5 Digital Marketing Trends to Watch in 2021

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the world has changed. Due to the need to stay away from public places and work remotely, the amount of time people spend on computers has increased significantly. Around 80% of consumers research products online when planning a purchase.

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This means that digital marketing has become more important than ever for most business owners, as it provides an opportunity to be found online, interact with customers, and, consequently, generate profit.

Digital marketing is a very dynamic business area, its tools are constantly evolving, and to avoid falling behind the competition, it is advisable to stay up to date with the latest trends.

Here are five digital marketing trends that will help your business gain an edge over the competition in 2021.

1. TikTok's rise in popularity

Every few years, a new social network captivates youth culture. Fifteen years ago, it was Facebook; five years ago, it was Instagram; today, it's TikTok.

As of August 2020, TikTok had over 700 million users worldwide, and it is constantly growing.

What makes TikTok popular and what sets it apart from platforms like Facebook and Instagram? It's the presence of entertaining content. Most TikTok posts feature music, entertaining videos, or various interest-based content. TikTok's growing popularity has attracted the attention of companies selling products and providing various services, and brands have the opportunity to advertise on TikTok to increase their reach.

2. Micro-influencers

Until recently, it was believed that the more popular a person was, the more influential they were. Consequently, only celebrities—famous actors, showbiz stars, or sports stars—were invited to participate in advertising campaigns. However, with the development of social media, this has begun to change. The rise of some bloggers and their participation in advertising campaigns demonstrates that business can be developed by relying on the influence and trust of people on social media. A micro-influencer is someone with 2,000 to 50,000 followers on social media who are interested in the topics they cover and who respect and trust their opinions. These micro-influencers can be useful for a marketing campaign because they are much closer to their audience and are experts in their specific topic (e.g., fitness, fashion, travel, or parenting).

Influencer advertising is a great way to bring your brand or company to the attention of a relevant target audience.

3. Live advertising

Another important trend in entertainment is online streaming. The number of video game streaming services, such as Twitch and YouTube, is constantly growing. Twitch currently boasts over 15 million daily viewers. Some users watch Twitch streams for several hours a day. The interactive aspect of live chat allows viewers to learn about a product and build brand trust through the opinions of popular streamers.

4. Messaging apps and chatbots

Over the past fifteen years, there have been significant changes in the way people communicate, with a shift toward messaging instead of calling. People communicate less and less by phone and more and more by texting. Over time, texting has also become an integral part of the business world. Companies use text messages to confirm appointments, send information, and promote their services.

Chatbots are also becoming increasingly popular. Platforms like Facebook, Messenger, and Telegram allow chatbots to handle virtually all customer interactions, including answering frequently asked questions, confirming reservations, and providing information. This increases company efficiency and improves the quality and speed of customer service.

5. Story-based advertising on social networks

In October 2013, Snapchat launched a new feature called Stories – the ability to share short videos and .

In August 2016, Instagram surprised users by adding "stories" to its platform. Initially derided as a rip-off, Instagram Stories eventually became an integral part of the platform. By 2017, Instagram Stories was already attracting around 100 million daily visitors, and by 2019, over 400 million.

In 2020, Instagram, in response to TikTok's growing popularity, introduced Instagram Reels, offering users short-form music videos.

The popularity of Instagram Stories has reduced usage of the platform's original feature, but the growing attention to Insta Stories makes it worth considering story ads. Instagram and Facebook Stories are another excellent place to attract brand attention. Video ads on Instagram and Facebook play for 15 seconds. These ads alternate with regular Stories, resulting in high audience engagement. Story ads are gaining popularity and are worth considering.

Despite the enormous changes that have taken place in the world over the past year, we are confident that 2021 will be a successful year for business. Online business opportunities are now accessible to everyone, and there are plenty of tools available. The key is choosing the right strategy and putting in the effort to achieve your goals.

An important condition for doing business in modern conditions is having your ownwebsitewith the appropriatedomainand reliablehostingAnd it's worth remembering that the only way to stay on top is to try, experiment, and move forward.