It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas from the DPOM team. We hope that 2021 is a better year for us all, and with that being said, what should you watch out for in the new year and how can your business be prepared for what’s to come? Keep reading to find out!
What has 2020 taught us?
As we all know, 2020 has not been the bearer of gifts that we thought the new decade would bring us. For many of us, it feels like we have been given a big bag of coal. However, where there is hardship there are lessons to be learned. 2020 has been a year of lessons and learning for many of us. Businesses of both small and larger have overcome unimaginable challenges. So what has this taught us?
I think the main things that we have learned this year is that you can never be too prepared and you should not overlook the tools that you have in front of you from the comfort of your home.
So, what can we expect to see in 2021? Make sure you’re listening closely!
What trends can we expect to see next year?
Reels
As we all know, video content is a hit on all social media platforms, and reels are no different! Instagram Reels is an in-app creation tool that works a lot like TikTok.
You can create short videos, add music or other audio, and share them on Instagram’s social media platform. Reels are a bit different from TikTok because the content you create appears in your Instagram feed, your profile page, and on the Explore page.
So, how can you use Reels in your business? The answer is simple, anyway, you want!
Reels are a great way to showcase personality and to get a message across. They also allow your followers to have sneak peeks of new products, behind the scenes and day-to-day life in your business. Make sure your business is using Reels in 2021 to keep up with your competition!
Influencer Marketing
For many years now, Influencer Marketing has been a big deal. This multi-billion pound industry is only getting bigger and bigger and bigger! You may have noticed many businesses using influencers to advertise their products and to promote their profiles. This is especially true during 2020 as more and more people sat down all day on their phones, and spent time online shopping.
Here are some facts about Influencer Marketing that you need to know:
- 70% of Teens Trust Influencers More than Traditional Celebrities
- 86% of Women Use Social Media for Purchasing Advice
- 49% of Consumers Depend on Influencer Recommendations
- 60% of Teens Follow Advice From Influencers Over Celebrities
- Influencer Marketing Campaigns Earn $6.50 for Every Dollar Spent (on average)
- Influencer Marketing Is the Fastest-Growing Online Customer-Acquisition Method
- 57% of Fashion and Beauty Companies Engage in Influencer Marketing
While an influencer campaign can seem quite easy to do, Many Industries tend to struggle with contacting and presenting to these influencers. Going back and forth with either an influencer or their management can take a significant amount of time which many businesses and workers just do have. That’s where an agency gets involved. An agency can put in the groundwork for you. Learn more about our Influencer marketing.
Small Businesses
This year, one of the biggest trending hashtags/topics was #SupportSmallBusiness. Small companies from all over the world have been affected by a constant shift between “We are open” and “We are closed”, which means that start-ups and small businesses with wages to pay and rent to keep up with, simply could not survive with months of no/little income. Which means when they did open, it was important for customers to shop small, local and sustainable.
You might have noticed that a trending sticker on Facebook and Instagram was “Support Small Business” and allowed users to share profiles of local businesses that they enjoy engaging with. This then allowed their followers to be direct to the business page, all for free – a great way to gain publicity when the bank is low!
This year, we have seen kindness, generosity and support from a lot of ordinary people. Make sure you keep a note of who supported your business, and how you can ask others to contribute. Remember, a like, comment and share are ALL FREE! Kindness costs nothing. Social Media is one of the best free platforms we have, use it!
Local SEO
This year the majority of us have been confined to our local area, which means we are constantly searching for local businesses like shops, home stores and florists to name a few. Just take a look at this graph for “Local Shops”
At the start of the Pandemic in March, we saw a record high for local searches. While you can see fluctuations, we expect this to continue into 2021 as we edge closer to normality, but we’re not all the way there.
As a small business, don’t forget your local and regular customers – they are going to be vital to you in the future. Keep in touch with your community and optimise your website and advertisements to help your local community find you!
TikTok
TikTok is growing fast, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down! A good marketer knows that the only way to stay ahead of the competition is to have a proactive approach towards creating marketing strategies. In your marketing strategy for 2021, make sure you include TikTok!
Tiktok is an easy way to build a community and to find customers. With this new community, you need to think about the user base and how you can create impactful videos. The most popular users of TikTok are Gen Z, and if you’ve ever met someone from Generation Z, you’ll know that they are not the biggest fan of advertisements, which is why over 50% pay for adblocking software. As a smart marketer, you should find less invasive techniques, and quickly grab the attention of your target audience through engaging content. Once you master the technique of incorporating your brand into well-structured stories, you win.
To achieve the best video, find a trending sound, keep it short and try and add questions/CTA’s to keep your audience engaged. People on TikTok do not want to watch a long video with an unpopular song playing. Keep an eye on what’s popular and you should be hitting a million views in no time!
Here are a few statistics that show why a business cannot afford to ignore TikTok:
- It has 500 million active users globally
- With 33 million downloads in Q1, 2019, it was the most downloaded app on the AppStore
- It is available in 155 countries
- 90% of TikTok user access the app multiple times a day
- On average, 1 million videos are viewed on TikTok daily
With these facts in mind, it’s time to get creative and start posting!
Get the experts involved
You now know what to look out for in 2021, so let’s implement it and get a strategy started!
If you are interested in learning more about online marketing and how it can benefit your business please do get in touch with a member of our team. Since 2011 we have been working extremely hard to offer up-to-date services that are relevant to the times. As the world continues to develop and shift it is vitally important that all businesses take a look at those that succeed and follow in their footsteps. Influencer marketing is the next step that many businesses are too afraid to take, but with the right agency behind you, you can see great success and move towards the future.
There are several ways you can get in touch with a member of our team. You can call us on the number 0115 727 0038 or you can complete our form on our contact us page. All of our specialists are ready to help you you so feel free to get in touch whenever you are ready to start this project.
