# Digital Marketing Trends that will change how brands operate in 2021 Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-03-02 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: 2021 Digital Marketing Trends: Social Media, Voice Search Meta Description: Discover the latest tech developments to resonate with your audience and stay ahead in 2021. Learn how social media, voice search, and brand purpose drive URL: https://financedigest.com/digital-marketing-trends-that-will-change-how-brands-operate-in-2021html ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/untitled-design-47-1736838547304-compressed.jpg) _By **Michael Bush,** Commercial Director, Climb Online_ Over the last 12 months, video conferencing tool Zoom experienced exponential growth, B2B social media platform, LinkedIn, saw a 60% increase in user content creation and 55% of UK buyers revealed they will continue to shop online even when the high street re-opens its doors. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly accelerated the use of digital and now as we embark on another 12 months of change, it’s vital for brands to keep pace with the latest tech developments in order to resonate with their target audience and remain at the forefront of their marketplace. **[Social Media](https://www.financedigest.com/yoono-discuss-the-importance-of-social-media-checks.html "Yoono discuss The Importance of Social Media Checks") to Drive Conversions** With [social restrictions present for the duration of last year](https://www.financedigest.com/nfts-live-streams-sustainable-businesses-and-social-shopping-what-to-prioritise-in-commerce-this-year.html "NFTs, live streams, sustainable businesses and social shopping – what to prioritise in commerce this year"), it comes as no surprise that the use of social media platforms and online engagement soared throughout 2020. It’s, therefore, clear that social media will continue to [play a significant role](https://www.financedigest.com/advisors-must-play-a-bigger-role-in-unlocking-scale-up-potential.html "Advisors must play a bigger role in unlocking scale up potential") for brands during 2021. However, instead of social content driving consumer interest and purchasing intent, platforms like [Facebook and Instagram](https://www.financedigest.com/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-hit-by-global-outage.html "Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp hit by global outage") will form an integral part of the buying and conversion process, with increasing and easy-to-use integrations, like Instagram Shop, encouraging more and more consumers to complete their purchase without leaving the app. This reinforced by a recent study from leading social media management platform, Sprout Social, which revealed 46% of Instagram users purchased one or more products advertised via [sponsored IG Posts](https://www.financedigest.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-sponsored-posts.html "What are the Advantages of Sponsored Posts"). The lesson here? If your customers cannot purchase your product via [social media](https://www.financedigest.com/elon-musk-goes-viral-on-chinese-social-media-with-ancient-poem-post.html "Elon Musk goes viral on Chinese social media with ancient poem post"), you’re not in the game. **Increase in Voice &** [Visual Search](https://www.financedigest.com/grelly-a-visual-search-engine-for-ebay.html "Grelly: A Visual Search Engine For Ebay") At the start of 2020 it was [forecast that 50% of all internet searches would be voice-based and that 30% would be completed using a device](https://www.financedigest.com/airway-clearance-devices-system-market-industry-analysis-opportunities-technology-demand-top-players-and-growth-forecast-2027.html "Airway Clearance Devices System Market Industry Analysis, Opportunities, Technology, Demand, Top Players and Growth Forecast 2027") without a screen, such as Amazon Alexa. While it is unclear as to whether this figure was reached, we know that increasing numbers of [consumers globally](https://www.financedigest.com/top-5-players-to-account-for-45-of-global-consumer-appliance-coatings-market-share-through-2031.html "Top 5 Players to Account for 45% of Global Consumer Appliance Coatings Market Share Through 2031") are shifting to voice search, whether via voice-activated AI assistants on their desktops like Siri or via their smartphone devices. ![Michael Bush](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/mike-bush-1-450x675-1736838546889-compressed.jpg) Michael Bush With SEO experts revealing that voice search yields different results to text based searches, this is something all [brands need](https://www.financedigest.com/do-small-businesses-need-branding.html "Do small businesses need branding?") to consider when executing their digital marketing and SEO strategies for 2021, particularly if they want to compete in increasingly saturated marketplaces. In addition to voice search, visual search is continuing to climb, as the continuous evolution of Google Lens – Google’s image-recognition AI and AR algorithm – drives more and more web users from the use of text to image and video-based searches. Like voice search, visual [search is something all brands will need to consider](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-considers-ban-on-forever-chemicals-urges-search-for-alternatives.html "EU considers ban on ‘forever chemicals’, urges search for alternatives") as the trend continues to evolve throughout 2021, particularly when it comes to eCommerce. Simple but key starting points include the optimisation of [image titles](https://www.financedigest.com/title-medical-imaging-equipment-services-market-to-witness-huge-growth-by-2031-with-profiling-leading-companies-agfa-gevaert-group-althea-group.html "Medical Imaging Equipment Services Market to Witness Huge Growth by 2031 with Profiling Leading Companies – Agfa-Gevaert Group, Althea Group") and descriptions across all imagery uploaded to the brand website, together with the use of alternative text or alt tags. Both make it easier for Google to locate imagery and engage potential customers in the product\[s\]. [**Brands with Purpose will Continue to Lead**](https://www.financedigest.com/ringier-advertising-partners-with-brand-metrics-to-deliver-brand-uplift-measurement-on-leading-brand-campaigns.html "Ringier Advertising Partners With Brand Metrics To Deliver Brand Uplift Measurement On Leading Brand Campaigns") For millions, 2020 will always have connotations of suffering and sacrifice, but it will also have connotations of change. [Change that saw humanity become more human, change that provided us with the opportunity to evaluate how we live](https://www.financedigest.com/how-technology-has-changed-our-lives.html "How Technology has Changed Our Lives"), work and operate and change that forced all of us to focus on what matters most. For brands, this focus and intent moved beyond personal relationships with family, friends and colleagues to the relationships we as consumers have with the products and services we buy; where the [brands with true and authentic purpose are those that have and will continue to come out on top](https://www.financedigest.com/top-brands-for-women.html "Top brands for women") as we navigate through 2021. This supported by Deloitte’s [2021 Global Marketing Trends](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/marketing-and-sales-operations/global-marketing-trends.html) report, which confirms that consumers are seeking more human-centric businesses, with over 70% of those surveyed advising they appreciate the brands that have deepened their relationships with others during the pandemic. Ultimately, technology will continue to accelerate throughout 2021 and beyond. To remain relevant, brands need to keep pace with the [latest digital marketing](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-latest-ios-update-impacts-your-digital-marketing-campaign.html "How the latest iOS update impacts your digital marketing campaign") trends, whilst taking time to consider how they communicate their purpose. Overall, a strategic balance between effective [digital marketing activity and brand authenticity will be key](https://www.financedigest.com/automotive-digital-key-market-unit-sales-to-witness-significant-growth-in-the-near-future.html "Automotive Digital Key Market Unit Sales to Witness Significant Growth in the Near Future") to success. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---