7 Digital Marketing Trends to Watch in 2021: Tips From Forbes & Google

Thanks to a level of uncertainty that resulted from the global challenges of 2020, there is no doubting the fact that digital marketing is one of the ways to increase your business' success.

In looking at how digital marketing trends can work in the new year, Forbes shared some thoughts from different leaders in the field.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

1. There will be more virtual events:

Quoting Teddy Heidt, founder of The Gauge Collective, Forbes advises the diversification of social media activities so as to be able to connect easily and engage with more users.

It advises further on the need to feed one's social media profile enough to enrich user experience.

2. More attractions to online activities

Jannika Bock, director of client solutions at Google, says because COVID-19 has changed human activities, many consumers are now home more than before.

Read also

Police Offering Unemployed Graduates 12-Month Internship Programme

As a result of this, people now easily focus on online materials and contents to stay entertained and informed. More people are embracing the internet resulting in a prediction that online videos will drive over 80% of consumer internet traffic in 2022.

She advises that to be successful in the new year, brands must tap into the online video trend to make it easy for them to engage their consumers.

3. Time spent online increases

More people are joining social media platforms. The time spent online would continue to increase and this has become obvious with video channels on Youtube.

Growth Quarters says:

"If internet use remains at these levels throughout 2021, the world’s internet users will spend almost 12 trillion hours online this year, which translates to more than 1.3 billion years of combined human time."

The report notes further:

"Almost seven hours per day using the internet across all devices, equating to more than 48 hours per week online – that’s 2 full days out of every seven."

Read also

National Coronavirus Command Council meets amid declining cases

4. Keeping data private will become a priority

With an increase in the focus on the internet, 2021 will have more consumers demanding or requiring that their data be kept private. More brands would be encouraged or motivated to protect the privacy of their targets.

Quoting Matt Brittin, president of EMEA Business and Operations, Google, Thinkwithgoogle, says:

"The industry is adapting to meet people’s needs, and in 2021 the conversation surrounding data ethics will turn into action for many brands. The entire digital ecosystem only functions if people can trust it."

5. Social media use won't be just for fun anymore, it will become a channel for purchases

The average belief that social media platforms are channels for fun and entertainment is changing fast. They are becoming sources of purchases.

Forbes quotes Massimiliano Tirocchi, CMO and co-founder of Shapermint, as saying social media platforms, including Facebook, are increasingly creating ease for consumers to discover and make a purchase.

Read also

Here is how to cancel Showmax subscription

In 2021, retail brands are expected to adapt to the Facebook example of keeping consumers entertained while seamlessly creating the platform for purchases.

6. Only trusted brands will have a better advantage

There's good news for major brands in 2021. Big brands will be the major attractions for informed buyers.

Thus, in the new year growing brands need to work hard to be trusted. They have to make feedback more important.

7. The big tech breakup

Analysts saw this coming, especially with the special focus on activities of social media by lawmakers across the world.

However, lawmakers across the globe are indicating that this year could possibly be the 'big showdown'.

But this begs the questions: Will Google, Facebook, Amazon, or Alibaba beat them to it?

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News