There is no doubt that we are all ready for 2020 to be over. Thankfully a new year is just around the corner, so it is time to catch up on all the new marketing trends that 2021 holds.
With more businesses and individuals utilizing digital platforms this year, the effective ways to utilize them is ever-changing. Here are five marketing strategies to propel your business to 2021:
Put an Emphasis on Customer Service
We all know the phrase “the customer is always right.” This customer service mindset is more important than ever and will drive your company through 2021 and beyond. Customer service is a crucial part of your marketing strategy and allows you to better understand your audience, prevent crises and create loyal customers.
Customer service goes beyond picking up the phone or greeting guests at the door. With the rise of digital platforms, your company cannot afford to ignore customers on social media. Your customers expect you to reply within 24 hours, and if you do not, you will lose them. Take the time to create responses for frequently asked questions and quickly respond to comments and messages across all platforms.
Keep Your Audience Updated!
People follow companies on social media platforms to stay updated with their latest products and services. Your audience turns to these platforms seeking information about what you do, your hours of operation, what’s on the menu and so much more.
Social media has blurred the lines between companies and their followers, making it essential for your brand to stay on top of your digital game! Depending on your industry, you should be posting two to three times a week, if not everyday. This frequent posting will not only keep your account active for followers but also give you control when establishing how you want your business to be perceived.
Be Authentic!
2020 has proved that you can be whoever you want to be and stand for whatever cause you want, and this will continue into 2021. It is important for your brand to show its true self and be authentic throughout all social media platforms.
Your audience is not interested in corporate-style social media posts. Creative, conversation evoking content is a great way for your community of followers to voice their support. It is vital to find your brand voice and express your personality through your posts before your customers label your content as boring or bland. Find your voice and take a stand!
User Generated Content is the Way to Go!
User generated content is any content- text, videos, images- created by people, not the company. Posting user generated content on your social media platforms increases authenticity, trust and drives purchasing power.
With the whole world on lockdown earlier this year, there has been an influx of user generated content. Brands found what their audience wants to see, and that is authentic posts from people who are just like them. These types of posts work, because brands are getting customers to generate content, but also marketing to their customers.
Engage Your Followers!
There is no exception to this…your company must incorporate photos and videos on social media. A strong image or interesting video will make users stop and pay attention. In order to get seen, you must create different posts that break up the usual feed and generate a response.
The substance of your content has to be relevant to your audience, and so does the way you deliver them. Videos are a good way to get a lot of information to your audience without boring them, and images are easier to produce and can still catch users’ eyes. Whichever method you chose, making content that is purposeful will create a pleasing feed that is fun for followers to interact with.
Onto 2021!
2020 has definitely been a year to remember, and 2021 is nearly here. With platforms and the way they are utilized constantly changing, your business must pick-up on the current trends to stay relevant and fresh. Stay up-to-date with the latest digital marketing trends or be left in 2020, and who wants to do that?