When we look back at the year we just had, one thing is certain: We spent a lot of time on social media. As we scrolled through the endless black hole of Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tik Tok (the most addicting, yikes), you name it, we consumed hours of news coverage, product reviews, selfies, personal updates and mindless entertainment.
As social media platforms hit a record-breaking 3.8 billion users, social media teams across the nation are wondering how they can best engage with their audience in the new year. We’ve compiled a list of four social media trends we’ll likely see in 2021. Here’s the breakdown:
1. Less is More
This past year, brands took a back seat to think, “Does our audience want to hear from us right now?” With the events that unfolded in 2020, it was vital that social media managers stayed in tune with the world around them. Instead of churning out constant social media content, teams this year will take a “less is more” posting approach and spend more time on creating impactful, thoughtful and valuable content – regardless of algorithms.
It has never been more important to stand with your audience.
2. Craving Snackable Content
Did you know that the average amount of time someone spends on one piece of content is 2.5 seconds? Meaning you have 2.5 seconds to grab your audience’s attention. This has caused brands to lean into the new trend of video-based social posts.
Gone are the days where we would post long-winded responses or social media “mini-stories,” as I like to call them, and have entered into the realm of video content. With the entrance of video-based social media channels like Instagram Reelz and Tik Tok, companies have started to create more bite-size content to educate their consumers about their brand in a short amount of time.
3. Conversational Transparency with LinkedIn
When it became clear ‘working from home’ was going to last longer than a few weeks, professionals began to search for conversation that mimicked the team environment that they’d been missing since March. In 2021, we’ll begin to see a shift in the culture that remote employees have created. LinkedIn will continue to be a place to engage in business-related topics, but the use of the platform will pivot to host open-ended conversations, implementing LinkedIn’s new poll and Q&A feature, sharing candid workday photos, or expressing raw struggles employees are facing – the struggles that come from WFH or the looming idea of being furloughed. Being transparent and authentic will soon be the focus of this platform.
4. Purpose Driven Missions from Brands
As consumers, we value brands that have a reason to exist and are built to serve. We are constantly seeking companies that have a purpose-driven mission behind their four walls. Even when we find a brand we like, we’re forced to ask ourselves, “Is this a business that I believe in or one that I can trust?” Audiences find personal connections with brands that have found their place and voice within their community, and in the new year, those are the companies that will succeed.
In 2021, we’ll begin to see more brands running campaigns to challenge their company or consumers. Here are a few of my favorites:
All in all, at the core of social media brands, needs to be transparency.
Final Thoughts
Here’s the thing about social media, it’s a constantly changing playing field. Platforms evolve, find new ways to connect with users, test out new features – the list goes on. As social media managers, we learn to adapt to the changes and find ways to implement these various ideas into our client strategies. Our learning will never be done – we’re truly just scratching the surface.
Want to get your social media on trend for 2021? Dittoe PR can help. Reach out to us today.
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