Digital Marketing: 15 Tips for Your 2021 Strategy

So, I’ve asked some of my friends in the digital marketing industry for their tips. Before we get into what they suggest for 2021, I want to share my top three tips (and I’ll keep them short.) 

My first advice for your 2021 online marketing strategy is to keep it super simple.

Secondly, get to know your audience well. And you can only get the chance to learn them well when you establish a connection and converse with your audience. It’s crucial that you reply to inquiries promptly. If you struggle to respond timely, consider installing a messenger chatbot on your website.

And my third tip, make yourself discoverable online so you can have inbound traffic. Have at least one inbound marketing strategy to start with, blogging, podcast, and social media. Start with the process you’re most comfortable with.

Now, let’s see what these fantastic digital marketers have for you. Learn from them and choose your top three picks to put into action for your 2021 online marketing.

Gus Bhandal, Marketing Strategist – The M Guru

With everything that has happened in 2020, most predictions went out of the window! However, in 2021, there will be plenty of emerging trends.

1. Digital relationships will grow.

All social media channels are ultimately based upon the premise of building relationships and, with limited face-to-face contact continuing into 2021, this will become easier through simplified private messaging. Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp all being under one umbrella; LinkedIn is pushing its ‘Sales Navigator’ (to encourage business relationships), and Twitter is encouraging private messaging through that being the only option to respond to its ‘Fleets.’

2. Short-form videos will rise in popularity.

With attention spans getting shorter, we want to be entertained quicker – it’s partly why Tik Tok rose to prominence. People will want to continue to consume short-form, captioned, easy-to-understand content, and social media will start to look like a fast-paced TV channel. Businesses need to get-to-grips with phone-based video editing software so they can do this while on the move.

 3. The high street is moving online.

With Facebook and Instagram encouraging online shopping on their platforms (so no one ever has to leave the platforms to finish purchases elsewhere), businesses will need to embrace the advances in technology to be able to sell products online (and service-based businesses will have to think of ways to monetize their offerings). Social media platforms will become a huge catalog – a bit like Amazon but much more tailored to each individual.

Rachel Harvey, Facebook Ads Specialist – The Big Impression

As a Facebook Ads Strategist specializing in e-commerce, 2020 has been a year where we’ve seen more people shopping online than ever before. This means that it’s increasingly difficult to stand out from the noise in the online space, particularly in people’s Facebook newsfeed. 

In 2021, it will be crucial to make an impact with your Facebook ads. Here are three tips to help:

1. Use Canva to design scroll stopping ad creative. I love to use the ‘grids’ available from the ‘Elements’ menu. This allows you to add videos and still images to one awesome canvas. There are so many combinations to choose from! Make sure you use high-resolution images for the best quality result. It’s also important to make your creative look as ‘native’ as possible (more natural, like a post rather than an ad), as this is what people identify with rather than ‘slick’ looking adverts.

2. Use your caption (advert copy) to tell people the transformation they will get from using your product. Pro tip – use Amazon reviews to search for your customer’s pain points that your product or service will solve for them. Remember, they don’t just want a list of benefits; they need to imagine how they will look/feel afterward.

3. Make sure your offer hooks your customers in. Buying is an emotional response, so you need to tap into your customer’s pain point or desire with your transformation.

Kristina Proffitt, Copywriter and Author – Kristina Proffitt Creative

With so many scams and questionable services floating around now, the more you can build trust with your audience, the greater the benefits to your business. In 2021, it’ll be vital to make yourself feel more real next year – people are less interested in doing business with a photo; they want to hear you in podcasts and see you in videos. 

The more face time with people you can get, the more trust you’ll build up with them. When you do this, make sure you sound natural and comfortable, not like Siri reading from a script. If you sound or look uncomfortable, it’ll make your audience uncomfortable, too. 

To help you feel more comfortable, start by talking about topics you know inside out and are happy talking about – your knowledge and enthusiasm will come across.

In summary: 1. Build trust with your audience; 2. Get face time with your audience using videos; 3. If you’re uncomfortable on camera, start by talking about topics you love.

Maile Schunk, Facebook Ad Specialist – Mustard Seed Social

2021 will start off with a leap into the unknown for small businesses that rely on Facebook. When Apple rolls out its option NOT to be tracked by Facebook on apple devices (in January), small businesses will probably be hit hardest. I think the opt-out is good for consumers, it will, however, inevitably result in less consumer data (no one knows how much less), and ads will become less targeted and less effective. 

 Small businesses will want to counter this by continuing to work on messaging and brand. For example, simply naming your audience in your ad can help attract the right users. Include “Hey Moms” or “Small Business owners,” for example, in Ads to get around less targeting data.

 Businesses should continue to take imperfect action and pivot according to the continuous curveballs that government regulation sends its way. Use social media to share government regulations and how you’re complying to save your customers time and get more foot traffic, orders, and sales.

 Continue to share YOUR story on social media. People like getting to know people, so businesses should err on the side of sharing more stories and on personal topics more often. This builds + deepens customer relationships, and besides that- it makes social media a fun place.

Amazing 15 practical and actionable tips!

Having more eyeballs through organic ways is getting more challenging but not impossible. 

Gus, The M Guru gave a great insight into the trend for 2021. And I agree with him on building relationships. It is no longer enough to post on social media. You have to connect and converse with your audience. 

Rachel gave practical advice to use Canva for your designs and make them look native. 

I agree with Kristina that videos or podcasts have more impact than posting a photo. We have to start doing it even if it makes us feel uncomfortable, and please know that you’re not alone. I’m shy and introverted. Thus I know how you’re feeling being in front of the camera.

And Maile said it very well that businesses should continue to take imperfect action.

Now to you, what are the three things from these 15 insights that you’ll put into action today?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and the comment section  is avaialble for you!

About the Author

I’m Alena Matig-a, wife and mom of 3. I’m a Physical Therapist/DPT, a Freelance Content Writer, and an Inbound & Conversation Marketing Specialist.
I help entrepreneurs, and small business owners with lead generation, client acquisition & retention through blog content and chat/conversation marketing focused on Inbound philosophy. I’m passionate about keeping business owners’ freedom and flexibility and reduced their overwhelm with online marketing while growing their business.

“This blog post may contain affiliate links if you purchase through my link I will earn a small commission at no cost to you; see my full disclosure here.”