Are you ready to benefit from these marketing trends in 2021?
Whether you’re running a medium business or you’re a small business owner, having customers is crucial.
The struggles are real, and you’ll need tactical marketing strategies to keep your revenue growing. To achieve this, you’ll have to stay ahead of the game.
One way to do that is to leverage these 2021 marketing trends and prove that you’re better than the competition.
Here’s why keeping tabs on trends is important:
- Marketing trends always change – don’t be surprised when there are new digital rules and trends.
- You need to stay on track with what’s new and happening – this helps you to match (or outperform) your competitors.
- Know how to reach your audience – this will help you improve the way you communicate and you learn how to adapt to their needs.
- Adapt to the change where needed – to thrive in your market, you need to change the way you do things so that you can improve.
- Be flexible enough to drop old tactics and learn new ones – just like adapting to change, being flexible means you’re willing to do what will work even if it means “retiring” from your old methods.
- Make time to improve your methods – take the time to improve and learn more to be successful.
2021 Marketing trends that will change the way you do business this year
Marketing is all about communication, and one of the best ways to do this is by using the smarts of digital marketing.
The concept of digital marketing allows small and medium-sized business owners to reach a global network of potential customers. It also greatly helps with gaining exposure, building credibility and finding potential partners that you can work with. Digital marketing works and is also much cheaper than traditional forms of advertising.
But apart from digital marketing, we want to shine the light on some other trends to look out for this year.
1. Exponential growth in eCommerce
The pandemic has brought with it many challenges, but also some opportunities. One of the opportunities that everyone should consider is eCommerce. That’s right, starting your own online store selling products is a brilliant way to generate revenue without needing physical customers to visit your store.
eCommerce is set to explode in 2021. Will you take advantage of this trend?
And it’s not as difficult as you might think! We have LOADS of information on setting up your first eCommerce store, but you’ll have to join our Facebook Group to find out more.
Click here to join the group “Social Media Marketing for Entrepreneurs“.
2. Teams will be focusing on customers
With an increase in businesses turning to online options to promote their business, there comes an increase in competition.
One way to differentiate yourself from other brands with similar offerings is to make your customer service exceptional.
2021 Marketing trends predict that teams who work together to keep customers happy will do better this year. Prioritizing your customer experience and customer support will help you convert your average customer into a raving fan.
3. Make your content more interesting
Another important 2021 marketing trend focuses on content. Billions of items of content are produced each year, so it makes sense that the higher the quality, the better.
Take a look at this blog for tips on how to level up your content creation.
4. Take advantage of virtual and augmented reality
Virtual reality (VR) gives people the feeling that they are physically in a place while looking through a lens. This helps transport the user into a “digital world.” For example, taking the user into space so that it looks like space all around them.
Augmented reality (AR) also uses a lens but this time digital aspects are added to the “real world.” The user can only see it through the lens of a phone or other device.
This 2021 marketing trend might not work for everyone, but some people might love the idea of transforming how people interact with your products and brand.
5. New online strategies to connect
While digital marketing has always been around for the SME communities, it’s now, by far, become even more important.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, strategies like online communications became imperative. All business owners had to spend time revising and optimising their sales processes. The landscape changed and your business needs to change with it.
Here are some communication musts:
- Focus on being a community – While riding the wave of uncertainty during this pandemic, you can help your online followers realise that they are part of a bigger movement, and not just one person out of billions. Do this by posting content that is inclusive and welcoming.
- Clarity is key – The majority of communication with customers is via emails, newsletters and social media. Be certain that you are communicating a crystal clear message about what problem you solve and how. Read more about creating clarity in your marketing here.
6. Less is more when it comes to keyword-filled content
In 2021 marketing trends we see how businesses continue to adapt and instil a human approach when speaking to their customers. Sure, everything is “processed” digitally, or at least most things are now. But, if we look at the content production teams, it’s clear that keywords and old SEO rules are out the door this year.
People enjoy conversations and while this is so, Google also adapts their search engine algorithms to find new ways of optimisation. In this case, articles are more focused on how people speak. Think natural VS keyword-heavy.
SEO will continue to evolve as platforms and algorithms shift, so keep on top of these trends to stay ahead of the game.
7. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
The digital marketing landscape is always changing, and something we tell all our customers is never to rely on ONE platform for traffic and sales. While you might be enjoying Facebook and leveraging it for your business, people might be moving to Instagram instead!
Minimize your risk by building a following on several platforms (you don’t have to do this all at once!) so that if your account gets shut down or things change online, you can still reach your followers somewhere else.
In fact, the very best way to avoid relying on other platforms is to use them instead to grow your email list. We talk about the importance of growing your email list in this blog here.
8. Digital influencers are helping businesses
2021 Marketing trends will see not only the rise in digital marketing experts but also influencers. Brands could use influencers to help promote their products because as the name goes, “influencers” have the “power to influence.”
Love them or hate them, but influencers are here to stay.
Small businesses could gain more exposure if they use influencers to target their audiences. Forbes speaks of why influencers are so useful and even more so for 2021.
9. Video content is even stronger
2021 Marketing trends indicate that video will continue to dominate people’s interests.
Yes, bringing your message across through a video is one of the best ways to be “real” with your viewers. This is true for your employees and your customers.
Video-based social platforms like TikTok and YouTube have exploded during 2020, and are set to rise in popularity during 2021 and beyond.
Videos are entertaining and easy to consume, so consider adding them to your marketing strategy. This includes taking advantage of in-app video options like Facebook Lives, IGTV and the ever-popular Reels on Instagram.
Clearly keeping those videos rolling in is one of the hottest marketing trends in 2021. Will you take advantage?
10. Chatbots
When it comes to online assistance, the use of artificial intelligence has greatly changed the way people communicate online. Businesses can meet the needs of their customers, even when they’re not physically around to do so.
Think of a chatbot like your business’ own personal assistant. Some chatbots are able to do more than simply solve problems and offer customer support.
We LOVE chatbots and raved about how they’re transforming how we do work for clients (and ourselves) in this post here.
Here’s a snippet from that blog which you might find interesting:
The biggest benefit of chatbots for businesses is that they empower customers or potential customers to get real-time responses to queries 24/7. In other words, without a human being having to manually respond to every query.
They also help you direct your customers to take specific actions like booking a call with you, checking out your website (YouTube Channel or wherever you want to send traffic).
You can also offer your lead magnet and in doing so, build up your email list.
If you put a bit of your marketing budget behind chatbots, you can build your list way faster than you’d ever think possible.
The takeaway on why every business owner should check out 2021 marketing trends
If this pandemic has taught us one thing, that would be to stay informed and flexible to changing circumstances.
We’re not saying you need to go implement all 10 trends in your business, but take a look and see if there’s something on the list you’ve always wanted to do (like start your own YouTube channel or learn how chatbots work) and GO FOR IT.
With the constant changes happening in the economy and the world, one cannot afford to be side-tracked. This is why revolutionising your marketing game this year is what will help you stand out of the now even larger digital pool of users.
If you are serious about using online marketing to grow your business, get free advice and training in our Facebook Group “Social Media Marketing for Entrepreneurs”. Click here to join the conversation.
