5 2021 Predictions Gone Wrong

Not all predictions are correct. Some are just… well, predictions.

Predictions are everywhere before a new year starts - from the color of the year to fashion to fortune.

And marketing is no different.

So, every year, marketers show their other side - they try to be a psychic and predict what the new year will look like.

Same as other fortune-tellers, some marketers’ predictions come true but there are also wrong predictions.

Here, I’ll cover 5 2021 predictions that marketers got wrong.

1. Facebook will be obsolete.

This news is not new. And what is more alarming is that Facebook’s audience is aging. According to a >recent study, Facebook is just #6 in Gen Z’s choice of social media platform.

But hold your horses, everyone. Facebook isn’t going down without a fight. Actually, the platform remains the most popular social media platform worldwide according to this post.

So, this 2021 prediction hasn’t come to life, yet.

2. TikTok will reach its peak.

TikTok is still climbing the ladder - and is yet to reach the peak. Not in 2021, at least.

No doubt. TikTok is popular with a remarkable number of 1 billion users. But some businesses are still wary of them. So, it launched TikTok for business.

But as far as reaching its peak - not yet for 2021.

But that’s a good thing right? TikTok still has room for improvement.

3. TikTok will be #1 for influencer marketing.

Despite its popularity, TikTok fell short of being the number 1 for influencer marketing.

Influencer marketing is the most popular trend having the biggest impact and ROI in 2021. But TikTok is just ranked #2 according to this survey. The first is Instagram.

Will TikTok be #1 this year? Let’s wait and see.

4. Audio chat rooms will yield huge ROI.

Who hasn’t heard a podcast? What about Twitter Spaces? Maybe a lot - which proved that marketers - who previously predicted audio-based content will have a huge ROI last year - were wrong.

But there’s a good KPI about them - high audience engagement and brand awareness.

So, notwithstanding the ROI prediction, business owners and marketers can still use audio chat rooms. And they are still worth it.

5. Remote events will be archived.

In 2021, many people thought of going back to the office and all face-to-face events. Sure, the government and the media also predicted the official return of employees to their respective workplaces. Hence, the prediction of saying goodbye to remote events.

But lo and behold! Remote events are here to stay.

According to statistics, 51% of organizations are considering the hybrid work setup. This just proves that this prediction is a little immature

Predicting what the new year will look like is not an easy task. It involves research, statistics, analysis, and experience.

Predictions will help us to plan and get ready for the new year. But don’t let it sway you on the path that you want to follow.

My take is just to plan and adjust accordingly.

If you or someone you know needs to plan the year ahead with marketing experts, feel free to contact us here at Shizzle Marketing.

Google logo in a box with Facebook logo in a box on a light blue background

Are you an owner of a small local business looking to market your business?

Here are two free, widely used, and well-renowned ways to market your business: 1. Facebook Events 2. Google My Business (GMB)

Let’s discuss how you can use these two platforms for your local marketing needs in this blog.

How to use Facebook Events

Facebook isn’t just about going international - it can also help you connect with your local audience.

Currently, Facebook has Events Events Near Me where users can see and search what’s happening within their area based on certain categories like music, fitness, and more. Users can also see online events and events happening on a particular date.

You can promote your events on Facebook by posting to the event page, inviting people to the event, and control who sees your event.

This platform has a lot of flexibility and options, too.

Share promotions locally

Does your business have a sale going on? Promote it on Facebook Events.

Use it to share your event - be it online or face-to-face.

Boost it with ads

Not much audience? Get the help of Event Ads to boost your event’s visibility, increase awareness, and sell more products or services.

Find a partner

You can also find a local business to partner with. Once you have one, create a co-hosted event to make both of your audiences aware of the collaboration.

One tip: Choose a partner that complements your product or service.

How to use Google My Business (GMB)

Show up on Google Search and Google Maps by going to Google my Business. Complete the registration process and voila! You can be in front of customers looking for your brand or similar products or services.

Use enticing photos, videos, and texts to promote your business - just like the store signage of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses - only on an online platform.

Tip: Make sure to optimize your GMB account to be the first on the list.

Display contests, promotions, and sale

Create an “Offer” post on GMB to display contests and promotions your business offers.

This will encourage people to physically visit your shop or your landing page to engage and convert to be your buyer.

