Five Content Marketing Trends You Should Watch in 2021

Online content marketing has been on the rise for several years now and it’s projected to continue to rise as we head into 2021 and beyond. It’s essential if you want your business to succeed in the age of the internet.

This is especially the case if your business is an online one. Businesses should be prepared to put a significant portion of their budget into their content marketing, even if it might not seem worth it at the time.

As technology changes, content marketing changes with it, and technology is constantly changing. It’s important to stay on top of the trends and make sure that your marketing strategy is evolving as the trends evolve.

Looking Back At 2020

If 2020 has proven anything to us, it’s that there is very little which is certain. On a global scale, we have spent this year with very little socializing and having to remain in our homes basically all the time

There’s been a lot of death, a lot of suffering, mental health issues and there are a staggering number of people who have had to face unemployment, with an unfortunate amount likely to remain unemployed as we head into the new year.

Some businesses will have to close their doors permanently, and some industries will never be the same again, but if there is at least one aspect of business which is not going to go anywhere, it’s content marketing.

Content Marketing Trends in 2021

So let’s take a look at five content marketing trends that you need to keep an eye on as we transition into 2021.

1. Artificial Intelligence

To sum this one up, you will soon be replaced by a robot. Okay not really. Well at least not yet. There will probably come a time in the not too distant future where a lot of our occupations will become automated.

We can see a future for that in terms of delivery drivers, baristas, IT professionals and even doctors and surgeons, although automation in those particular positions might still be a long way off.

But for something like content marketing, automation could be closer than you think. An AI that can operate as a content marketer is in fact, relatively straightforward by today’s standards and has actually already been achieved.

The lingerie company Cosabella has recently developed a software which can identify targets and keywords, pick up on fraud, control bids on the website and execute purchases. And what’s more evident is that since the introduction of this software, the company’s profits have soared.

Now we obviously don’t know how many companies are going to follow suit straight away and not everyone is in a financial position to afford such tech right now, but it’s definitely something you should keep an eye on in 2021.

You don’t want to get left behind if everyone is benefitting from this new technology and you are floundering because of an outdated marketing strategy.

2. Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality (AR) is another technological advancement, which like artificial intelligence, almost feels like something out of a science fiction story. But also like AI, it’s something that is steadily on rise in the world of marketing.

Even if you haven’t heard the term before, you’re probably familiar with AR on some level. It’s just overlaying information onto the real world through a camera lense. In 2016 the world got a taste of it in a big way when Pokemon Go was released.

That was AR. You point your phone camera and a Pokemon appears on the screen as if it’s actually there on the street in front of you. And while that was just for fun, think about the implications of it for a minute.

Think about the amount of potential for advertisement that you’ve got there. People could point their camera at a restaurant and have the yelp reviews pop up on screen. They could point it at any kind of store and have their catalogue of products on screen.

And you can use it for your marketing in a number of ways too. Virtual tours and assistance, adding a virtual component to business cards and brochures and just general AR advertising. Incorporate some AR into your marketing strategy and you’ll be a step ahead of the curve.

3. Social Media

Social media isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It should be an important part of your content marketing strategy right now and it must continue to be in 2021 and beyond. As a concept, it does have its detractors and maybe rightfully so, but for businesses it’s massively beneficial.

For better or worse, many people spend a huge chunk of their time scrolling through Twitter and Instagram. You want to catch the attention of as many people as possible then that’s where you need to be seen.

And the great thing about it is that it’s free. Sure you can hire a social media manager to take care of this aspect for you, or you can pay to include ads, but having an Instagram account for your business costs you nothing.

4. Video Content

People are much more likely to engage with what you are trying to sell them if they can put a face to the business. Marketing through video content is a great way to build up a connection between you and your customer.

Actually looking into someone’s eyes makes it feel more like you’re having a conversation about the product with another person as opposed to being told about it in text. And this logic applies to all kinds of online business.

If your primary source of income is through a profitable blog, then your blog should have a video aspect to it. You might not feel like you’d be good at that because you’re not comfortable in front of the camera or not a good public speaker, but it’s worth trying it at least.

If you can master being in front of the camera, you can add a major extra layer to your marketing strategy.

5. Infographics

You knew this one was coming. It’s on the list for good reason, infographics are one of the most succinct and accessible ways of conveying information to a potential consumer of the product that you’re selling.

Looking at a big block of text (sort of like what you’re doing right now) can be a little daunting. It’s a lot of information presented in a bland and time-consuming way. Especially in 2020 and as we move into 2021, people aren’t as used to that anymore.

But an infographic is colourful, it’s easy to look at and most importantly, if it’s done right it gets the point across really effectively. Keep the current generation in mind as you consider your content marketing strategy for 2021 and work on utilizing infographics to show off what you’re offering.

What you’ve probably realized here is that the trends you need to keep an eye on are all based on advancing technology. And with technology advancing faster with every passing year, this is how you should approach marketing strategy going forward.