A strong social media presence is absolutely indispensable for entrepreneurs who want to connect with their target customer base, increase their sales, and grow their business. Data shows that social media usage around the world has grown by 10.5% in the last year – largely due to Covid-19 lockdowns – and more than 50% of the world’s population now uses social media on a regular basis.

In this article, we take a look at five effective social media marketing strategies that can help you take your business to the next level in 2021.

1. Embrace Social Commerce

This is without a doubt one of the biggest social media trends to have emerged in recent times. Also known as shoppable social media, social commerce is an eCommerce model which allows people to buy products directly from a social media page, instead of visiting the company’s or vendor’s website.

For instance, Instagram has a checkout feature, which allows you to create shoppable posts for your target customer base. If a potential customer is interested in what you are selling, they can click the checkout button and buy the product right away, without having to leave Instagram.

Instagram also allows you to sell your products directly to your customers through Instagram Live and Instagram Reels. Similarly, Pinterest allows you to add shoppable pins to your posts, upon clicking which a customer can buy what they want without leaving the website.

It is a tremendously convenient feature which can make it easier for your customers to buy what they want, the moment they want it – without getting redirected to a third party’s website or online store. So, creating shoppable posts is a social media marketing strategy you must follow in 2021.

2. Utilize the Power of Live Video

It is well known that multimedia content – especially short videos – tend to drive more engagement than text-based posts. Live video – in particular – can capture the attention of people much quicker and for a much longer period of time compared to text-based adverts or posts.

One of the reasons why live video can be a highly effective social media marketing strategy is that most social media platforms tend to alert users when a person or business they follow goes live. So, you can get the attention of potential customers as soon as you go live.

Prominent social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have built-in live streaming features that you can use to announce exciting contests or launch new products and grab the attention of thousands of users instantly. This is a social media marketing strategy that can pay rich dividends – especially if you are planning to target a young demographic.

3. Use Micro-Influencers to Promote Your Brand

Influencer marketing is passé. What is hot and trending is micro-influencer marketing. Social media influencers with huge followings not only charge a fortune, but their influence has also diminished considerably, as people see their posts for what they are – paid advertisements. So, it is no longer an effective or viable social media marketing strategy – especially for small businesses with a limited marketing budget.

Micro-influencers, on the other hand, typically have a smaller following – between 1,000 to 10,000 followers – which allows them to have a more genuine relationship with their followers. They tend to specialize in a particular niche and only promote products and services that are closely related to that niche. As a result, social media users tend to trust their judgment. The best part is that they only charge a fraction of what their celebrity counterparts charge.

To make the most out of this social media marketing strategy, look for up-and-coming micro-influencers in your niche – who are not represented by any professional advertising or marketing agency – and request them to promote your brand and products.

4. Deploy Augmented Reality Ads

Augmented reality (AR) adds a third dimension to people’s shopping experience. Instead of merely looking at pictures and videos of the products they want to buy, customers can try them on – virtually – and then buy it.

Many brands have already started implementing AR ads in their social media marketing campaigns. IKEA, for instance, allows customers to visualize how a particular product might look in their home before they buy it.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat allow AR-based advertising, wherein customers can tap a button, try on a product, and then buy it if they want to. In case your budget does not allow you to try AR ads, it is still a good idea to keep track of the latest developments in the industry and take notes from those who successfully use AR ads in their social media marketing campaigns – so that you can use them effectively in your own marketing campaigns when you can afford to do so.

5. Adopt Ethics-Based Marketing

Data shows that young people have strong opinions on contemporary social, economic, and political issues. They also tend to identify with brands that espouse similar values. In fact, a study by McKinsey revealed that 70% of Generation Z prefers to buy from companies that they consider ‘ethical’.

This is something you need to keep in mind while developing social media marketing strategies for your business – especially if your target customer base includes millennials and zoomers. Tell your customers what your values are – what you stand for, what you believe in, and what you aim to achieve.

At the same time – do not be overtly political. Remember – people from both ends of the political spectrum – as well as those who are in the middle – might buy your products. So, focus on transformative ideas, ethos, and values that can change our society for the better.

Next Level Marketing – Social Media Marketing That Delivers Results

At Next Level Marketing, we believe that harnessing the power of social media is one of the most effective ways to achieve your business goals. For over 20 years, we have helped countless businesses – from micro-enterprises to large corporations – reach their targets and achieve their objectives.

No matter what you want to sell, whom you want to target, and what you want to achieve, we can develop the right social media marketing strategies to deliver the results you want. Call us today at 1-844-736-6398 or contact us online for a free social media strategy audit of your business.