultancy
Trends:
- Facebook dominance continues
- More live, long-form, and lo-fi video
- Social gets closer to a true sales channel
Article: Social media trends in 2021: What do the experts predict?
Influencer Marketing Hub
Trends:
- Ephemeral content will keep gaining popularity
- Traditional social platforms will continue to perform well
- Social commerce will continue to expand
Article: Social Media Trends for 2021 and Beyond
Smart Brief
Trends:
- Consumer behavior will change permanently post-pandemic
- Businesses will be forced to embrace the digital transformation
- Brands focusing on social, environmental, and ethical responsibility will flourish
Article: 4 Major Trends for Digital Marketing in 2021
Forbes
Trends:
- Digital business pivots may become permanent
- Social media will become a top channel for online sales
- Informed buyers want to buy from informed brands
Article: Seven Digital Marketing Trends For 2021
Marketing Tech News
Trends:
- The impact of socially conscious audiences
- The rise of digital disinformation
- Conversational marketing
Article: Top Social Media Trends to Drive Your 2021 Marketing Strategy
Sprout Social
Trends:
- Listen, listen, listen
- Say what you mean and take action
- Infuse your leadership into your content
Article: 2020 Trends and 2021 Predictions [PDF]
Smart Insights
Trends:
- Build trust with your audience
- Build an engaged online community
- Utilize every social platform
Article: Social media trends 2021: Optimize your digital marketing strategy for social success
Hootsuite
Trends
- The race to ROI: Social bridges the gap to a new customer experience
- Silence is golden: Brands find their place in the conversation
- Way more than OK: A generation ignored by digital marketers booms on social
Article: Social Trends 2021
Conclusion
2021 social trends vary from one expert’s opinion to the next. The most relevant topics seem to be an added emphasis on social commerce, stories, and video content. However, there may be more than just commerce and video to look forward to this year.
