9 Trends around the business model 2021

The biggest challenge for companies in this new world order is attracting new customers – especially in a “noisy” digital environment where billions of messages compete for attention every day. And since many companies cannot make enough money with their products or services alone (due to increasingly shrinking profit margins), other means in advertising and sponsorship are needed to stay afloat and sustainably profitable. Here are nine 2021 business models that could also work for your company.

1. micro-aggregators replace mass marketers.

Instead of dealing with a huge list of vendors and suppliers on their own (which can be very expensive), leading brands will increasingly outsource to micro-aggregators – specialist agencies that act as intermediaries between businesses and smaller companies that can provide niche services, products and content. Often these are offered as platforms or marketplaces for the purpose of increasing efficiency and providing a single point of touch.

2 Subscription commerce takes off

Retailers have struggled for years to find ways to compete with Amazon and connect online with customers who want products shipped directly to their homes instead of going to the local store. Here, too, new trends are emerging with the emergence of smart last-mile delivery and drop-shipping providers, to whom the otherwise very costly logistics issues for small businesses can be outsourced and the customer journey improved. In addition, this opens up new opportunities in the subscription sector and the associated customer loyalty.

3 Content is Key

Companies will increasingly rely on content marketing to attract attention and differentiate themselves in a world of supply and information overload where most consumers are “always on”. Here, companies will create and promote multimedia content such as articles, videos, podcasts, infographics and much more in order to be actively found according to the pull marketing principle. Consumers expect added value even before the first purchase, which is why it is important to build trust as early as possible.

4. the micro-subscription economy is exploding

Access rather than ownership is the new normal for many products and services in an ever-connected digital world where convenience takes precedence over ownership. Instead of owning their cameras or laptops, consumers will increasingly pay a monthly subscription fee to use a service provider’s products. This often involves rethinking insurance and quality management.

5 Smart data replaces traditional marketing strategies

Traditional marketing may have worked in the past, but today companies are more and more dependent on marketing their offers in an individualised and personalised way. This is precisely why data is gaining in importance and rather the intelligent implementation, pattern formation and integration into existing online sales strategies.

6 Mobile overtakes everything

Between 2016 and 2021, the number of mobile users is expected to increase by more than 33 percent. In comparison, internet usage via PC/laptop will only increase by six percent – a huge difference! With more and more people using smartphones and tablets as their primary means of accessing online content, businesses need to make this shift a priority if they want to stay relevant.

7. customer-generated content replaces advertising in print and TV media.

The traditional advertising model is dying as more and more customers cancel their cable subscriptions, unsubscribe from their daily newspapers and rely on online reviews when looking for new products or services. Collecting customer feedback through apps – either on your website or through third-party platforms like Facebook and Amazon – is a great way to target the right customers, track their behaviour and gain valuable data along the way.

8. The retail apocalypse is accelerating

Between 2011 and 2017, more than 21,000 shops closed permanently in America. This trend will continue to accelerate as brick-and-mortar retail continues its downward trend during and after the pandemic, according to various studies, and physical shops take a back seat to online shopping and alternative business models.

9 Fake news is just the tip of the iceberg

In a world where Fake News spreads like wildfire across social media platforms, fact-checking has never been more important. Companies need to equip their employees with tools to monitor and filter the vast amounts of information pouring in from all directions.

Final thoughts

As consumer behaviour changes, companies need to take a 360-degree view to establish their brand in the long term and adapt to trends of new generations and technologies. The last months showed best how important it is to be able to act agile and fast, to react to unpredictable market influences and to stand out in a jungle of online offers. Who knows whether personal contact will be desired more in the future to compensate for the online overstimulation. Until then, however, it is recommended to further expand the omni-channel marketing and distribution strategy.