Like, comment and share! Creating engaging social media content is a cornerstone of the marketing mix. There are approximately 4.89 billion social media users worldwide, and social media advertising has even edged out paid search, growing 25% YoY.
With so many people and so much money, going into social media, brands would be wise to focus on messaging and content to create engaging social media posts. After all, this is where a huge audience segment is present and where many people find and connect with brands.
Check out our 10 tips to help your brand develop social media content ideas that will perform.
- Know your audience
As your team is developing social media content ideas, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. Take steps, such as investing in market research, to understand your target audience and tailor your content to their preferences, interests and needs. This will help you create engaging social media posts that will delight your audience and hold their attention. - Visual appeal
Image credit: HubSpot Creative social media content ideas will incorporate eye-catching visuals, such as images, videos or infographics to make your brand’s content more engaging and shareable. It’s a good idea, too, since HubSpot reports that 91% of consumers said they want to see more online video from brands, and videos and images are the top media formats when it comes to return on investment (ROI).
- Authenticity and storytelling
When creating social media content ideas, keep authenticity and the power of storytelling in mind. Share authentic stories and experiences to connect with your audience on a personal level and create emotional engagement. - Consistency
Your customers need to know where to find you, and if your social media presence is spotty or haphazard, you’ll miss the opportunity. Maintain a consistent posting schedule and tone of voice across your social media channels to build brand recognition and trust. - Call-to-action (CTA)
Creating engaging social media will encourage audience participation by including clear and compelling CTAs. A CTA, in addition to being a request to click or purchase, could be something as simple as asking questions or inviting comments to boost engagement. You can also include a CTA in your bio that links to your website or landing page where customers can learn more about your brand. REI asks customers to share adventures with a branded hashtag and links to its Instagram Shop page.
- Use hashtags
Speaking of hashtags, as brands develop social media content ideas, an important step is to integrate hashtags into post content. Best practice would be to research relevant hashtags and develop a strategy to include them with your posts as they make sense to increase discoverability and reach a wider audience. - Trending topics
The social media and digital landscapes are constantly changing. Engaging social media posts will come from staying updated on industry trends and current events to create timely and relevant content that resonates with your audience. - Engage with followers
Respond to comments, messages and mentions promptly to foster two-way communication and strengthen relationships with your audience. Another fun way to engage your community is with social media
Image credit: BarkBox Facebook contests and giveaways. BarkBox does a great job of connecting with commenters and gives replies or likes to followers on almost every post.
- Analyze and optimize
Want to generate the best social media content ideas? Then you need to know what’s performing and where there are opportunities for Regularly analyze social media metrics to understand which types of content perform best and optimize your strategy accordingly. - Experiment and learn
Social media should be fun! When creating social media content ideas, don’t be afraid to try new formats, techniques and platforms. Learn from your results and continuously improve your social media content strategy.
Post it!
These 10 tips can guide your brand to develop the best social media content ideas that will engage customers, deliver results and increase ROI. Above all, remember that the advantage of social media is that it is a direct line of communication between you and your target audience.
Our experts can help your brand develop social media content ideas and strategy that engage your audience and deliver strong ROI. Connect with us to learn more!