The 10 Biggest Trends in Entrepreneurship to Look For in 2021

Ever wish you could predict the future? Me too.

If only you could predict what’s shaping business trends, or what your clients need, you could plan and grow your company, right?

Well, there’s good news. While we don’t have a crystal ball, it’s entirely possible to gain a little insight into how the market is evolving and how the changes affect your long-term business planning.

The more you know about market trends, the better you can leverage them to your advantage and get a head start on your competition.

Remember, entrepreneurship is all about investing in your long-term success.

Sure, there’s value in studying short-term data for day-to-day business planning, but don’t neglect your trend forecasting. Here are the ten key trends influencing entrepreneurs this year and beyond.

Current 2021 Trends in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is constantly changing gears, and technology is central to much of this accelerated growth.

Briefly, here’s what’s going on right now.

There’s the return of some old, favorite strategies like email marketing, but we’re moving forward into exciting new territory, too, especially when it comes to remote working and app development.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

1. Low-Code Websites

Mobile apps and e-commerce stores are big business. According to Hootsuite, over 4.2 billion people use social media apps, and 77 percent of internet users ages 16-64 buy something online each month. How do you capitalize on this trend, though, if you don’t have web development or design expertise?

The answer lies in low-code website technology.

Every entrepreneur can now build an app, social media platform, or e-commerce website. All you do is choose a development tool and use the point-and-click tools to build your program.

Whether you dream about designing an e-commerce store like eBay or a collaboration tool like Trello, low-coding technology makes it possible.

The upshot? In 2021, don’t let a lack of IT expertise hold you back from innovating.

2. Email is Trendy Again

OK, so email marketing didn’t go anywhere, but there’s been a huge focus on other digital marketing strategies in recent years. However, email marketing is a reliable, cost-effective way to improve your reach.

Why’s email marketing making a comeback right now, though?

Well, a lot of it comes down to evolving search engine results pages (SERPs) and the blurring line between paid and organic search results.

First, there’s more space dedicated to paid ads in Google search results, so it’s harder to draw traffic from organic results than ever before.

For example, Google “price comparison websites” and the four paid ads take up most of your screen space:

It’s also harder to distinguish paid ads from organic listings too, which runs the risk of confusing and frustrating customers. Check out the image above, for example. Other than the small “Ad” sign, how can we tell them apart from organic results?

Next, social media is another problem. Why? Because you often need to pay to boost or promote your posts, so again, it’s harder to reach an organic audience this way (at least cost-effectively).

Email marketing isn’t a new trend, but it’s not going anywhere, so rather than relying so much on social media or SERPs, consider building a solid subscriber list. Here are some strategies for growing your list.

3. Micro-Influencers

Micro-influencers typically have less than 25,000 followers and operate in super specific niches. Why is this a good thing?

They’re highly engaged with their audiences, for one thing. Less followers mean they have more time and energy to dedicate to answering messages and discussing products, which is great news for marketers pushing new merchandise.

Before your competitors take advantage of micro-influencers, start exploring how they fit into your marketing strategy.

Overall, there’s definitely a trend toward hiring influencers who embody a specific brand and engage with audiences on a more personal level, so don’t miss out.

4. Producing Content in Multiple Formats and for Multiple Channels

Did you know the typical consumer spends over seven hours a day on average engaging with media?

This doesn’t just mean reading blogs, either. Most of us consume content in various formats (such as videos and podcasts) across multiple platforms.

What does this mean for entrepreneurs? There’s a huge opportunity to recycle or repurpose your existing content so it reaches as many people as possible. For example, here’s what you can do with a single podcast.

You could also convert old blogs into tips newsletters or convert webinars into video tutorials.

Think of it this way: You’re not spending time brainstorming or crafting new content. You’re simply putting a fresh spin on existing successful content instead.

How’s that for efficient marketing?

5. Growth of Entrepreneur Communities

Do you ever wish you could connect with like-minded people, exchange insights, and build your network? You can, thanks to the growing popularity of entrepreneur communities.

Entrepreneur communities bring creative, innovative people together to help them flourish. Whether you’re thriving or struggling, there’s someone ready to celebrate with you (or commiserate.)

Where do you find these communities? Here are some examples.

Do some research and find your perfect fit.

6. Depersonalize Your Marketing

Personalized marketing is great. The problem? It’s overdone.

In fact, according to Evergage, over 94 percent of marketers employ personalized marketing techniques, whether it’s using name tags, sending out abandoned cart emails, or making product recommendations.

What’s less common?

Authenticity.

According to Edelman, 81 percent of customers won’t buy from a brand unless they trust them, and authenticity is key to building that trust.

For entrepreneurs, this could mean depersonalizing your marketing. Focus on a few techniques that boost your ROI. Don’t overwhelm your audience with personalization.

Here’s an example of valuable depersonalized marketing. All we’ve got is a promo code, but this is valuable to the customer and encourages a click-through:

7. Hire Employees With Specialized Skill Sets

Technology continues to evolve at an accelerated pace, so you need employees who can help you take advantage of the possibilities without compromising your business.

Before you hire anyone, though, think about your goals. What do you hope to achieve? Where could you run your business more efficiently? The better you understand where your business is going, the easier it is to make the right hires for your objectives.

The bottom line? Hire quality, not quantity.

8. Digital Nomadism

Remote working is hugely popular now, and the trend isn’t slowing down. This is actually good news for entrepreneurs, because you can focus on simply hiring the best employees based on skills rather than physical location.

However, if you’re not sold on digital nomadism, here’s why it’s a big deal.

If it fits your business plan, embrace the remote working trend and introduce flexible telecommuting to your workplace.

9. Display Social Awareness

For today’s consumers, it’s not just about choosing a product. It’s about shopping with brands that align with their values. Not convinced this is a thing? Well, these stats might make you feel differently.

The growth of social media, influencer culture, and increasing social awareness among millennials are all responsible for this trend, and it’s not dying out anytime soon. Here’s how to capitalize on it.

Whichever strategy you choose, promote a clear and consistent message across all channels. Here’s an example of clear messaging from Patagonia. You can tell instantly what this brand stands for and who its target audience is:

Carve out your niche and build a solid, sustainable consumer base.

10. Subscription-Based Business Models

With a subscription-based model, customers pay to use your services for a specified period e.g., paying a monthly subscription to Netflix or Microsoft 365.

Why is it popular with businesses?

Here’s how to get started:

Conclusion

To achieve your goals, you must think about how customers are changing and how you can move with them. This could mean changing direction or simply expanding your company in creative, innovative ways.

Sure, you should make some decisions based on short-term data, but you should always have an eye toward the future.

If you need extra guidance, check out my consulting services, or read through my free digital marketing training guides.

What does entrepreneurship mean to you?

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