Share new and exciting things about your business

Do you have an announcement? Post on “What’s New” and let your audience know. You can also post blog content.

Did your opening hours change? Are you looking for new employees? Are you closing earlier on a weekend? You can announce all of these and more on GMB.

Event announcements

Are you throwing a pajama party over the weekend? Highlight your events on GMB.

Business posts are great for sharing events like community fundraisings or virtual wine nights. People around your area will see your events which will increase attendance.

Your business goes local

Targeting is a tough one. You often have a wide variety of selections.

But you have to be laser-focus on your target.

Simplifying your audience from an international to a local audience may be the first big step for your business to be known globally.

So, the next time you think of marketing your business, think about going local first. And implement the tips above to maximize Facebook and Google My Business for your marketing needs.

And for all things marketing, follow us on all our social media channels.

For your questions, comments, and suggestions, let us know by sending us a message or leave a comment below.

Topic Wheel visual representation showing Shizzle as a brand with six marketing services and the corresponding influencers/leaders in each industry.

Topic Wheel: A Free Content Marketing Strategy For You

Content is king.

How many times have you heard this? Maybe many times... that you think it already lost its essence, right?

Wrong!

As Google and other social media algorithms evolve, content is - still and indisputably - the king.

Today, I will share a free content marketing strategy that you can use for your business, brand, and clients.

It is called “Topic Wheel”.

Topic Wheel is not new. It’s all over the place - I mean, the internet. But I have never seen a lot of people apply this. It’s also not my original concept. It’s all thanks to Dennis Yu and Mark Lack who first introduced this concept.

So, I’ll be sharing this today so you can (hopefully) find value in it, use it, and share it with others, too.

Let’s get on with it. .

What is Topic Wheel?

The Topic Wheel is a great help in content creation, curation, and content marketing.

It is a graphical representation of the topics you want to talk about - on your site, blog, and/or social media accounts.

Why is the Topic Wheel important?

The Topic Wheel will help you concentrate on topics that matter to you - you just have to look at them. It will also eliminate the need to research topics to create or curate content. Using Topic Wheel, you can easily look at the social media channels of influencers, leaders, and/or brands that matter to you. Then, you can curate or create content based on these. You can use the Topic Wheel as a basis for what you’ll post.

How does Topic Wheel help in content creation?

Topic Wheel gives you a general idea of what should be on your site, blog, and/or social media. It also provides you with thought leaders or influencers whose content appeals to your audience. Thus, curating content is easy.

Now that you know the rationale behind the Topic Wheel, let me show you how it works.

Here’s how to do it on your own:
1. Place your picture (or your brand’s or business’) in the middle.
2. Choose 6 topics you want to talk about. For personal branding, you can choose 3
personal topics and 3 professional topics.
3. For each topic, choose the top 3 thought leaders, influencers, or brands that are close to
you and are appealing to your audience. You must choose leaders that you have high
regard for, you mostly agree with, and are highly credible for you.
4. Collect their pictures, draw the Topic Wheel, print it, and display.
5. That's it!

Easy, no?

Now, you know how to create your own Topic Wheel.

If you’re not yet sold with the idea of Topic Wheel, let me discuss a little bit about the Content
Marketing Funnel - Awareness, Engagement, Conversion - that the Topic Wheel targets, too.

The content marketing funnel has 3 levels - awareness, engagement, conversion.

The Topic Wheel also has 3 levels - you, the topics, the leaders.

Let me explain further.

First, your influencers will target the awareness part. When you follow these influencers or join groups related to them and share their content, their audience will notice you. Hence, the awareness part.

Next, your topics will cover the engagement part. These topics are the things you will talk about and share with your followers in the form of content. Hence, the engagement part.

Lastly, the picture in the middle of the Topic Wheel will take care of the conversion part - YOU. You are your brand. You’re the seller and people buy from people. Hence, the conversion.

Topic Wheel is a great tool to help you.

BUT I am in no way stopping you from doing what you’re currently doing.

All I’m saying is using Topic Wheel will give you direction when it comes to your content.

If you find this helpful, go ahead and create your own. Here’s a template for you to start with (Canva). Should you need any further help, don’t hesitate to let us know by contacting us here.

And if you want to learn more about Topic Wheel, don’t hesitate to research further or ask away using our chatbox and one of our content marketing geniuses will reach out to you.

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