Digital Marketing Agency Dubai UAE
By: Jax Lee
Tags: Digital Transformation, Digital Marketing, Digital Marketing Agency, Social Media Marketing, Software Development

Digital Media Marketing: the trends of 2021

1. The impact of the socially aware public

According to the Talkwalker and Hubspot survey, this is trend number one. In 2020 it became clear how this socially conscious generation (and the future Alpha generation) has an impact on brands, politics, and society as a whole.

Brands will have to engage more on issues such as mental health, inclusiveness, and social justice, otherwise, they risk becoming irrelevant and potentially obsolete in 2021.

The humanization of the brand is the main theme of insight provided by Roberto Zarriello — Professor of Digital Communication and SocialMedia — while social awareness is at the center of that of Angelo Cerrone, Digital Strategist.

2. The rise of digital transformation

Social media has always blurred the lines between reality and fiction: from the sweetened portrayal of the lives of some Instagrammers, to parody Twitter accounts.

The crisis due to COVID-19 has brought the issue of disinformation to the fore. Society faces an uncertain future and this uncertainty has created a hotbed of disinformation, with false stories whose resonance can have a major impact. Digital Marketing Agency Dubai UAE

Cristina Maccarrone — trainer for SEO copywriting — reports in her insight the need to constantly monitor fake news, as they can constitute a tangible danger for one’s brand.

3. Social media giants are adapting to the new normal

When examining social media trends, it often happens that there are people who shout that one platform is dying or that another will take over. In this regard, we expect today’s dominant social media platforms to remain so in 2021 and beyond.

They may have new features and adapt to current trends, but their popularity is very unlikely to decline in the next few years.

David Meerman Scott — Marketing Strategist and WSJ Bestselling Author of Fanocracymette — on guard against the danger of social discrimination, while Karen Sutherland — Social Media Educator and Researcher at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia — stresses the importance of events and their evolution in the post-COVID-19 world.

4. Old school marketing for a new market

Some trends come and go in the blink of an eye. Some continue to circulate and peep into the collective consciousness from time to time.

The same goes for marketing techniques. The tactics we’ve seen earlier can appear suddenly, especially in times of uncertainty, with communication professionals returning to proven methods applied to new ideas.

In 2021, we will see a return of “old school marketing”, as brands will return to an easier way of engaging consumers.

Federica Brancale — CEO at Marketing Freaks — reports the importance of micro-targeting in this type of strategy, while Cheryl King — Managing Director of MENA marketers — believes that the podcast is a fundamental media in this context.

5. Social gaming = social gaming

During the COVID-19 confinement, people turned to video games as an additional form of distraction. The audience of video game forums and groups has grown, creating entire communities dedicated to various fanbases.

As we learn more and more how video games benefit gamers (such as developing cognitive skills that can be put to use in the real world) in 2021 the video game as a medium will be less stigmatized, as brands will target communities that belong to it.

In this context, technology is fundamental, and indeed Nur America — Director and Founder of Newness — reports the importance of augmented reality and virtual reality in social media in the near future.

6. Even more conversation (AI marketing)

Marketing is like a two-way street. Brands can no longer shout their messages into the void and hope that they will be received. Instead, it’s about conversations and connections — you have to keep the conversation going with consumers to build those relationships that generate sales.

The pandemic has brought this factor to the fore. Sales are no longer a priority for customers. Instead, it is information, commitment, and social issues that drive engagement and loyalty. Connecting with these stories will be key in 2021.

7. Nostalgia marketing

It’s natural to look back on 2019 and see it as a better year. Positive emotions related to the “good old days” help to improve the current state of mind. The appeal of marketing nostalgia is evident. It associates strong positive emotions with the brand and gives it a sentimental boost.

In times of uncertainty and economic recession, consumers are increasingly trying to connect with happier times to distract themselves from the current situation.

Miriam Bertoli — Digital & Content Marketing Strategist has identified among her main themes for social media in 2021 the positive sensations of a reference to the past, together with the importance of the community and social involvement, in order to counterbalance the uncertainty perceived by the public. Eleonora Rocca — CEO @ Elle Innovation Consulting — also underlines the importance of the icons of the past that generate positive sentiment in today’s public. Rudy Bandiera — popularizer and creator — goes even further, identifying the feeling of nostalgia as the most determining factor for positioning the brand in 2021.

8. The memes

Forget the emojis. Clean your desktop of GIFs. Memes are now the new way of communicating that is spreading across the internet as a fun way to engage communities. They are not all positive and funny, however. As with any type of communication, they can be used to influence the public’s mindset. Memes can help tackle extreme situations, such as outside agencies interfering with elections or other important events.

In this regard, Valentina Tanzillo — Social Media Marketing Consultant — stresses the importance of enabling the public to become a content creator alongside brands.

9. The four Cs of COVID-19 content

Even if the pandemic were to resolve in 2021, the repercussions will be felt for years to come. The shadow cast by COVID is likely to persist, making it difficult for consumers to forget the consequences.

Brands will have to adapt their communication in light of this. The tone of the conversation in 2021 will be determined by the four C’s of COVID-19 content.

Community — community

Contactless — absence of contact

Cleanliness — hygiene

Compassion — compassion

In light of this, it is interesting to note the insight of Andrea Romoli — Facilitator and Digital Connector of In Sprint Srl — for which the pandemic situation makes it necessary to resort to a new business plan that can compensate for the scarcity of offline business opportunities. Adele Savarese — General Manager of Ninja Academy — identified the need to resort to phygital in the same type of criticality, as a link between the physical and digital world. Francesco Ambrosino — Blogger, Social Media Manage — instead reports the thirst for accurate and easy-to-find information by the social media audience.

10. The remix is ​​the new User Generated Content

User-generated content is nothing new; however, the way it is created, found, and shared today is a topical issue. The remix is ​​growing through applications such as TikTok, Koji, and Instagram Reels.

It is the art of taking formats, templates, or ideas and combining them to express the personality or ideas of a user.

Cui, therefore, expects that 2021 will bring even more opportunities for remixing, with brands that will engage a new audience and create content that will stand out.

Among the interviewees, Giovanna di Troia — journalist and blogger — identified how the UGC will favor a direct relationship with the brand, while Ben Jeffries — CEO of Influencer — points out how this kind of content is popular among the Gen-Z audience. for more information click here