Social media is a key part of any digital marketing strategy today. Brands large and small rely on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to connect with customers, build awareness, and drive traffic. However, creating engaging social content consistently can be a major challenge. The same static images, generic quotes, and promotional messages start to feel stale quickly. Your audiences scroll right past boring, uninspired posts without a second thought. But there is hope.
One of the best ways to level up your social media game is to get your clients directly involved in the content creation process. With some creative planning and execution, you can develop social posts that are far more unique, relevant, and likely to resonate with people. In this blog post, we’ll explore several strategies for incorporating your clients into content planning so you can start standing out on social and meaningfully engaging new and existing customers.
Know your audience
Creating unique social content requires a deep understanding of your audience. Knowing who your followers are and what topics interest them is the key to success. You can use personas, surveys, and analytics to get a better understanding of your audience. Personas allow you to make informed decisions about the type of content your followers are most likely to engage with.
For example, certain industries might target individuals ages 30 and up before fine-tuning categories like location, gender, and language. Moreover, you can get even more granular by targeting job titles and user interests. Understanding the limits of your industry will further inform how you can develop the ideal audience persona.
Moreover, surveys can help you collect feedback from your audience and provide valuable insights into their interests. Analytics provide you with data on your followers’ behavior, allowing you to fine-tune your social content strategy. By getting to know your audience, you can create social content that resonates with them and keeps them engaged.
Engage clients and employees
An effective way to create engaging social content is by involving your clients and employees in the process. By asking them questions about their experiences and opinions, you can showcase their unique perspectives and build a stronger connection with your audience.
Another way to make your content stand out is by highlighting your company’s milestones and successes. Celebrating achievements and sharing them with your audience can help to build credibility and trust in your brand.
Finally, showcasing staff members can also be an effective way to humanize your brand and make it more approachable. By putting a face to your company, you can create a more personal connection with your audience and make your brand more relatable. With these tactics, you can create unique and engaging social content that stands out from the rest.
“This past year, we introduced more employee spotlights (business owners, faculty, job site workers), team gatherings and victories, project highlights, and community events. Personality is everything when it comes to social media. Showing a few smiling faces goes a long way.”
ONE18MEDIA Social Media Manager Sean Westerkon
Feature behind-the-scenes content
Creating compelling social content can be a challenge, especially when you’re aiming to stand out among cluttered feeds. One great strategy that can help boost engagement and create a loyal following is to feature behind-the-scenes content. This approach allows your audience to get more insight into your creative process, and a peek behind the curtain. Showcasing raw footage and works-in-progress adds an authentic touch to your content, which can make your brand more relatable and human.
By involving your clients in your content creation process, you can strengthen their connection with your brand and build trust. Whether you’re working on a photo shoot or filming a video, capturing your process and sharing it with your followers is a proven way to create unique and engaging social content that will help your brand stand out from the crowd.
Leverage user-generated content
Leveraging user-generated content is another source of excellent social content — especially in 2024. Encouraging customers and fans to share their experiences, stories, photos, and reviews using branded hashtags can amplify your brand messaging and showcase your product or service in a more authentic and relatable way. Your audience is the best source of content, and engaging them in sharing their experiences can lead to a stronger connection with your brand.
Curating these contributions and showcasing them on your social media channels builds community engagement and creates a sense of brand loyalty. Overall, leveraging user-generated content can be a cost-effective and impactful way to elevate your social content strategy.
Experiment with new formats
You can also keep your social content fresh and engaging, by experimenting with new formats. Live videos, interactive polls, quizzes and other innovative tactics are just a few examples of formats that can catch your audience’s attention. By trying new and creative ways to connect with your audience, you can maintain their attention and grow your followers.
Additionally, getting your clients involved in the content creation process is a great way to showcase their experiences and generate genuine engagement. When it comes to social content, it’s crucial to keep up with the latest trends and constantly explore new strategies in order to stand out from the competition. By utilizing innovative formats, you have the chance to create a community around your brand and make a lasting impression on your audience.
Partner with influencers
Partnering with influencers is crucial when creating social content, as ONE18MEDIA previously discussed. These individuals have a strong following and their endorsement can greatly benefit your brand. By collaborating on sponsored posts and cross-promotions, you gain credibility while expanding your reach to a wider audience. It’s important to choose influencers whose values and audience align with your brand’s ethos.
When seeking collaborations on Instagram, it’s important to understand the different types of influencers and what they can offer your brand. From micro-influencers to mega-influencers, each category has its own unique reach and impact.
Nano-influencers usually have 1,000-5,000 followers. Micro-influencers typically have a slightly bigger following (10,000-50,000 followers) and often have a highly engaged audience that trusts their recommendations. Mid-tier influencers have 50,000-500,000 followers, while macro-influencers boast 500,000-1,000,000 followers.
On the other end of the spectrum are mega-influencers with millions of followers, who can offer wide exposure for your brand but may not have the same level of authenticity. Understanding these different types can help you find the right fit for your brand and create successful collaborations that drive engagement and sales.
With their help, you can create content that showcases your products or services in an authentic and relatable way. By getting clients involved in the content creation process, you can also leverage user-generated content to further build your brand’s reputation. Harnessing the power of influencers and user-generated content can elevate your social content strategy and set your brand apart from the competition.
Focus on storytelling
By crafting narratives that showcase how your products or services enhance lives, you can appeal to your audience’s emotions and create a natural association between your brand and their personal experiences. This type of storytelling not only sets your company apart, but it also resonates with your target audience and ultimately leads to a more engaged and loyal following. So, the next time you’re struggling to come up with fresh social content ideas, remember to focus on creating compelling stories that connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Optimize for multiple platforms
With so many different platforms available, it can be difficult to know where to focus your efforts. The key is to optimize your content for multiple platforms by repurposing it in different ways for each network. By understanding the diverse formats and audiences of each platform, you can maximize engagement, reach new audiences, and increase overall visibility for your brand.
Whether it’s creating visually-stunning Instagram posts, crafting witty Twitter quips, or producing informative LinkedIn articles, there are endless ways to create social content that resonates with your audience. With a little bit of creativity and a willingness to experiment, you can take your social media game to the next level and drive real results for your business.
Creating Social Content with ONE18MEDIA
In conclusion, creating unique social content is crucial for businesses looking to stand out and connect with their audience. By understanding your audience, engaging clients and employees, featuring behind-the-scenes content, leveraging user-generated content, experimenting with new formats, partnering with influencers, focusing on storytelling, and optimizing for multiple platforms, you can effectively elevate your brand’s presence on social media.
At ONE18MEDIA, we have been delivering clients with real leads and boosted revenues for nearly 10 years. With a powerhouse team, ONE18MEDIA thrives in the digital space with our experts — be it in copywriting, web design, business strategy, and, ultimately, social media content. To learn how ONE18MEDIA can create your social content and establish your business’s digital footprint, please visit our website and request your FREE strategy call TODAY!