7 Digital Marketing Trends to look out for in 2021

2021 Digital Marketing Trends to look out for: As we begin the year 2021, we are excited about the opportunities for marketing small businesses.
marketing trends to look for in 2021
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Goodbye, 2020; it was nice knowing you (not really).

From COVID-19 to the presidential election to civil unrest across the United States, 2020 will go down in infamy. Plus, it changed the digital marketing landscape.

One of the most significant effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was that the world began to lean more heavily on all things digital. The world saw a shift in businesses from communication to marketing.

As we begin the year 2021, we are excited about the opportunities for marketing small businesses. So, what will 2021 bring to digital marketers?

Here are some 2021 digital marketing trends to look out for.

Increase In Chatbot Use

The explosive growth of eCommerce and online shopping have made websites start to use more chatbot technology. Using chatbots on your website makes it a more interactive solution for the business.

Need an eCommerce Website? See our custom eCommerce website solutions.

Consider this:

Companies that use chatbot marketing saw a 50% growth in sales. Chatbots are an excellent opportunity for digital marketers as they provide instant customer service and interaction when answering the user’s questions.

Chatbots are great ways to boost your potential customers’ user experience.

2021 digital marketing trend chatbot statistics

Chatbots’ interaction with customers mimics real-time interaction. Using chatbots has become nearly a standard practice, and we predict that they will increase in popularity in 2021.

Increase in Short-Video Content

2020 showed us that video marketing was an invaluable resource. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were confined to their homes, leading them to explore and share their ideas using videos.

As a result, video marketing reached an all-time high in 2020.

Short-form video content is one of the most significant things to watch out for in 2020.  

Why?

Short-form videos are easy for the viewer to retain and are likely to increase user engagement.

digital marketing trends to look out for bar graph
Source: Hubspot

For instance, look at the success of Tik-Tok and its use of influencer marketing. It saw tremendous growth during the recent pandemic.

Plus, videos now show up on Google, and other search engine results pages, giving you another way to boost your organic traffic.

Even if it’s something as simple as an explainer video giving an overview of your company.

More visibility in the search results pages = more traffic for your website = more sales.

Video marketing is becoming a digital marketing must, and as a small business owner, you should adopt some sort of video marketing to stay competitive.

Shoppable Posts

If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that online shopping is on the rise. As we go into 2021, people are more likely to spend more time shopping online than in person.

Digital marketers are poised to seize this opportunity by creating posts that are “shoppable” across all social media platforms and leverage the power of popular networks such as:

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube
  • Tik-Tok
  • Parler
  • MeWe
online shopping digital marketing trend pandemic 2021

Online shopping is becoming the norm. Maintaining the norms of the pandemic, people are spending more time shopping online rather than offline.

Shoppable posts across all social media platforms as marketers see this opportunity as a new shift to an E-Commerce business.

Popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube have tremendous power to improve their E-Commerce presence across several platforms.

Integration Of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

AR and VR are two of the most significant technological advancements we predict to take 2021 by storm.

During the great pandemic of 2020, AR and VR have proven themselves to be tools that any digital marketer should have in their toolbox. Whether developing products, or content storytelling, AR and VR are the waves of the future.

Plus, with Facebook’s ownership of Oculus and other AR reality patents, it’s only a matter of time before digital marketers have to learn how to incorporate AR into digital engagement.

Although it’s a ways off before it’s a requirement for success, now is the time to research, learn, and consider how AR can be used in your digital assets.

Virtual Events are here to stay.

Although they began as a matter of necessity, virtual events are here to stay due to return on investment and accessibility.

Many companies have found that by switching to virtual, they could attract a whole new audience that they weren’t able to reach previously.

Virtual events are more accessible than in-person ones because:

  • travel is unnecessary
  • lodging is unnecessary
  • they’re more affordable for smaller businesses, leaving their marketing budgets available for other marketing campaigns (social media marketing, Google Ads, etc.)

Additionally, many companies have found that virtual events allow for higher attendance and increased participation, but only if there is two-way communication.

digital marketing trends 2021 virtual events stats
digital marketing trends 2021 virtual events stats

It’s a common myth among many companies and associations that virtual events should be broadcast and not live.

Sure, live events are prone to complications and technical difficulties; the reward far outweighs the risk.

Attendees are looking for something comparable to a live event.

It’s simple math: more attendance + less cost = a higher return on investment (ROI).

In 2021, we predict that online events will remain a popular route to engage with customers due to their many benefits.

Discovery to Conversion VIA Social Media

Social media platforms have made it easier for customers to go from discovery to purchasing your product or service without ever leaving the platform. The result is a seamless and straightforward path in the customer journey from learning about your product to buying it.

Because of the predicted increase in social commerce for 2021, retail brands will have to adapt and embrace these platforms.

A decrease in social media channels

Ok, given all of the talk about the increase in social media in 2021, this may seem confusing.

Stay with us.

Many businesses are beginning to reduce the number of social media platforms and channels that they use. With so many social media platforms to choose from, it’s become resource-intensive to try to stay relevant on all of them.

In 2021, reducing social media channels to only the most relevant for your brand will be not only popular but necessary.

In Conclusion

With every passing year, the world grows closer to digitalization. Listed above are just a few trends that digital marketers will see in 2021.

If you call yourself a digital marketer and don’t learn, research, and embrace change, you’re just someone who posts on social media frequently.

Embrace the change, and you will see long-term results for your clients.

We hope that this article taught you some trends to look out for in 2021. Leave us a comment or fill out the form below and tell us what you think.

Clint Sanchez

Clint Sanchez

Clint Sanchez excels as the Chief of Information and Technology at the Baton Rouge Fire Department and as a digital marketer at BlakSheep Creative. With over two decades in public service, he expertly manages technological infrastructures while also applying his creative skills in web, graphic design, and video at BlakSheep. His dual role demonstrates a unique blend of technical acumen and creative innovation.
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