Anyone who works in social media marketing knows what a struggle it can be to keep the creativity flowing. In the digital marketing world, things are always changing. You need to consistently come up with fresh content that appeals to your audience in order to stay relevant. Even your audience’s preferences may change over time, which is why it’s necessary to adapt and find new strategies to boost engagement.
Luckily, there are endless possibilities when it comes to the content you can share on social media. Here are some fun and creative ideas that can help improve your online marketing strategy.
1) Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)
As the name implies, user-generated content is any material – reviews, images, videos, etc. – that was created by your customers or collaborators, such as influencers. This type of content is widely used by marketers on platforms like Instagram. How it works is that users create and share posts featuring a brand, highlighting a product or service to their followers. Brands see the content (via hashtags), and share it to their business pages.
So why is UGC so valuable to business owners? First of all, because it promotes authenticity. Consumers view user-generated content as more honest than that created and shared by brands. This is because brands are in the business of making sales. Potential customers are interested in other people’s opinions of a certain product before purchasing it themselves, even if those reviews are from strangers on the Internet. Consequently, UGC creates trust and helps influence your audience’s purchasing decisions.
2) Add Question Posts to Your Social Media Marketing
Some marketers only focus on images, videos, and text content, but not everything you share on your social media pages needs to be so serious. Part of the beauty of social media is that brand’s can be a little more casual and fun. After all, your goal is to create engagement. And, what better way to do that than by asking a question that starts a friendly conversation with your followers?
You can even ask questions that are related to the services or products you promote. By creating a poll, for example, you can benefit from your audience’s insights. This could even help you make improvements to your marketing efforts.
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3) Run a Contest or Giveaway
We all know how powerful the words “win’ or “free” are. Most people can’t resist signing up for a contest on social media. This is why an occasional contest is one of the most impactful tactics when it comes to social media. And it also has the potential to boost your engagement in a big way.
According to marketing experts, most of the more popular posts on a brand’s page are related to a contest. Accounts that run contests and giveaways on a regular basis are also growing at a faster rate than those that don’t. All you need to do is find a creative way for your followers to enter, and legally protect yourself by setting clear terms and conditions.
4) Host an AMA
An “Ask Me Anything” is a concept that was born on Reddit, where it gained popularity. It didn’t take long for it to be adopted by other social networks as a way for brands to engage with their audience. AMAs can be used to promote new products, updates, or simply to connect with users in real-time.
Customers are generally very interested in knowing all about their favorite brands, products, and services. Hosting an AMA gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, success stories, and even challenges. Hey, we’re all human. Audiences and brands alike can really benefit from this transparent interaction.
5) Shoot Behind-The-Scenes Content
Why not give your audience a sneak peek into the daily processes of your brand? This type of content works well on absolutely every social media channel. You can post videos, images, and even written testimonials that show the inner workings of your company. This can include anything from what a regular day at the office looks like, to products being packed for shipping, or how you organize certain events.
6) Partner with Another Brand
Partnering with a brand that has a similar target audience to your own can boost your exposure across different social networks. We’re seeing more and more of these campaigns lately, and it comes as no surprise. Both companies can benefit from this campaign strategy. However, keep in mind that the company you choose should not be a direct competitor, but rather one whose audience may be interested in your products or services as well. For example, a yoga studio could partner with a chiropractic office. They’re in related industries, but don’t directly compete with one another.
7) Out-of-the-Box Product Shots
Few things hurt more when it comes to digital marketing than boring images. Although it seems that there are only so many ways to photograph a product, there’s always room for more creativity. When most of your competitors have also moved online, do you really want your visual content to seem generic?
For the younger generations, image is often everything. Look for new, creative ways to display your products or showcase your services. Your products should blend well with the rest of your content, while still standing out as followers scroll through their news feeds.
8) Use Bite-Sized Video Clips
Brands that want to keep up to date on the latest social media marketing must learn how to leverage video content. Companies tend to steer clear of video, as it is often viewed as expensive and too complicated to develop. But videos can get far more shares than photos or text.
A more affordable way to use video for your online marketing is by creating bite-sized clips that require minimal editing. These shots are great because they can be filmed in just seconds. This type of content works wonderfully on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
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9) Create How-to Videos
Speaking of video, this is an excellent format to use to provide guidance for your audience. Most web users click on videos, whether they’re live or not. Video tutorials are especially appealing because they are engaging pieces of content that fit most social media platforms.
You can make how-to videos on just about anything – from how to cook a holiday dish your grandmother loved, to how to check your fireplace for signs of water damage. Visual guides are extremely shareable, which means it may get your content in front of new audiences.
10) Make Audiograms
Similar to bite-sized video clips, audiograms are a great way to level up your social media game. Podcasts are more popular than ever, and what’s great about this is that you can also turn them into audiograms for your social accounts. But even if you’re not a podcaster, you can still create audio snippets from any video you have.
11) Go for Unusual Holidays
Did you know there’s such a thing as Fruitcake Toss Day, Tin Can Day, and even Clean Off Your Desk Day? There are so many fun and weird holidays that people celebrate all year long. They are perfect for filling out your posting calendar when you’re running low on new content ideas. Fun holidays can be a unique way of sharing relevant content that relates to your industry, or the products and services you offer.
12) Create a Branded Hashtag
Hashtags are a marketing resource that can increase brand awareness and social media engagement. Creating a memorable hashtag that speaks to your brand gives users a new way to discover your business on social media. And, it can also encourage conversation around the hashtag. Some hashtags work like call-to-action phrases, and, by using them, you create another way for your target audience to remember you.
Hashtags started on Twitter, so you know right from the start that this is the perfect space for you to use them. Tweets with hashtags have an even greater advantage over hashtags on Instagram, because Twitter allows you to post links in each tweet. On the other hand, hashtags are frequently searched for on Instagram, too, so your chance of discovery there is also high. Use them to your advantage, branded or not.
13) Jump on the Latest Trends
If you want to gain more exposure, you need to keep an eye on what’s buzzing on social media. Social media networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, make it easier to see what’s hot and trending these days by providing users with a list of trending topics right in a sidebar.
Take some time to understand current trending topic, and why people are using a certain hashtag. Also, why are they engaging with those posts so much? You should also make sure that it’s relevant to your brand. If you can bring something valuable to the conversation, don’t be afraid to take advantage of a trending topic to gain new audiences for your products or services.
14) Share Tips
At the end of the day, great content is content that is valuable in some way. Potential customers will appreciate the effort your company puts into understanding their challenges and offering solutions. Sharing tips is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge, and bond with your audience. With enough imagination, you can even create a whole social media marketing campaign around quirky tips that can put a smile on their faces.
Professional Social Media Marketing
No one wants to see the same old content recycled over and over again. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and try new things on social media—so long as its the right tone for your brand. There are so many ways you can take advantage of social media marketing to elevate your online strategy. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box to create memorable and authentic content for your followers.
If you need help with your social media marketing strategy, contact us at D-Kode Technology by calling (925) 336-0000. We’re available for all of your digital marketing needs.
