5 Innovative Marketing Ideas for 2021

Marketing is an ongoing struggle, with the rules of the game changing ever so rapidly to meet the global demand. However, this past year showed a couple of unexpected shifts and trends - all due to the weirdness of the circumstances.

If we look objectively at it, though, life is all about unexpected circumstances. Even if the prospects are grim, there are lessons to learn and ways to prepare for at least some degree of stability, especially with superb organizational skills.

How does that tap into the story about marketing?

First of all, remote work has proven to be more efficient than many unbelievers thought was possible. Secondly, this trend will keep on expanding, regardless of corporate efforts simply because people have started thinking about more important things than money.

What working remotely truly portends is the freedom to make profits from whichever activity anyone chooses. With options ranging from freelancing to digital nomadism to running your own business to selling your services to people from other countries willing to pay you more than local clients, the options are close to limitless.

Still, marketing remains at the center of all those efforts. Remote work can be a dream come true, but in order to truly become independent with your work, you’ll need to establish reputable services and keep in touch with clients and partners.

Let’s see how you can do that and how you can and should implement the knowledge the pandemic has made apparent for best results.

1. "Global" Isn’t Always Better Than "Local"

The first lesson many people learned in 2020 is that "going global" may be preferable when things are "normal," but when a crisis strikes, operating locally is a far better idea.

The first obvious example would be online grocery shopping. With billions of people being unable to leave their homes (not to mention the disruption of the supply chains), home delivery services have gotten a whole new meaning and their popularity skyrocketed literally overnight.

Businesses that managed to adjust to the alarming situation idiotically dubbed the "new normal" are certain to witness a dramatic sales increase, even when the current crisis has been dealt with.

How come?

Simply put, many people discovered the benefits of online shopping only when they were forced to have realized the benefits of the practice. It is reasonable to expect that they will continue it, at least to some degree, when all this is over.

So, the first innovative marketing idea for 2021 should be: boost your business operations locally.

2. Enter Live Interactions

Another thing we have learned is that virtual events can be hugely popular. From online yoga lessons to cooking classes to birthday celebrations, people have enjoyed a number of activities during the lockdown.

Businesses can profit greatly from live interactions, particularly when there’s two-way communication. This basically means that live interactions don’t equal broadcasts. Think in terms of a live event going virtual where your clients will get the chance to participate actively.

3. Focus on Social Media

Many analysts predict that social media will transform from discovery places to purchase spots very soon. The main reason for this is that it’s easier to buy products you’re looking for on the spot.

This means that your social media promotion efforts should be doubled. Everyone knows that cross-promotions are the fastest way to boost a brand’s online visibility, but try to focus on direct sales rather than just on being visible.

4. Leverage Data to Enhance Business Operations

Data volumes have grown significantly over the last couple of years. Businesses using data to better understand their clients and customers can make better data-driven decisions. Such businesses are bound to perform better than the competition simply because they have better insights and know how to use them.

Don’t think twice about whether an investment in efficient systems will help you leverage data better. Such investments always pay out in the end, so make sure to keep learning about the developments.

5. Rethink Your Business Model

Innovation is all around but not everyone knows how to use it. Another lesson we’ve learned during the pandemic is that businesses capable of innovating on the go are the ones that will certainly succeed no matter the circumstances.

E.g., restaurants that realized in a timely manner that they can keep their businesses alive even during the pandemic times swiftly tapped into fast delivery services and launched a couple of charity events to help people struggling with finances.

Sadly, with so many people losing their jobs, it’s time to turn empathy on and launch campaigns that will help them cope and help you reach wider audiences via email marketing and the like.

Conclusion

Marketing may be changing, but the essence of it remains the same. If anything, we’d argue it just may be changing for the better. Maybe the time has finally come for more empathetic campaigns that actually help people live better and enable the providers to earn more money. And why not? No matter how you look at it, it’s a win-win situation.