21 Jan 2021 Marketing Predictions – Oh, how did they get it so wrong!

We all get it wrong sometimes, and even the marketing experts seem to have made a few wrong predictions for 2021.

Now, none of us have a crystal ball, so trying to determine what the next big trend will be, can sometimes be spot on, and other times….well, they don’t follow through!

Check out some of the predictions for 2021 that never quite made the grade –

1. TikTok will hit its peak in 2021

When TikTok was first released back in 2016, the news surrounded it far outweighed the success of the platform. Rumours of it being banned in the USA (and it actually being banned in India), meant many people thought it would fall flat on its face. But it has defied the odds and grown at a steady rate attracting an audience of one billion monthly active users. And now marketers are sitting up and taking notice. TikTok for business launched in 2021 and research shows many are planning to invest further in the platform in 2022. Keep a close eye on TikTok!

2. Facebook will become obsolete

As one of the oldest social media platforms, many believed that Facebook was on a steady decline due to its aging audience. And although other platforms are deemed more popular by the Generation Zer’s, Facebook still pulls in over 1.5 billion daily active users. But where it packs a punch is in social media marketing. It still produced the highest ROI and engagement in 2021.

3. TikTok will become the preferred platform for influencer marketing

Despite its success, TikTok fell short for influencer marketing, with Instagram winning the race. In fact a staggering 97% of marketers plan to increase their investment in influencer marketing on Instagram this year.

4. Audio chat rooms will yield huge ROI

It turns out, audio chat rooms were great for engagement but not so much for ROI. The introduction of Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces had people thinking these chat room style spaces could be a viable marketing channel, but research shows 15% of marketers plan to decrease their investment this year.

5. Remote events will lose steam as we return to the workplace

The workplace has firmly become a more hybrid work space with employees opting for a balance between home and the office. As a result, remote and hybrid events are here to stay, and marketers must adapt. 64% of marketers plan to increase their investment in live video and streaming — like Facebook Live, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live — in 2022.

The world around us is constantly changing — it only makes sense that the marketing world does too. And who knows what 2022 will have in store for us. But, at Red Alert Social, we’ll make sure to keep you as up-to-date as we can!