Social Media Trends in 2021 - Instagram
If 2020 taught us as businesses anything, it was the power and need of Digital as part of the marketing mix. Overnight, brands and businesses across the world had to reevaluate their digital offering and react quickly if they wanted to keep in touch with their audience. Social Media became an even more important channel enabling brands to communicate with their customer. Social Media use during the pandemic increased by 10% and over 2020 and into 2021 we have seen how Social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and now, Clubhouse have adapted and released new features to allow businesses and people to connect with one and other when we’ve been confined to our homes.
So, what does 2021 have in store for Social Media? In today’s post, we delve into some key updates and features of Instagram, which we think will be big in 2021.
Visibility of Instagram Posts in Organic Search
Late last year, Instagram announced it was making moves to become more SEO friendly, meaning more posts should start appearing in search results when a keyword is searched for. Meaning a huge opportunity for your Instagram profiles, posts, video content and more. This is why it is more important than ever to ensure your social content is optimised, like your website content, ensuring relevant keywords are included in your copy. Note here, we say copy and not hashtags. If you haven’t already, this highlights the importance of a social strategy, as you will need to ensure not just for SEO purposes but your consumers, that your copy is focused and relevant to your audience. For example, if you sell bread, you shouldn’t really be posting about plant pots. We’d recommend you take the time to review your bio, don’t become spammy and include a ton of keywords, just review your bio and name - does it clearly detail who you are and what you do? If it does, you should find yourself naturally including keywords you’d like to be found for.
Instagram Reels and Guides
2020 also saw Instagram also launch Reels and Guides, new forms of sharing content. Instagram Reels is a form of video content that is 15-30 seconds long, designed to allow you to share quick, creative content. We’d recommend 15-second reels, as they’ve seen better engagement as users don’t have to click through to see the rest of the video. Also, don’t forget your caption, this can be just as important as the video itself, encourage users to take action, rather than carry on scrolling after the reel is finished. Reels are set to be big in 2021, so if you haven’t already, consider adding them into your social media plan for 2021.
Instagram Guides allows you to curate posts to create useful guides, recommendations, tips etc. for your followers.
Currently, you can choose from 3 formats for guides
Places: Recommend places in your city and beyond
Products: Recommend your favourite products
Posts: Recommend posts you created or saved
Personally, we think the third format gives you more options and room for creativity with what you share. Guides are a great way to share advice and tell a story.
Need help with your social strategy? Or need a hand creating and scheduling your social media content? Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation discovery call.