There’s no questioning the rise in social media usage in 2020, not only for people wanting to stay connected with friends and family, but also for businesses that want to continue to enhance their brand awareness, build loyalty and generate new customers. In this post, we take a look at the rising trends in social media during 2020 and what is likely to continue to grow in 2021.
Stories Are Here to Stay!
In terms of social media trends, stories have been one of the biggest in 2020 with Instagram and Facebook remaining dominant with 500m active daily users. This is impressive as it means a third of Facebooks 1.56 billion users are engaging with stories every day. Stories act as a fantastic way to build a rapport with your audience and can build a more personal connection with your followers via FAQs and polls.
Video: The Future?
2020 has been the year of digestible content. That’s why both long-form and short-form video are among the most shared content on social media. With YouTube being only second to Facebook in terms of active users, Instagram becoming one of the top hubs for influencers, and with the rise of TikTok this year, video has dominated on all platforms.
According to an annual internet report by networking solutions experts Cisco, by 2022, ‘82% of all content online will be video’. This suggests that social media platforms are starting to recognise the power of video, with Instagram trying to breathe new life into IGTV by introducing landscape videos, Influencers flocking to YouTube, and of course TikTok. TikTok has amassed well over 1.5 billion users this year, with its short, digestible video format being so successful with young consumers and influencers, it is clear to see the opportunity available and therefore video should be an integral part of your content strategy.
Niche, Capiche?
Although Facebook and Instagram lead the hierarchy of social media platforms and are continuing to grow, other and more niche platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and LinkedIn have also been successful in 2020. This alone reflects a shift in consumer behaviour and suggests that people are moving away from more public and traditional spaces to platforms which are more community driven. Using the right social media marketing platforms is important as brands can explore these niches in order to create and strengthen brand communities.
Personalisation, Personalisation, Personalisation!
With consumers becoming so much more immune to the generic ads that provide no real value, and the traditional forms of marketing becoming less effective, it can be hard to know which way to turn.
The personalisation of your marketing strategies will become your best friend, with 90% of 1,000 people surveyed by Forbes in a survey, stating that they found personalisation more appealing, with 80% admitting that they would be more likely to give their business to a company that offered a personalised experience. The simple act of personalising your email lists can go a long way, so don’t miss the opportunity to connect with your audience meaningfully!
To find out how social media can help grow your business, contact us at hello@allianceagency.co.uk.
