2020 recap and what it means for your business
Can you believe that 2020 is over?!?! 2020 was one crazy year and unlike others for so many reasons. But before we spring full force into the new year, we want to reflect on all the exciting changes, updates, and features in social media that 2020 brought us and what you can expect going into 2021 when strategizing your business's social media.
1. The TikTok Takeover
It's hard to believe that there was a time before TikTok, and it wasn't even that long ago. 2020 was the year where TikTok really took off, reaching over 800 million active global users and 2 billion downloads on the app store (Oberlo). And businesses that are getting on this platform early are benefiting hugely as industry leaders. The evolution of TikTok has taught us more than just fun dances. It has proven just how powerful video content is, as consumer behavior continues to transition away from still images to favor short, entertaining video content more and more.
2. Instagram Reels
Speaking of video content, Instagram's top feature of 2020 – the introduction of Reels - further exemplifies the importance of video content. While Reels have only been around for a few months, this new feature has been widely criticized as many have labeled it as Instagram's "copycat" version of TikTok (The Verge). And while Reels have not seen the same success as TikTok, they further showcase just how important video content has become in 2020. This means that if your business hasn't already invested in video content, this is an absolute must!
3. Facebook Integrates with other Platforms
One of Facebook's biggest updates of the year was the integration of Messenger with Instagram and WhatsApp, allowing users to seamlessly interact between the different platforms (Social Media Today). This feature in and of itself may not seem like a huge deal, but the inner workings and implications of this integration are huge for the social media industry as it further cements Facebook's competitive edge in the industry. As a business, it is more important than ever to remember that you do not own any of these platforms or the following you have built on them. All of your accounts are essentially rental spaces and a free rental at that. In order to protect yourself, diversifying your social media presence across multiple platforms is a must!
4. Increased time spent on social media
The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed how we interact with people in person and how we interact virtually. With the vast majority of the population staying home when possible and practicing social distancing, there has been a huge spike in social media usage. The Wall Street Journal found that the average American was spending 12 hours and 24 minutes a day on social media prior to the pandemic. And as of today, this number has climbed to 16 hours and 6 minutes, a 25% increase (the Wall Street Journal). As the pandemic is expected to loom on for many more months, so are these record-high rates. This means it is more important than ever for businesses to have a social media presence if they want to remain relevant to consumers.
5. The year of Viral trends
With the increased amount of time social media users are spending online, it is no surprise that viral trends have been popping up everywhere. Whether it's dancing videos, challenges, or memes, viral trends have been everywhere on social media. For businesses, it can be challenging to know how they fit in with all this. If your business is looking to make it big on social media, remember - participating in trends likely won't make you famous; what will is creating the next big trend! So put on your thinking cap and start brainstorming new challenges you want your audience to try next!
If you want 2021 to be your businesses’ best year on social media, reach out to us today at hello@amrdigitalmarketing.com we are here to help!
Written By: Leah Ross, AMR Digital Marketing, Copywriter