The days when social media was just used for socializing are long gone. Social media has become more than just a place where you could chat with your friends and family and everything else is just fun and games.
Instead, now, brands have started utilizing social media to meet their sales target, connect with their customers, and have a keen look at their competitors. Living in a world of technology and a fast-moving lifestyle it becomes hard to predict what the customers want.
And now with the whole coronavirus debacle. The changes in customer behaviors and preferences are more complicated to concede. The coronavirus outbreak has completely changed how people used to shop, spend time outside and live in general.
Even now with people started getting vaccinated in the country, a lot of them prefer to have the best TV and internet bundles and at home and remain inside till the fears of getting infected blow away completely.
Keeping all of this in mind, brands have also started bringing change in their social media strategy to cope up with the rapidly changing customer behavior.
To make 2021 a better and fruitful year there are some of the change that brand should bring in their social media strategy and those changes are as follows:
Live Streams
During the global pandemic, live streams came out as a savior. Live streams helped people connect with the world where sanity prevails. Even brands were more easily connected with their users. The intimacy of live streams made the bonds prosper between customers and brands.
People started turning into live streams significantly after the national lockdown. While the live stream that was streamed by a celebrity got eyes the easy way, a live stream where the brand had contributed would not be avoided as well.
Considering the significant increase in live streams and the country with pandemic-infused lifestyles, brands that have not leveraged these social media trends should start doing right now.
There are a lot of ways through which live streams can be used by the brand. For instance, instead of organizing a public event to announce or launch a product brand should promote it virtually through live streams. Similarly, by collaborating with the industry leaders, influencers and other brands your brand can achieve customer approaching in times of crisis.
Most live streams can be used for charitable work by brands in order to show their support to the community and helping them in getting out of the tough times.
User-Generated Content
Customer experience has always been important but in days when social media is being consumed more than ever and people have changed their style of shopping, using customer experience for promoting the sales has a new meaning.
When the country was in lockdown, people were encouraged to shop online. And now when the lockdown is lifted and restrictions have eased people are still preferring to shop online and get their stuff delivered to them at home, with safety protocols.
However, if a brand wants to benefit from the increased online shopping there is a lot that they have to do. Studies have shown that user-generated content, also called two-way communication posts, gets more boost among the organic post.
Those who shop online prefer to know what previous customers have to say about the brands. User-generated content not only strengthens your brand community but also becomes more uplifting and relatable.
The user-generated content is considered authentic and helps the customer in finalizing her purchase decision.
If you have not yet tried to take advantage of this then the time has come to encourage your customers into leaving their precious reviews on your social media profile to help other customers make the right purchase decision.
Purpose-Driven Content
A growing number of social, political, and environmental issues have started increasing on social media. People have started having more conversation about it and expect their favorite brand to speak up
Especially the young demographic expects the brand to speak favor or against the subject matter. Brands need to up their game in order to organize the attention from the young minds.
Not only should brand speak up when required but should be diligent in their words.
As per a Twitter survey, 77% of people agreed that they feel more positive toward a brand that is fulfilling corporate social responsibilities. Now when the community is surviving through the tough times, it is an obligation to you as the brand to not only extend your help but also be attentive to what customers demand.
Put Customers First
If you want to create an effective social media strategy in 2021 or beyond you need to ensure that your customers are put as the priority.
Not only should be more attentive towards their needs and demands but also make sure you deliver your product and services to them in the best way possible.
Social media, on the other hand, can help you achieve all that is required for making this happen.
