We asked the social media team at Clearbridge Branding Agency about social media trends for your brand that should be considered for 2021, and they didn’t disappoint. Here are four social media trends shaking up the social sphere this year.

 Social Media Trends and Tactics in 2021

#1: Live Video

The live video trend is nothing new or groundbreaking, but it’s something that’s continuing to make waves on social, says Clearbridge. This is one of the social media trends for your brand that your business must use.  If your brand has yet to adopt this incredible tool for connecting with your audience, you really need to get ready for your closeup. With the surge in popularity of live streaming, brands, both small and large, have used it to feature local influencers and personalities, showcase their products, answer customer questions, hold contests and live auctions, and connect with their customers in ways that 2020 has made so difficult in person.

#2: Establishing Trust

The importance of trust moving forward for brands, both on and offline, is paramount. With rising concerns of data privacy, fake news, malicious content, and a new generation distrustful of brands from the jump, establishing your authenticity as a brand and earning the trust of your audience has never been more important.

So, how do you earn their trust? Clearbridge offers three quick tips.

• Be transparent: let your audience see your brand for who and what it is. If you make a mistake, own it. Let your mistakes become part of your evolution and story as a brand.
• Be consistent: maintain the quality of your products, service, content, and customer service.
• Provide quick and efficient customer service. Nothing angers a client more than poor customer service. Train your staff (or consider hiring more) to handle your customer support volume in a way that is quick, helpful, and memorable.

#3: AR and VR

These trends may have been around for quite some time now, but they’re just getting started in the mainstream. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (V) have many brands already utilizing their power to elevate the user experience through shopping, social media filters, and more. From trying on a shade of lipstick via a smartphone or device to walking through a virtual door to a museum of art and sculptures, AR and VR are here to stay.

#4: Local Targeting

The prevalence of local targeting has taken off recently and will for the foreseeable future as local brands utilize geo-tagging their social media posts and stories as a way to connect with their target customers. Instagram, for example, allows users to search posts and stories within their vicinity, which is helping brands be more easily discovered. If you’re a small business, local targeting can be a great first step to working up to reaching potential customers further away.

Looking to make the most of your social media marketing efforts in 2021? Contact Clearbridge Branding Agency for a virtual social media training to learn how to leave your competition in the dust.