Content marketing is here to stay. This type of marketing attracts a target audience through relevant and valuable content. But, content trends are dramatically changing in 2021.
Brands that cater to a younger audience must be customizable, interactive, and nurture an ongoing relationship. The younger generations, such as Millennials and Gen Zs, will not respond to content that is generic or doesn’t speak to them on the channels they use the most.
Organizations also need to cater to older generations as well. Content has to attract future customers by providing some sort of value or interaction with them.
92% of marketers and businesses report content as a valuable business asset. And 70% of marketers are actively investing in content marketing. With 72% of companies saying content marketing also helps them increase new client leads.
Now is the time to up your content marketing game with these 10 trends to watch in 2021:
Social media is king
Social media platforms give you the opportunity to communicate with your most relevant audiences at a very low cost. Your content can also be shared by others and can help you reach new, relevant prospective clients. Social media also allows you to interact directly with your customers and show them a behind-the-scenes look at your organization. That type of transparency creates a stronger relationship with your customers.
Podcasts increase in popularity
Podcasts have been around since about 2004, and they have become extremely popular in the past few years. Podcasts are a convenient form of media. Customers can listen to podcasts on their own time – such as driving in the car, cleaning house, cooking, or working out. For businesses, podcasts can attract the right people to their brand. For example, you can share news, company trends and insights, and thought leadership messaging. Podcasts provide you with a brand voice and personality.
Video provides a voice
YouTube is the most visited website worldwide. And TikTok is the fastest growing social media platform at the moment. Video is an easy way to consume relevant content, and it allows companies to show their human side. When well-executed, video content is much more likely to go viral and share your story.
More live streaming
Live streaming is definitely growing by leaps and bounds. Covid-19 has necessitated the need for live streams. On Facebook, one in five videos is now a live broadcast. It’s a service you should be engaging in with social platforms, and do it fast. Live stream can increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.
Share evergreen content
Timeless content is on the rise. Your content and information needs to stay relevant to your users. Statistics and figures get stale and interest can wane if your posts are no longer relevant. Evergreen content is worked on regularly and survives long after it’s published. Be sure to repurpose and update your content regularly so that it doesn’t lose its value.
Voice searches and smart devices
The use of voice chat is skyrocketing. Many organizations are just now starting to optimize their content for voice search purposes. Your customers are using Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant as part of their daily routines. If you’re able to use voice search before your competitors, your content will be coming out of your audience’s smart devices in the near future.
Brevity is becoming a thing
Researchers claim that humans have an attention span of about 8 seconds. The amount of information that’s available today causes our minds to wander. We are easily distracted by the many messages bombarding us all day long. Long form blogs will go away. Google’s search algorithm values real-time and short-form content. Businesses will need to be more brief to match our short attention spans.
READ MORE: 9 Differences Between Millennials And Gen Z, And Why It Matters
Make the most of user-generated content
User-generated content is not new, but it is a trend that’s sticking around. User generated content not only gives businesses a break from producing their own content, but also shows products and services in a more authentic light and rewards fans by featuring their content on your company’s channels.
Adopt a data-driven mindset
Experienced content marketers know that you need to have a solid content marketing strategy. How are brands determining what value to provide their audiences? They are adopting a data-driven mindset that looks at past successful content marketing initiatives and determines what it is about that content that resonated with customers.
Consider an enterprise mobile app
At CatalystXL, we want to help you quickly and easily share information, increase productivity, and foster collaboration across your entire organization. We can deliver a no code, custom branded enterprise mobile app that unlocks answers and provides insights via our Cardware™ platform — sharing categorized content in a powerful flashcard format. Our mobile app fosters a community of collaboration, engagement, and connectedness for your employees – both in and out of the office.
Book a demo today.
