As we enter 2021, the landscape we live and operate in has changed drastically. After a year of lockdowns and restrictions on the way we live and do business, any business that has not found a way to adapt may feel somewhat left behind.
With so much going on, and weekly changes in what is allowed and how, we at Boostbery think it is always good to remain positive and keep an eye on the horizon to stay grounded. So, alongside the essential business activities, here are five marketing trends for 2021 that are worth noting and can help you move forward with pace regardless of external factors.
Branded live-streams
Bring your video calls and streams in line with your own look and feel.
Virtual events
Organise, run and market online events that add value to a wider audience.
Social media for sales
Treat social channels as a purchase channel, not just a browsing one.
Voice search
Optimise your website and online outlets for voice as well as typed search.
Purpose-driven goodwill
Use your brand to actively help others who are less fortunate or in need.
1. Branded live-streams
Live-streaming has helped everyone in business over the past year. Without the likes of Zoom, Skype, Google Meet and Join.me it would have been very difficult to keep going through periods when travel and face-to-face meetings were not permitted.
As adoption of these tools has grown, it makes sense to brand these virtual meeting places in line with your company’s look and feel. The level of personalisation varies by platform, but now that live meetings and streaming are an integral part of business for the foreseeable future, aligning your streaming set-up with your own brand is a fantastic idea.
2. Virtual events
An extension of live-streaming is the ability to put on virtual events, which have become the staple way for businesses to reach out, present or add value to a wider group of interested people.
Organising, running and marketing your virtual events effectively and in line with your brand is essential to gaining uptake and keeping interest. The virtual event will be a standard part of business throughout 2021 and most likely beyond, so taking advantage of the opportunity will be vital this year.
3. Social media for sales
Social media has always had advertising and sales capabilities, but it was never really thought of as a reliable avenue for guaranteed sales. Over the past year the global situation has turned social media from a browsing and discovery mechanism into a purchase-intent channel. Capitalising on your channels now, while that shift in online shoppers’ mindset is happening, could seriously increase your sales.
Stay positive, keep an eye on the horizon, and use the tools the past year has handed you.
4. An increase in voice search and transactions
Now that our homes and living spaces are full of voice-activated technology, it is more important than ever that your website and online outlets are optimised for voice-activated searches as well as typed ones. Not taking voice search and organic SEO seriously this year would not be wise.
5. Goodwill and purpose-driven missions from brands
In hard times people pull together, and that is what we have seen over the past year and moving into 2021. More than ever, businesses are focusing on goodwill and purpose-driven missions to aid like-minded individuals, employees and other businesses.
With that in mind, this is the perfect year to think about how your business and its brand can actively help others who are less fortunate or in need of assistance. A goodwill mission will not only raise your company’s profile but help others in the process.
We at Boostbery continue to help businesses with every aspect of their marketing, and we would love to help you and your company capitalise where possible this year.
Good to know
FAQs
Because live meetings and streaming are now an integral part of how business is done. Bringing the virtual meeting place in line with your company’s look and feel keeps the brand consistent wherever people meet you.
The past year turned social media from a browsing and discovery mechanism into a purchase-intent channel. Businesses that treat their channels as a sales avenue now can capitalise on that shift.
Using the business and its brand to actively help others who are less fortunate or in need. It raises the company’s profile and, more importantly, helps people at a time when they need it.
Next step
Reach out to us to help you in 2021
We help businesses with every aspect of their marketing, from branded streams and virtual events to social selling and search.