After a tumultuous 2020, consumers are feeling more hopeful in 2021 thanks to steady vaccine rollouts across the country. Despite that optimism, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic and advertisers need to continue embracing that reality while preparing for the “next normal”. What behavioral trends from the pandemic will stick around, and which will fall to the wayside? How can advertisers plan their Q2 strategies to effectively reach customers where they are?

Our Media Insights Report predicts what those media trends will be and provides actionable steps that advertisers can take to be prepared. Below are our five high-level trends for Q2 - download the full report, join our webinar, or listen to our podcast for more in-depth analysis and actionable takeaways.

1. Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL): Shoppers across demographics have increased their reliance on BNPL, driven by tough financial times and the necessity for e-commerce. Retailers are benefitting from this trend as they connect consumers with interest-free plans, not only online, but increasingly in-store. As bigger players enter the space, mainstream adoption is imminent.
    
2. Planning for Recovery: COVID has forced brands across all industries to accelerate digital innovation. While vaccinations bring optimism, there is still uncertainty around the true “end” of the pandemic. Therefore, brands must continue to innovate, remain nimble, and keep an eye on consumer behavior – both for signs of recovery and for expectations that will persist post-pandemic.
    
3. Short-Form Video: Seventy-one percent of people watch more video today than they did a year ago – and short-form videos are gaining momentum with younger consumers, influencers, and advertisers. For brands looking to gain visibility with Gen Z and Millennial audiences, there are several mainstream and emerging social platforms that offer brands a place to showcase their human side through videos.
    
4. What’s Next for Social Media: The first week of January 2021 was monumental for social media and messaging. The ramifications from the President being de-platformed across social platforms and the recent changes in WhatsApp’s terms and privacy policy will be felt for many years to come. In the immediate aftermath, there’s been an explosion in the adoption of alternative social apps. It is an exciting moment for innovation, discovery, and digital marketing ideas.
    
5. iOS14 and Cookies: As advertisers keep a close pulse on the deprecation of third-party cookies and the identity solutions that will arise to fill this gap, recent need-to-know announcements have been shared from iOS14, Google, and The Trade Desk.

Want to learn more? Download the full report, register for our webinar, or listen to our podcast!